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MILITARY SECTION
March 21 2005
| Personnel on the USS Carl Vinson on Feb. 21 as it pulled into Guam for a four-day port visit included Morale Welfare and Recreation staff (from left) CS1 Catherine Lakel ET3 Ruth Kotouc and MM2 Charity Ferrell. The Vinson carried some 5 500 personnel. |
Fallon speaks on forces for Guam Bordallo supports F/A-22 request
Adm. William J. Fallon commander of U.S. Pacific Forces on March 9 told a fullhearing of the House Armed Services Committee “On Guam we continue effortsto enhance our strike fighter bomber and Intelligence/Surveillance/Reconnaissanceforces located there either on a permanent or rotational basis.”
Military watchers told the Journal such forces could include Global Hawk strikebombers or the F/A-22 Raptors the newest fighter aircraft of the U.S. Air Force at present awaiting approval from Congress before additional planes are orderedfrom Lockheed Martin Corp. The fiscal 2005 Defense Authorization Act allows for$4.1 billion for 24 Raptors. In 2002 the Air Force was talking of ordering 277of the planes.
Madeleine Z. Bordallo Guam’s delegate to Congress wrote on March 18 to Duncan Hunter chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; and Ike Skelton ranking member of the committee. She wrote “As the House Armed Services Committee prepares the fiscal year 2006 Department of Defense Authorization Act we urge the committee to fully fund the president’s budget request for the F/A-22 Raptor.” She said in the letter that the fighter plane was vital to maintaining military superiority and to achieve air dominance against future threats.
Capt. Christine Millette public affairs officer at Andersen said “There are changes coming to Andersen but nothing has been decided officially yet. Andersen leadership is ready to take on any missions higher leadership asks us to take on.” Millette said of discussion that Guam would receive Global Hawks or Raptors “There are years of infrastructure changes that would need to take place to have any fighter force.”
B-2s begin Guam rotation
Three B-2s from Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster Missouri began an indefinite rotation to Guam at the end of February. The rotation brought 210 personnel to Andersen Air Force Base. The rotation of B-2s follows several rotations of B-52 units that began in February 2004. The B-2s are part of the same mission — the command’s ongoing force posture adjustment. The bomber presence is aimed at enhancing regional security demonstrating the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific and providing training opportunities that integrate bombers into joint coalition forces in the Pacific.
White | Boera |
Change of command for 36th Air Wing
Col. Michael R. Boera at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan commander of the 35th Operations Group at Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa Japan will relieve Col. Paul “P.K.” White in June as commander of the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing at Andersen Air Force Base. White has received an assignment as professor of aerospace studies at the University of Washington in Seattle Wash.
Johnson |
Coast Guard
Johnson makes first trip to Guam
Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson Pacific area commander for the U.S. Coast Guard will visit Guam on March 21 and 22. He was originally scheduled to be on-island for the commissioning of the USCGC Sequoia in October. Johnson’s visit — his first to Guam — is one of a series of visits to Coast Guard Units under his command.
Sequoia aids Japanese crewman
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia homeported in Guam was diverted from a routine trip to Kwajelein Atoll to assist in rescue of a crewmember on the Yuho Maru 8 a Japanese fishing vessel. The two boats rendezvoused north of Chuuk and the Sequoia transported the patient to Chuuk arriving March 12. The crewman was due to be airlifted to Guam.
Coast Guard to host maritime workshops
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam will host three maritime industry regulation workshops in Guam and Saipan. The workshops will be held April 6 to 8 at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan and from April 11 to 13 at the Outrigger Guam Resort. Topics are (April 6 and 11) for waterfront facility operators; (April 7 and 12) for vessel operators; and (April 8 and 13) for shippers/carriers/stevedores/freight forwarders/truckers. The workshops will explain maritime-industry regulations repeated discrepancies and enforcement procedures and will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For details contact Lee Cabrera port manager at the Commonwealth Port Authority at (670) 664-3550; or [email protected] or call (671) 339-2001 ext. 160.
Guam Chamber of Commerce
Chamber to present white paper in Hawaii and D.C. in April
A working group of the Armed Forces Committee led by Gerald S.A. Perez administrator of the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority is updating the chamber’s white paper in preparation for presentation to military and civic leaders in Hawaii and Washington D.C. in April. The white paper will include for the first time a component on U.S. Marines as well as updates relevant to other branches of the service. Perez said “We are looking forward to meeting the new Pacific commander Adm. Fallon who took over from Adm. Fargo so we can get to know him as well as we did his predecessor and offer our continued assistance in facilitating the military’s mission out of Guam.” Perez said past chairmen of the chamber and past chairmen of the Armed Forces Committee would join the chamber delegation for appointments with the Pacific command in Hawaii and appointments in Washington D.C. April 4 to 8.
“Congresswoman Bordallo is helping to arrange meetings with the members of the House Armed Services Committee for which we are very grateful ” Perez said. “The Armed Forces Committee members acknowledge that Adm. Johnson Col. White and Col. Saunders have been very helpful in arranging our appointments in Hawaii and at the Pentagon. As in the past the paper will be available at the chamber Web site after we have briefed the membership and the military leadership that we will be meeting with.” Jerold W. Filush managing partner and chief operating officer at Deloitte & Touche LLP and secretary and treasurer of the board of directors of the chamber; will join the delegation in Washington D.C.
AFC raffle to launch March 30
The Armed Forces Committee will announce details of a raffle at the chamber’s March 30 meeting. Tickets will be available for sale at $25 each from that date. Prizes will include a Ford vehicle Continental tickets and hotel stays. The drawing will be on July 19. Proceeds will benefit the committee.
Chamber hosts strike group
The chamber hosted a reception for personnel of the Carl Vinson strike group on Feb. 22 at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. Event sponsors included Cabras Marine Corp. Citizens Security Bank Micronesia Mall Perez Bros. Inc. Triple J Enterprises Inc. Calvo’s Insurance Underwriters and Payless Markets.
Navy
Leidig to command Naval Forces Marianas
Rear Adm.-select Charles J. Leidig commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Md. in June or July will relieve Rear Arthur Johnson as commander of Naval Forces Marianas. Johnson has received orders as commander of patrol and reconnaissance of the Fifth and Seventh Fleet in Misawa Japan. Johnson arrived in Guam in 2003.
Exercises held at Farallon De Mendenilla
Aerial surveys aerial and area maneuvers and live fire training are being conducted at Farallon De Mendenilla in March and April. Eleven days of live fire four days of area maneuvers two days of aerial maneuvers and two days of aerial survey were due to be conducted between March 1 and April 26.
Mustin and Olympia visit Saipan
The USS Mustin and the USS Olympia part of the Carl Vinson carrier strike group visited Saipan Feb. 21 for four days with about 500 personnel on the two vessels. The Mustin was making its first visit to Saipan and the Olympia its third.
Autoport opens at Naval Base
The new Navy Exchange Auto Service Center & Retail Store will hold its grand opening April 1. The store offers parts merchandise and service for most vehicles and light trucks and will extend its hours opening from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday; and from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Airborne Weapons Maintenance Unit changes command
Cmdr. Diann Pape who arrived on Guam in February 2003 was relieved of command by Cmdr. Robert Neville of the Naval Airborne Weapons Maintenance Unit 1. The ceremony took place on March 10 at Top O’ the Mar. At the ceremony Pape received a Navy meritorious service medal; resolutions from Joseph Wesley mayor of Santa Rita and Sen. Antonio R. Unpingco chairman of the Committee on Tourism Maritime Military and Veterans Affairs of the 28th Guam Legislature; and a military command match coin from the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
Veterans Affairs
Veterans’ delegation visits Guam
House Veterans Affairs Committee members Rep. Lane Evans ranking member and Rep. Darrell Issa visited Guam on March 13 and 14. The two visited Naval Hospital Guam and the Veterans Clinic participated in a veterans forum laid a wreath at the Asan Bay Overlook at the War in the Pacific National Historic Park met with government and civic officials and visited Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Station. The pair saw the USS San Francisco which hit an underwater mount on Jan. 8.
House Resolution 737 commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Guam introduced by Madeleine Z. Bordallo Guam’s delegate to Congress on July 21 was formally presented at the wreath-laying. Bordallo — with Gov. Felix P. Camacho — accompanied the two and more than 300 U.S. veterans and family members to Iwo Jima on March 12 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the World War II battle there. Bordallo hosted a reception on March 12 at Two Lovers Point. Evans and Bordallo both serve on the House Armed Services Committee. MBJ
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