Military installations across Guam have increased their level of security following U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran under Operation Epic Fury.
Joint Region Marianas announced March 1 on its social media that it along with all installations across the island have raised its Force Protection Condition level from Alpha to Bravo as a precautionary measure.
“This adjustment is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our personnel, families, and mission capabilities,” it wrote.
Joint Region Marianas raised its Force Protection Condition from Alpha to Bravo on March 1 for its installations across Guam. Photo by Skyler Obispo
JRM said there is no specific threat to the region at this time, but the change does reflect an increased level of vigilance across the entire Department of War.
Base personnel and visitors can expect increased Random Antiterrorism Measures and JRM encourages those in the bases to remain alert and report suspicious activity.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary,” JRM wrote. “For now normal operations will continue with appropriate modifications to access procedures and base activities required by FPCON Bravo guidelines.”
The Defense Logistics Agency, the DOW’s logistics combat support agency, states that FPCON Bravo applies “when an increased or more predictable threat of terrorism attack or hostile act exists and is directed against [DOW] elements and personnel.”
U.S. Central Command issued a statement March 1, 9:30 a.m. EST and announced three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five others are seriously wounded as a part of Operation Epic Fury.
Additionally USCENTCOM wrote several other service members have sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions and are in the process of being returned to service.
In related news, the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued two reports on DOW reporting on natural disaster tracking and sustainment for military installations.
GAO wrote in a report dated Feb. 23 but issued March 1 ChsT, natural disasters have caused billions in damages across installations over the past decade and DOW’s data collection does not include all natural disasters like earthquakes, which makes it difficult to trace recovery costs and effects of extreme weather.
“[DOW’s] data collection is limited to the effects of extreme weather,” GAO wrote. “Also, data [DOW] collects on the cost of extreme weather at installations may be inaccurate or incomplete in some cases, in part due to the timing of when installations are expected to report the information.”
In a GAO report dated Feb. 26 also released March 1, the office found that nearly all joint bases received less funding than needed to sustain their activities, the DOW cannot distinguish how funding is distributed amongst its military units and joint bases, and the DOW has not addressed workforce shortages among the joint bases’ personnel.
“[DOW] has issued numerous guidance documents for joint base facility management, but senior joint base officials expressed confusion about how responsibilities for funding joint base facilities are allocated between the military services,” GAO wrote. mbj
West Virginia Attorney General John B. “JB” McCuskey is leading a coalition of 21 state AGs asking the Supreme Court of the United States to protect the right of states to manage their own environmental permitting.
The Guam Solid Waste Authority discontinued its bulky waste self-haul service at the Harmon, Agat, and Malojloj residential transfer stations effective June 1, officially reverting to an appointment-only curbside collection model.
The USS George Washington left its forward-deployed port of Yakuska in Japan on May 30 for its spring deployment on patrol in the Indo-Pacific, according to media reports.
The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office indicted Paul Chen, former director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, which serves Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, for allegedly exploiting his official position to execute multiple fraud and asset misappropriation schemes totaling more than $130,000.
