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Marine Corps Reactivates Base On Guam
by U.S. Marine Corps Taylor Massey, Installations Command
February
1,
2023
The U.S. Marine Corps reactivated a new
base on Guam in a ceremony on January 26, 2023 ... honoring the
long-shared history of the Marine Corps and Guam and establishing a
forward presence in the Indo-Pacific that will endure into the
future.
Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz is the first newly
constructed Marine Corps base in 70 years and serves as a testament
to the U.S.-Japan alliance.
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U.S. Marines stand at attention during the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Reactivation and Naming Ceremony at Asan Beach, National Historical Park, Asan, Guam, on January 26, 2023. The ceremony officially recognized the activation and naming of Naval Support Activity, MCB Camp Blaz after Marine Barracks Guam was deactivated on November 10, 1992. MCB Camp Blaz was administratively activated on October 1, 2020. It is the first newly constructed base for the Marine Corps since 1952 and will serve as an enduring symbol of the continued partnership between the Marine Corps and the Government of Guam, which has existed since the Spanish surrender to U.S. forces on June 21, 1898. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp.)
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Guam was chosen as the location for the new
base during the 2012 Bilateral Agreement between the U.S and
Japanese governments, under the Defense Policy Review Initiative,
which set the framework for the relocation of Marines from Okinawa
to Guam. The base is named in honor of Brigadier General Vicente
Tomas “Ben” Garrido Blaz, the first CHamorro Marine to attain the
rank of general officer.
“Today is an important day that
marks the future of the Marines on Guam, and it is also a day to
reflect on the century-long history of the Marine Corps in this
beautiful place we call home,” said Col. Christopher Bopp,
Commanding Officer, MCB Camp Blaz. “On this island Marines and their
CHamoru brethren have lived in peace and fought in war together and
we are proud to carry on this legacy of honor and courage.”
Guam’s history is marked by the enduring partnership between the
U.S. military and the people of Guam. Since the establishment of
Marine Barracks Guam in 1899, the Marine Corps has had a nearly
continuous presence on Guam. The Marine Barracks was reactivated
after World War II and deactivated November 10, 1992.
During
the ceremony at War in the Pacific National Historical Park, honors
were rendered to the Honorable Lou Leon Guerrero, Governor of Guam;
Commandant of the Marine Corps; U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy
for Energy, Installations and Environmental; Japanese Parliamentary
Vice-Minister of Defense and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign
Affairs provided remarks. The ceremony ended with a traditional pass
and review.
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U.S. Marines salute during the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Reactivation and Naming Ceremony at Asan Beach, National Historical Park, Asan, Guam, on
January 26, 2023. MCB Camp Blaz was administratively activated on October 1, 2020. It is the first newly constructed base for the Marine Corps since 1952 and will serve as an enduring symbol of the continued partnership between the Marine Corps and the Government of Guam, which has existed since the Spanish surrender to U.S. forces on June 21, 1898. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp.)
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“I believe that on the horizon lies
the opportunities that Ben (Blaz) wished for our people,” said the
Honorable Leon Guerrero. “No longer are we dealing with challenges
and isolation, we are cultivating a more sustainable and
comprehensive Indo-Pacific allyship. The future of Guam is
inseparable from the future of the broader Indo-Pacific and the
success of the Marines is inseparable from the success of Guam’s
people. Together we are an island and an ocean united; together we
are always better and always stronger; together we are always
faithful. Semper Fidelis.”
Situated on Guam’s northern
plateau, Camp Blaz will serve as a strategic hub as the Department
of Defense realizes the vision of the 2022 National Defense
Strategy. The base construction projects currently underway are
partially funded by a large monetary contribution from the
Government of Japan.
“Forward, persistent presence is key to
the regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marine
Corps Base Camp Blaz is a critical part of that. More than that, it
shows our undivided relationship with the Government of Japan,” said
the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David H. Berger.
Camp Blaz represents a significant milestone for the future of both
the Marine Corps and Guam. The base’s forward presence and
engagement in the Pacific will play an essential role in
strengthening the ability of the U.S. and its allies and partners
for a collective defense and to promote regional security.
“The Japan and U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of the people, the
peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and the linchpin of
Japan’s foreign policy,” said Ms. Yoshikawa Yuumi, Vice-Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
The Marine Corps is committed to upholding
the legacy of Brig. Gen. Blaz’s, prioritizing environmental and
cultural stewardship, and building on the established relationships
with the people of Guam remains integral in all aspects of
development of this installation.
“Guam has been a place we
fight from. It's always a place we'll fight for,” said the Honorable
Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy,
Installations and Environment. "As we increase our capability to
deter and defend and sharpen our opportunities in the region, we do
so on the strength of the history, priorities, and people of the
community that we call home.
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