By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
The first tranche of U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa is anticipated to arrive on Guam in the next few weeks, commencing the troop realignment in the Pacific.
“The relocation of a small detachment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam honors treaty obligations between the government of Japan and the United States,” said Capt. Brenda McCarthy, spokesperson for the Marine Corps Headquarters.
“This detachment will ensure facilities on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz are prepared for the eventual arrival of follow-on forces at a later date,” she added
The Office in Charge of Construction Marine Corps Marianas reported this month that there are 58 active construction projects at Camp Blaz, Naval Base Guam, the Skaggs Training Complex in Yigo and Andersen Air Force Base
North Ramp.
While the exact date of the Marines’ first flow and the number of troops have yet to be disclosed, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed during a July 29 press conference “that the relocation of the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa to Guam will start this year.”
“We have reaffirmed our firm commitment to the steady execution of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan in accordance with the Okinawa
consolidation plan,” Kihara said based on the transcript of the press conference.
The relocation strategy is based on a 2012 revision to the 2006 Roadmap for Realignment, which would entail the transfer of 5,000 Marines and 1,300 dependents to Guam.
“Timelines for completing the implementation of this plan are event-driven,” McCarthy said in an email. “The United States Marine Corps remains committed to working closely with the government of Japan and Guam as relocations progress."
Approximately 9,000 Marines will move out of Okinawa. The original agreement called for the deployment of all 9,000 to Guam but a subsequent review prompted a plan amendment, requiring troop redistribution to other areas.
“Relocation secures a U.S. Marine Corps posture in the Indo-Pacific region that is more geographically distributed, operationally resilient, and politically sustainable,” McCarthy said.
The revised plan will send 2,700 Marines to Hawaii, 1,300 to Australia on a rotational basis, and 800 to locations in the continental United States.
“In order to respond to the increasing security-related challenges in the region, it is crucial to optimize the force posture of the alliance,” Kihara said at the July 29 press conference.
The deal includes Japan’s pledge to shoulder $3 billion of the estimated $8.6 billion cost to build Camp Blaz, which would be home to the arriving Marines and their families.
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