Naval Base Guam News

With the rise of China and her global ambitions, the military importance of Guam in the Indo-Pacific theater has become apparent. The force levels on the island had drawn down from a peak of about 26,000 at the height of the Vietnam War to a tenth of that—just 2,500 people in the early 2000s. Today, that's changing. Guam's defense posture is growing.Guam's proximity to major population centers in East Asia underscores its strategic importance. The island is just 1,400 miles from Tokyo, Manilla or Port Moresby. All of the armed services have a presence on Guam.

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is underway for the first time since being sidelined by an onboard coronavirus outbreak that infected hundreds of sailors and led to the firing of the ship's commander.Theodore Roosevelt was in the Asia-Pacific region when a number of its sailors began falling ill with COVID-19, forcing the aircraft carrier to eventually dock in Guam on March 27. One sailor who was infected died, and more than 1,110 out of the roughly 4…

Hundreds of U.S. Navy sailors began the transition from quarantine and isolation to return to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Wednesday, as the ship prepares to return to sea after a bow-to-stern deep cleaning following a coronavirus outbreak on board. Theodore Roosevelt was in the Asia-Pacific region when its sailors began falling ill with COVID-19, forcing the aircraft carrier to eventually dock in Guam. One sailor who was infected died, and nearly 850 out of the roughly 4…

The U.S. Navy on Thursday relieved the commander of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote a scathing letter that leaked to the public asking the Navy for stronger measures to control a coronavirus outbreak onboard the ship.The removal of Captain Brett Crozier from the command of the 5,000-person vessel, which was first reported by Reuters, was announced by acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who said the commander exercised poor judgment.Modly said the letter…

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington Island (WPB 1331), a 110-foot Island Class patrol boat, was decommissioned after nearly 30 years of service as part of recapitalization efforts during a ceremony at Naval Base Guam, Wednesday.Rear Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commander, Coast Guard 14th District presided over the ceremony. Washington's years of service included numerous law enforcement cases, safety and security enforcement patrols, dignitary and Naval security operations, and a…

Performing missions at sea, on land and in the skies daily around the globe, the Navy is a constant presence in the environment. To emphasize stewardship on all fronts, the Navy workforce is taking part in Earth Day-related activities throughout the month of April. The official Earth Day date is April 22. The Navy's Earth Day theme for 2017 is, "Building Strength Through Stewardship." The theme emphasizes the value of environmental initiatives in supporting the mission by helping to build trust with government agencies and the public. As examples, preserving the ecosystems where we train and operate, conducting research in support of…

Commanders from the U.S. and Japanese Navies visited Naval Base Guam, touring the base and examining areas of cooperation, the U.S. Navy reported. The United States’ Rear Adm. William R. Merz, commander, Submarine Group 7, and Japan’s Vice Adm. Masakazu Kaji, commander, Fleet Submarine Force of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) visited the base April 26-28. The commanders also met with Rear Adm. Babette Bolivar, commander, Joint Region Marianas, during an office call visit. During the visit, Merz and Kaji toured Naval Base Guam, the JMSDF submarine JS Hakuryu (SS 503), and observed the Hakuryu team conduct a brief mission…

U.S. Navy Sailors and civilian firefighters partnered with the Guam Fire Department (GFD) to extinguish a blaze along Route 17, Cross Island Road, in Santa Rita March 25. A MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 and Engine 2 from U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) Fire and Emergency Services (FES) responded to the scene and provided support. "The team here on Guam relies upon mutually supporting assets across the military and civilian sectors, to be ready day or night to respond to any number of scenarios," said Cmdr. Gregory Leland, HSC-25 commanding officer. NBG FES responded as part of the mutual aid agreement between local and federal emergency services. "We have a very, very close tie with GFD," said NBG FES Fire Chief Robert Green.

By Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. The U.S. Navy, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and civilian contractors, safely removed 49 55-gallon drums filled with hazardous materials from the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 at the Spanish Steps on Naval Base Guam (NBG) March 6. The Navy-led unified command consisting of representatives from the base, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, Guam Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the responsible party have worked together daily to secure the site and coordinate removal of the hazardous waste since the vessel ran aground Feb. 13.

The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, removed approximately 540 gallons of the remaining diesel fuel from the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 18. On Feb. 16, about 50 gallons of fuel was removed and an additional 540 gallons was removed Feb. 18. The diesel fuel was pumped into containers on shore and then staged in an environmentally safe containment zone for disposal. Additionally, four marine batteries and several fishing nets were safely removed.

The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, has deployed teams to assess and respond to potential environmental impacts due to the grounding of the Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 13. Navy officials are taking all the necessary steps to address the situation and ensure the protection of the environment. "It's our number one priority on the Navy base along with all the agencies we are partnering with," said Capt. Mike Ward, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Base Guam.

Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducted a search and rescue operation and rescued 10 fishermen from a sinking commercial fishing vessel that ran aground in Apra Harbor near Spanish Steps, Guam. Subsequently Navy personnel removed environmentally hazardous materials from the wreck. "Through the efforts of HSC-25 and the U.S. Coast Guard, we were able to successfully meet our first priority, which was to rescue the crew members," said Capt. Mike Ward, commanding officer of Naval Base Guam. The U.S.

A command investigation into the death of a Guam-based U.S. Navy Sailor has determined the death to be the result of accidental drowning while free diving. Navy Diver 3rd Class Robert Dotzler, 22, of Kiel, Wis., was assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) when he died June 19 following a dive operation at Alpha Pier on U.S. Naval Base Guam. Dotzler was discovered unconscious in the water and was transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam where he was pronounced dead at 11:27 a.m. Characterizing Dotzler's death as "tragic," the investigation concluded that his death was accidental and occurred in the line of duty. In concluding his endorsement of the investigation, Frank Cable's Commanding Officer, Capt. Nelson P.

A Washington think tank concludes Navy should deploy more ships, submarines, to the Asia-Pacific theater. The congressionally mandated report by the Center for International and Strategic Studies offers a number of suggestions to rebalance U.S. military forces after years of war, and bolster combat capabilities in the U.S. Pacific Command area. Authors David J. Berteau and Michael J. Green, the center’s co-directors, propose a shift of forces away from Northeast Asia — Japan and South Korea — and more toward Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, and Australia.