Marianas to host leadership, defense, and poultry trainings and forums

Island populations have developed their own training and development opportunities for education, workforce development and acquiring new skills. 

The Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor, together with the Community Defense Liaison Office announced the Guam Defense Forum, scheduled for Sept. 17–18 at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort. It aims to convene key defense leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders “to engage in dialogue on regional security, civil-military collaboration, and Guam’s role in the Indo-Pacific,” according to a Sept. 27 release. 

Keynote speakers will include Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander U.S. INDOPACOM, and Assistant Secretary of Defense Dale Marks for Energy, Installations and Environment. 

For registration see https://guamdefenseforum.com. 

Western Pacific Maritime Academy presented its maritime training program on Aug. 25 at Capitol Kitchen.  Capt. Michael Bacher, executive director for the academy, presented WPMA’s maritime training and workforce placement programs to Guam private and public school educators. 
Post COVID, the International Maritime Organization reported a shortage of 400,000 seafarers worldwide. Bacher “envisions the Marianas as ready to lead the next generation of highly qualified maritime workers needed locally, regionally and globally,” according to an Aug. 27 release.   

WPMA’s Entry Level Seafarer program involves seven days of training and a Merchant Mariner Credential. The MMC is a federal license for mariners issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.  

WPMA assists graduates find high paying maritime jobs through its workforce placement programs, with the potential for graduates to earn more than $8,000 per month. More than 50 Pacific Island mariner graduates secured jobs in the local maritime workforce, the Military Sealift Command and maritime labor unions. The Seafarers International Union is in Hagåtña.  

WPMA has graduated 157 students from the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.  More than 50 graduates have entered the maritime workforce Guam industry. Guam industry representatives, WPMA trainers and Trustees Charlie Hermosa and Sam Mabini Young attended the seminar. 

WPMA is a non-profit corporation, established in 2021 in the NMI, and headquartered at Northern Marianas Technical Institute in Saipan. The WPMA office in Guam is at the GCA Trades Academy. For more information, see www.wpma.net or email info@wpma.net.   

The University of Guam Land Grant Extension Service will host a hands-on poultry processing workshop led by UOG animal and meat scientist Jeng-Hung Liu from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Sept. 13 at the UOG Yigo Research & Education Center. 

Participants will learn about USDA food safety guidelines and the proper processing techniques, will have hands-on experience processing a live chicken — including slaughtering, defeathering, gutting, butchering, and packaging. 

Participants will also learn the basics of roasting and smoking their freshly harvested chicken, which will be ready for pickup later that day. The series of red meat and poultry workshops will continue for several years. 

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce 3rd Quarter Professional Development Training: “Strategic Leadership & Effective Management” is scheduled for Sept. 9 at Island Training Solutions at the Marianas Business Plaza. 

James T. Arenovski, president of Island Training Solutions, will train participants on core leadership principles and practical strategies to strengthen team performance, boost efficiency, and build confidence in decision-making. Attendees may choose between a session from 9 a.m. to noon or a session from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. 

The training fee is $50 for Saipan Chamber members and $60 for future members. Organizations registering three or more participants will receive a group discount of $5 off per person. Registration includes admission to the session, light refreshments, and digital training materials. To enhance the interactive experience, participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or digital device. mbj