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Keona Grace Masunu, one of the 25 students from American Samoa who attended the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy in Kalaeloa, Hawaii.
Today, the US Secretary of Defense reversed DOD’s decision, which made her and her peers ineligible for the academy, 5-weeks after they enrolled for a 5 1/2 month training.
Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata, announced the decision by the Defense Department this morning, accompanied by the United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Michael Day, who’s visiting the territory.
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Rear Admiral Day gave these comments.
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Parents of the 11 students who returned home Monday night have been contacted and sent electronic tickets for their flight back to Honolulu, next Monday. The others who were supposed to travel home tomorrow night, will remain in Hawaii now that the issue regarding their eligibility has been resolved.
