Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo met this morning in Washington, D.C. with LTG John F. Goodman, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.  Congresswoman Bordallo and LTG Goodman met to discuss the recent announcement that Marine forces will be moving to Guam. Bordallo took the opportunity to thank the General and to discuss some preliminary details concerning the relocation of the Marines.

 

During the meeting, LTG Goodman emphasized that Guam will become a central element in a balanced strategic Marine capability in the Pacific that will enable Marines to respond to contingencies throughout the region from multiple locations.  In order to accomplish this strategic balance, Guam can expect to host not only the III Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters but possibly also air, land and sea maneuver assets along with logistical support elements.

 

“I took the opportunity this morning to thank General Goodman for his ongoing work and his planning efforts to bring the Marines to Guam,” Bordallo said. “We discussed the challenges that are ahead and some of the goals for the movement of the Marines to Guam,” Bordallo added.

 

Included in the discussion was the importance of developing world-class training facilities for the Marines on and around Guam.  LTG Goodman stressed that such facilities are vital in order to enable the Marines to maintain their war fighting skills and to keep them prepared to answer the call of the nation should a contingency operation arise in East Asia or elsewhere.  Congresswoman Bordallo and LTG Goodman recognized that partnering with Guam’s neighbors in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) will prove an important element in facilitating these goals.

 

The discussion also covered needs for development of infrastructure and facilities and the timeframe for moving Marines to the island.  LTG Goodman indicated that with the conclusion of the diplomatic process between Japan and the United States, a more intensive period of planning will now begin in which more precise timelines, unit identifications and infrastructural development plans will be addressed.  He emphasized that all planning will take place with the interests of the Marine Corps and Guam in mind and that plans will incorporate the Air Force and Navy who currently have a presence on Guam.  LTG Goodman believes Marines will begin to have a presence on Guam in 2008 and that assignment of the additional Marine Corps forces to the island will follow in a structured manner consistent with the opening of facilities and with training area development.

 

“LTG Goodman committed to continuing to consult with myself, the Governor and Guam’s leaders,” Bordallo added.  “He wants to build on the strong relationship between the U.S. military and the people of Guam and he expects to create an even stronger bond through this process and with the arrival of the U.S. Marines.  As plans develop and decisions are made, we can expect that the good news will continue to flow from the decision of Secretary Rumsfeld to move a sizeable portion of the Marines from Okinawa to Guam, as Guam has been advocating for years.”

 

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Contact: Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph Duenas in Guam at (671) 477-4272/4.