Air Force
554th RED HORSE breaks ground at Northwest field
On Oct. 11 the 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers squadron held a groundbreaking ceremony at Northwest Field for the unit’s bed down according to an Oct. 10 release. The squadron is relocating from Osan Air Base South Korea to Andersen Air Force Base with its initial operating capability set for summer 2007. The squadron will be a part of the Expeditionary Combat Support Training Campus located at the Northwest Field staging area.
The squadron’s mission is to provide the Air Force with a highly mobile civil engineer response force to support contingency and special operations worldwide. There are seven active-duty Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard RED HORSE squadrons. The 554th RED HORSE squadron is the only permanently assigned U.S. military heavy construction capability in the Pacific.
Deployed B-52s achieve perfect record
Since deploying to Andersen Air Force Base on Aug. 29 the 36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron B052 maintainers achieved a 100% mission effectiveness rate and a 100% weapons release rate for every sortie flown during September.
The squadron was deployed from Minot Air Force Base N.D. with the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron in support of the United States commitment to a continuous heavy bomber presence in the Pacific region.
The B-52s are deployed to Guam until January 2007 when another heavy bomber unit will be deployed to in their place. The bomber presence’s goal is to enhance regional security dissuading potential aggressors and providing integrating training opportunities for U.S. and allied forces.
Vaccination Program to be mandatory
On Oct. 12 the Department of Defense announced the current voluntary vaccination program would be changed to a mandatory program in certain locations since the threat of anthrax exposure still runs high among U.S. members.
If you are in the military an emergency-essential DOD civilian or a contractor stationed deployed or is in the process of being deployed in a high-threat area you will no longer have the choice of turning down the anthrax vaccination. The procedure will begin in the next few months. High threat areas include the U.S. Central Command locations and the Republic of Korea.
However plans on how the program will be implemented still need to be issued and be approved before the mandatory vaccination procedure can come into effect. Until then getting vaccinated will be voluntary.
36th Wing Commanders hosts farewell roundtable
Col. Michael Boera outgoing 36th Wing Commander hosted a farewell editorial roundtable at the Outrigger Guam Resort on Oct. 16. At the roundtable Boera provided a brief update regarding the military evolution of Andersen Air Force Base and then entertained questions concerning his tenure as commander of the 36th Wing.
Army
Army to help with erosion problems
The U.S. Army Corps of engineers will assist Guam by taking part in the Talofofo Bay and Inarajan Bay Seashore Protection project. The project aims to diminish the erosion problems occurring tin the southern bays.
On Nov. 6 a groundbreaking ceremony at Gef Pago was held to jumpstart the construction program.
Navy
USS Frank Cable returns from deployment
On Oct. 13 the USS Frank Cable returned from a five-week deployment according to an Oct. 12 release. During its deployment the Frank Cable hosted the first submarine staff talks between the U.S. Malaysian and Australian navies. The discussions centered on assisting Malaysia in preparation of a submarine force. More than 40 international military guests participated in the discussion.
In addition the Frank Cable also conducted its second mooring in Hong Kong with the submarines the USS La Jolla and USS Honolulu. The submarines would not have been permitted to visit Hong Kong without support from the Frank Cable due to the country’s anchoring regulations.
As a submarine tender the Frank Cable furnishes maintenance and logistic support for nuclear attack submarines.
NAVFAC named Recipients of the Year
On Nov. 3 the Small Environmental Business Action Coalition [SEBAC] named the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command [NAVFAC] as recipients of their 2005-2006 Award for Excellence.
The award is made to pay recognition to a federal agency’s proven commitment to the environmental matters. SEBAC is a trade association made up of small women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
National Guard
Two soldiers awarded Purple Heart
Two members of the Guam Army National Guard were awarded the Purple Heart at an award ceremony on Oct. 14 at the Guam Army Guard’s 105th Troop Command Multi-Purpose Room at the Barrigada complex.
Spc. Roberto B. Abian and Spc. Christopher Leon Guerrero both members of the 105th Troop Command were awarded the Military Order of the Purple Heart for their courageous efforts while they were assigned to the 778th Transportation Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005.
Guam National Guard soldiers deployed to New Mexico
On Oct. 13 15 members of the Guam Air National Guard’s 254th Security Forces Squadron were deployed to Albuquerque N.M. in support of Operation Jump Start the Southwest Border Mission. The airmen were assigned to the New Mexico National Guard’s 150th Fighter Wing.
The airmen will be joining 34 Air Guard members of the 254th Civil Engineer Squadron who were deployed to Arizona in support of Operation Jump Start. They are supporting Task Force Diamondback which is the engineering support mission. Both groups are scheduled to return from Deployment in December.
With 72 soldier and 38 airmen deployed to Arizona and 15 additional airmen deployed to New Mexico the Guam National Guard has a total of 125 soldier and airmen supporting the Southwest Border Mission. MBJ
