Guam’s star rises in importance, admiral says

BY MAUREEN N. MARATITA
Journal Staff

“Guam is the linchpin and the cornerstone of our defense in the Western Pacific,” Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman told a packed membership lunch of the Guam Chamber of Commerce on March 27 at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.

Huffman talked about the changes in military posture that will affect Guam. These include the appointment of Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven’s appointment as lead senior defense official for Guam, ensuring the military construction “is carried out on an effective timeline to meet any potential threats throughout the region,” and the Guam Synchronization and Oversight Council.

The council “has the authorities to make decisions, allocate resources, remove barriers, change policies - essentially do what needs to be done …,” the admiral said.

Joint Region Marianas would communicate directly with the council, he said. “That’s a big change,” he said.

Joint Task Force Micronesia is being established - which will be for the first time a two-star level operations command.

According to Journal files the task force already has personnel in Guam. Headquartered in Guam, the Joint Task Force “will have the ability to take command and control of all operational forces in this area. The intent is to have a senior enough staff established here on Guam that - should situations arise - can step in and take that command and control and direct forces and ensure the safety and defense of Guam,” Huffman said.

“The Joint Task Force will take on the role as senior official for the Indo-Pacific command for Guam and the COFA states,” he said.

According to Journal files, Huffman, who was selected for promotion from rear admiral (lower half) to rear admiral on March 1, will be assigned as commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command — still in Guam.

JRM will remain a one-star command, focused largely on installation support. The incoming commander of JRM will arrive “later this Spring,” the admiral said.

Huffman earlier said, “As we speak there are dozens of U.S. Navy ships on patrol throughout the South China Sea, throughout the Western Pacific ensuring the safety and security of the entire global commons, but also - more importantly - of the people of Guam.”

As to the significant commerce that flows through the region, Huffman said, “We have our own choke points - the Straits of Malucca - and that’s where the U.S. Navy is operating.”

Huffman also talked about the activities of JRM - the relationship with the Government of Guam, through the Civil-Military Coordination Council, civic organizations and the wider community. “That will continue - the policy and the posture that we follow is ‘One Guam.’ We recognize that everything that goes on on this island is incredibly interconnected.”

The admiral described as “very robust” the housing working group, “that is looking for solutions to ensure that we address any kind of challenges in the housing market as we increase the military population.” A recent Request for Information on housing solutions was successful, he said. “We got a number of exciting and interesting prospects coming forward …,” he said.

The military population will double during the next 10 to 15 years from about 10,000 personnel and about 25,000 family members, but slowly the admiral said. “ … 45,000 or so is what we are tracking now.”

Marine Corps Camp Blaz can expect about 100 additional personnel this year, primarily logisticians, he said.

While he did not mention the upcoming Agile Reaper from April 10 to April 17, with Andersen Air Force Base as its hub, Huffman said Valiant Shield in June will include other countries and will involve about 2,000 personnel. A carrier would visit Guam in the summer, he said.

For further details, see “Change on the way: Guam to see new military command, increased presence,” in the March 4 interview with Huffman in the Marianas Business Journal and on www.mbjguam.com. mbj

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