APRIL 24, 2019 – Soldiers from American Samoa know a thing or two about pride, and on the U.S. Army Reserve’s 111th birthday, that pride was on full display during a cake cutting ceremony at the Pele U.S. Army Reserve Center, American Samoa, April 23, 2019.
Soldiers young and old sang happy birthday to the Army Reserve, followed by singing the Army Song.
Tradition mandates the unit’s oldest member, in this case Staff Sgt. Faiupu Tagaleoo, assigned to Theater Support Group American Samoa Detachment, 9th Mission Support Command, and the youngest member, Pvt. Vend Luafutu, assigned to Charlie Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, 9th Mission Support Command, along with the unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Alejandro Buniag, Commander, Theater Support Group American Samoa Detachment, 9th Mission Support Command, say a few words and simultaneously cut a birthday cake.
The milestone recognizes the role the Army Reserve has in delivering decisive capabilities to the battlefield by engaging its Soldiers, who often juggle full-time careers and family commitments to serve their nation.
The Army Reserve was founded on April 23, 1908, when Congress authorized the Army to establish a Medical Reserve Corps, the official predecessor of the Army Reserve. Today, approximately 200,000 Army Reserve Soldiers serve around the globe.
Since 2016, the Army Reserve has been moving to a new state of operational readiness and modernization to ensure a significant portion of the force is able to rapidly support the Active Component with critical capabilities.
Story by Staff Sgt. David Overson
305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment