Provide the Fleet Marine Forces with operational functionality in order to enhance warfighting capabilities, facilitate the strengthening of coalition partnerships and joint region relationships, while projecting forward presence.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 participates in exercise Cope North 21 in Guam, February 6, 2021. The mission of Cope North is to conduct a Trilateral Field Training Exercise (FTX) to improve combat readiness, increase interoperability of USAF, RAAF, and Koku-Jieitai forces, concentrating on coordination of air tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and to develop synergistic humanitarian assistance and/or disaster relief (HA/DR) operations. Cope North enhances U.S. relations with our regional allies and partners by demonstrating our resolve to promote security and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM (Jan. 27, 2021) U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Joseph Osbourne, the Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz Current Operations Officer, left, receives the COVID-19 vaccine from Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jodee Martin, assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, Jan. 27, 2021. MCB Camp Blaz personnel received the vaccine to protect themselves against COVID-19, mitigate the spread of the virus, and maintain overall readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz pose for photos with the Associated Students of Northern Marianas College, Saipan Young Professionals and local businesses during the annual Toys for Tots campaign on Saipan on Dec. 17, 2020. This year marks the 73rd year of the national Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign and the 7th year on Saipan. The mission of the Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The Toys for Tots campaign partners with local organizations and businesses to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to Guam's and CNMI's less fortunate children. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Uriah Perez)
David Byerly, an archaeological technician assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz, Guam, conducts an archaeological investigation at a construction site for the base, Oct. 14, 2020. As part of our resource management program, as well as our environmental responsibilities, great care is afforded throughout the entire construction process to mitigate impacts to artifacts, buildings and sites of cultural or historical importance. MCB Camp Blaz will continue to ensure a responsible construction process through extensive joint efforts with the government of Guam and federal and local agencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
Staff Sgt. John Ewald, Assistant Coordinator for Toys for Tots on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands delivers donation boxes to the Grand Plaza Hotel on Guam to commence the 2020 Toys for Tots Campaign on Oct. 14, 2020. This year marks the 73rd year of the National Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign and the 11th year on Guam. The mission of the Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz partners with local organizations and businesses to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to Guam's and CNMI's less fortunate children. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
U.S. Marines and personnel assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz observe the first flag raising of the new command, marking the initial operation capability of the base in Dededo, Guam, Oct. 1, 2020. MCB Camp Blaz is the first new Marine Corps base activated since March 1, 1952 and will hold an activation ceremony in the spring of 2021. MCB Camp Blaz, named after Brig. Gen. Vicente Tomas Garrido Blaz, a Marine officer of 29 years and former Guam delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, symbolizes Guam’s contributions to national security and the continued partnership between the Marine Corps and the Government of Guam. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
Leah Esper, the wife of U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper, center, poses for a group photograph after a roundtable discussion with service members’ spouses during a luncheon at the Joint Region Marianas headquarters building in Asan, Guam, August 29, 2020. Leah Esper visited with spouses from all branches of the U.S. military and spoke with them about key issues facing them such as issues and concerns with child care, employment, housing and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
U.S. Navy Capt. Joe Greeson, the commanding officer of Officer in Charge of Construction (OICC), right, briefs Toshiaki Kobayashi, the Japanese Consulate General, left, on construction progress for the upcoming Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Guam, July 30, 2020. The visit provided updates on the status and progress of construction projects associated with the future Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam. The construction of the Marine Corps base is a joint venture between the governments of the United States and Japan as part of a Bilateral Agreement signed by both countries in 2006. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)
Carlo Medina, of the Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry Division, puts out a controlled burn during wildfire investigation training hosted by Guam Department of Agriculture, also helping in the eradication process of an invasive plant species in the future Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz forest enhancement area in Dededo, Guam, Mar 1, 2020. Environmental conservation is an important part of the Marine Corps relocation to Guam, with the forest enhancement area being one of many areas set aside to help protect native plant and wildlife species. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. John Ewald/Released)
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz and the University of Guam (UoG) are collaborating to restore and enhance more than 400 acres of Guam’s forests at the North Finegayan Forest Enhancement Site (FES). This is part of the largest forest restoration effort in the island’s recorded history, eventually covering 1,000 acres of Guam’s forests. MCB Camp Blaz and experts from the UoG began working together in July of 2019 to remove invasive species and restore the native habitat. Enhancement efforts include the planting of culturally important species like the Intsia bijuga, Artocarpus mariannensis, and Elaeocarpus joga, more commonly known as ifit, dokdok, and yoga, respectively.
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Since the establishment of Marine Barracks Guam in 1899 and the liberation of the island during WWII, the U.S. Marine Corps is proud to be a part of Guam’s unique story and seeks to honor the island’s past, present and its future. As the Marine Corps continues to make progress with the building of Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz, Guam, numerous steps are taken to respectfully manage cultural and historical sites and artifacts encountered, and to care for them in line with modern preservation law and accepted practices.
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz officially began the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign in Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Now starting the campaign’s eleventh year on Guam and sixth year in the CNMI, this week Marines from MCB Camp Blaz delivered toy collection boxes to participating organizations and businesses.
Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz (MCB) Camp Blaz will be activated on October 1, 2020. The activation is an administrative action that officially marks the initial operational capability (IOC) of the base. This will be the first new Marine Corps base activated since March 1, 1952, with the commissioning of what is presently Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia. The Marine Corps plans to hold an activation ceremony for its newest base in spring 2021.
Wood carving has been practiced in the Pacific for millennia. Here on Guam there are a few Master Carvers still practicing this cultural art form. In its small part, the Marine Corps, in conjunction with the Department of Chamorro Affairs, have identified the wood from areas where the new Marine Corps base in Guam is being built, and staged it, so cultural carving practitioners can select pieces they want to use for their craft.
Marine Corps Activity Guam Forest Enhancement Project begins to take shape on Naval Base Guam Telecommunications Station with the arrival of containers and equipment to be part of the new Native Plant Nursery set to open this year.