Carrier personnel visit Guam before special mission

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at U.S. Naval Base Guam the morning of Aug 4.

The USS Abraham Lincoln is shown underway in the Western Pacific in 2024. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Patrick M. Bonafede

Personnel from the ship headed to Tumon the same day, to take advantage of the ship’s first port of call in 2024.

While in Guam, the crew will resupply the ship, take advantage of shore leave and participate in several community service events, to include youth mentorship, trail cleanups, and beach cleanups.

The Abraham Lincoln is conducting a planned deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet, according to Naval Base Guam.

However, it is soon heading to the Middle East together with its Carrier Strike Group, according to an Aug. 2 release from the U.S. Department of Defense. The strike group includes an air wing and various vessels with guided missile capability.

The ship will be part of a move “designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies,” the release said. Other U.S. military assets will also be deployed as tensions rise between Israel and Iran.

“The Secretary of Defense has reiterated that the United States will protect our personnel and interests in the region, including our ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel,” the release said. mbj

Guam and NMI officials advance visa waiver talks with Philippine immigration bureau

A Guam delegation led by Jesse A. Lujan, majority leader of the 38th Guam Legislature and chairman of the Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities, and Federal & Foreign Affairs, met with Philippine immigration officials to advance efforts to include the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program.

Carrier personnel visit Guam before special mission