Island Soldier

Kosrae, Micronesia (population around 6,500), is a small island located 2,000 miles west of Hawaii. Occupied by the Japanese before and during WWII, it was taken back by the United States before becoming an independent country in 1986. Although no longer controlled by America (through a "compact of free association"), natives can enlist in the American armed forces, and the locale is considered a recruiter's paradise. Filmmaker Nathan Fitch’s documentary looks at life in Micronesia, which may physically appear to be a paradise, but is afflicted with poverty and high unemployment that drive many to enlist in America's military. At the outset, viewers see a military funeral for Sapuro Brightly Nena, known as "Sapp," killed in an Afghanistan "insider attack." The documentary then shows the world Sapp came from, where villagers struggle to eke out a living from fishing or farming, and a school teacher who loves his work decides to enlist to better provide for his family. Sapp's mother laments that there are no convenient veterans support groups on the island, and that Micronesians don't receive all available military benefits. In one moving scene, a resident travels all the way to Washington, D.C., to attend a symposium on community services, only to find his microphone cut off just before he can speak. Another sequence follows Sapp's army buddy, who travels from San Diego to connect with Sapp's family. The documentary notes that Micronesian financial assistance under the compact will expire after 2023. Offering a compelling and unusual perspective on today's volunteer army, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)