Air Force
Members of the 36th Contingency Response Group return from the Philippines
More than 70 members of the Air Force’s 36th Contingency Response group returned to Guam on March 7. The airmen returned from the Philippines where they participated in Exercise Balikatan 06 and relief efforts in the mudslide region of Leyte Island.
Exercise Balikatan 06 was an annual bilateral combined exercise between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States. During the exercise a mudslide killed more than 1 500 people in a village on Leyte Island. Following a request from the Filipino government. The 36th Contingency Response Group began working alongside the Filipino government to support and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations alongside other units of the U.S. Pacific command.
Secretary of Air Force visits Guam
Michael Wynne secretary of the U.S. Air Force made his first official visit to the Pacific Region on March 20. During his stay on Guam Wynne toured Andersen Air Force Base and met with senior leadership.
Guam National Guard
Commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific visits Guam
Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific was on Guam from March 4 through 6. While on Guam Brown met with Army National Guard and Army Reserve officials took a tour of the military facilities and had lunch with Army National Guard members.
Brown told the Journal that he was here to make sure the guard and reservists are receiving the right equipment training and have all the things necessary to perform their mission. "From what I have seen at present the primary focus now should be on improving the capabilities of the guard and reservists that are here right now in areas of transportation areas of communication areas of being able to do their missions at a higher level than they are today " he said.
While on Guam Brown also met with Gov. Felix P. Camacho according to a March 6 release. At the meeting Brown expressed his commitment to work with Guam to upgrade the capabilities of the Guam National Guard. The two also discussed a range of issues including National Guard force strength.
Navy
Sun Woo Corp. awarded $21 million contract
Sun Woo Corp. which does business as CoreTech International was awarded a housing and revitalization contract by Naval Facilities Marianas on March 3. The contract entails the improvement and repair of 99 existing enlisted and officer housing units in south Finegayan. Improvements include the conversion of carports to garages exterior storage trash enclosure concrete roof slabs over new front and rear patios mirrored closet doors ceramic tiles reconfiguration of existing laundry rooms refurbishment of existing air conditioning systems and modification of existing concrete walls. Repairs include replacement of worn-out architectural finishes doors windows closet doors and shelves kitchen countertops plumbing and light fixtures and range hoods. The scheduled completion date for the project is March 2008.
Sun Woo is a local small woman-owned disadvantaged business. The company is also HUBZone certified under the Small Business Administration. The company ranked at No. 24 in the Deloitte & Touche/Guam Business survey of the Top 400 companies in Micronesia in the 4th quarter 2005 issue of Guam Business with revenues of $12.78 million for 2004.
MSS 7 conducts training exercise
The Navy’s Mobile Security Squadron 7 held a routine training exercise March 8. Participants used small boats to conduct navigational training in the waters between the Piti Channel and Agat Marina. From the marina participants conducted a convoy to the Agat Memorial Park. At the park they simulated setting up a security perimeter.
USNS Concord makes port call to Saipan
On March 11 the naval supply ship the USNS Concord made a port call to Saipan. On March 12 the Saipan Chamber of Commerce held a reception for the USNS Concord and its crew of 20 at VFW Post 3457 one of its newest members. The VFW Post supplied the food for the event.
Navy and Guam Power Authority sign new charter
Naval Forces Marianas and Guam Power Authority signed a charter on March 2. This allows the Navy and GPA to form teams of key personnel "" Electrical Working Teams "" to help resolve concerns and issues that involve power quality and service.
GPA supplies more than 25% of the power it generates to the military and operates and maintains Navy assets which include transmission substations and other facilities.
Navy conducts aerial maneuvers on Farallon De Mendenilla
Naval Forces Marianas held aerial maneuvers on March 23 and 24 March 27 to 29 and March 30 through the 31. The general location of the activity was on the island of Farallon de Mendenilla training area on a 10 nautical mile radius on all quadrants.
U.S. Navy and Russian Federated Navy conduct bilateral exercise
On March 27 through 30 more than 1 300 U.S. and Russian Federated Navy personnel participated in a bilateral humanitarian assistance disaster relief and passing exercise (PASSEX) on and off the coast of Guam according to a March 27 release.
The exercise was designed to increase interoperability between the two navies while enhancing the strong cooperative relationship between Russia and the U.S. The training incorporated a variety of functional skills areas including surface and air events as well as cross decking of helicopters and personnel exchanges.
Two U.S. missile cruisers the USS Cowpens and the USS Chosin and the Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov; the tank landing ship BDK-11; the oiler Pechenga; and the tug SB-522 participated in the exercise.
This was the first PASSEX with the Russian Federated Navy in 2006. Both navies participated in several PASSEX opportunities last year in both Seventh and Sixth Fleet areas of responsibility.
The Guam Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception for the visiting personnel at the Outrigger Guam Resort on March 28. Attendees included Rear Adm. Joseph Leidig and Vice Adm. Kontantin Sidenko first deputy commander of the Russian Federated Navy Pacific Fleet. Other functions during the visit included on-board receptions and a soccer match.
Navy releases a pre-solicitation notice for utilities and housekeeping services
On March 6 a pre-solicitation notice for janitorial services on Naval Base Guam Naval Hospital Guam and various facilities was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site (http://www. fbo.gov).
The contract is worth $15 million. The scope of the work includes all labor supervision management tools materials equipment facilities transportation incidental engineering and other items necessary to provide janitorial services for Naval Base Guam Naval Hospital Guam and various other Naval facilities on Guam.
Palau
PSS Remeliik returns from Australia
The PSS Remeliik Palau’s Pacific class patrol boat used in maritime surveillance and fisheries control returned from Australia on March 11. The PSS Remeliik is returning after three weeks of dry-docking in Australia. The dry-docking included the inspection and maintenance of the vessel. The cost of maintenance was covered by both the Palauan and Australian governments.
R.O.C. ships visit Palau
The Republic of China’s Fleet of Friendship paid a goodwill visit Palau. from March 20 through 22. The fleet was comprised of one supply ship "" the Indigenous AOE and one frigate the Cheng-Ho and more than 500 naval officers and graduating cadets of R.O.C.’s naval academy. The stop in Palau was the fifth stop for the Fleet of Friendship which also made a stop in the middleeast Africa Central America and the Pacific Islands.
Taiwanese frigate runs aground
The Taiwanese frigate Cheng-Ho ran aground on the Sond Reef as it was entering Malakal port on March 20. The Cheng-Ho was one of the ships participating in the goodwill visit to Palau from March 20 through 22. The ship’s propeller was damaged in the incident but there was no structural damage or personnel injured. A tugboat from Taiwan has been dispatched to tow the damaged ship back to Taiwan.
USO
U.S.O. reopens on Guam
The United Service Organization hosted the grand opening for its new Guam center located at the Royal Orchid Guam on March 23. The last U.S.O. service center in Piti closed in 1993 following the Base Realignment and Closure process and is now used by the United Seaman’s Service.
The new U.S.O center offers phone cards phones video games computers with internet access recliners TV information on military discounts and more. Its business hours are Wednesdays Thursdays and Saturdays from 2p.m. to 10p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 1:30a.m.
The U.S.O established in 1941 was created through the coming together of six civilian agencies: the Salvation Army the Young Men’s Christian Association the Young Women’s Christian association the National Catholic community Service the National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the U.S.O.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release a public notice
On March 20 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a public notice about an application for a Department of the Army permit. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific proposes to improve Alpha and Bravo wharves. The improvements include extending the existing pile supported wharf northward 172 feet; driving a new steel sheet pile bulkhead about seven feet in front of the existing bulkhead along the existing Alpha and Bravo wharf bulkhead; and dredging an area approximately 103 acres in size. The area to be dredged fronts the Alpha and Bravo wharves.
Veterans of WWII and family take part in tour of Iwo Jima
More than 50 World War II veterans and their families took part in the 61st Reunion Tour to Iwo Jima on March 8. During the tour the veterans participated in a memorial service at the joint American/Japanese memorial monument. After the memorial service the tour group was transported by humvees to sites of interest including Mt. Surabache. The tour also included trips to WWII sites in Saipan Tinian and Guam and a banquet at the Outrigger Guam Resort.
Of the more than 50 veterans who participated: 31 were veterans of Iwo Jima; 11 were Guam liberation veterans; 12 were Saipan/Tinian liberation veterans; three were veterans of Okinawa and the Philippines; and four were Navajo code talkers who served on Guam Saipan Tinian and or Iwo Jima. The rest of the tour group was comprised of their family WWII Pacific historians and two film producers.
War monuments unveiled in Yigo and Mangilao
Two World War II monuments were unveiled on March 26. One of the monuments was placed at the site of the Yigo Battlefield and the other was placed in Mangilao near the Mangilao Golf Course. The placement of the monuments was arranged by the Peace Ring of Guam. The Peace Ring is also planning on placing monuments at Tinta and Faha. MBJ
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