Project Management Operations LLC, which prepared a draft report entitled “A Strategic Approach Utilizing CNMI’s Natural Resources to Provide Complimentary Support to DoD Guam 2009,” said the islands’ unexplored land and marine resources can help build a strong military force for the U.S.
“Because of its undeveloped resources and it is an American territory, the CNMI has the unique opportunity to provide an island training center that is unlike any other in the [Department of Defense’s] cache of training facilities. The resources serve as a blank canvas on which the DoD and CNMI can collaborate to build a robust set of resources to fulfill the requirements for training, support and quality of life services,” the consultant said in its 77-page draft report.
“In other forward locations, the DoD is operating in either a foreign country that has many restrictions in place or the resources are developed leaving little maneuver capabilities for the military,” it added
Part of the U.S.-Japan agreement calls for the relocation of at least 8,000 U.S. Marines from different American bases in Okinawa, Japan, and the transfer of more than 1,000 Air Force personnel to Guam.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said he expects the public to actively comment on the draft report currently published on the Department of Commerce’s web site — www.commerce.gov.mp.
Comments should be e-mailed to [email protected].
Fitial said he is pleased with the findings of the report but expects it to be changed once the public comments are received.
“This is only a draft. We’re still going to meet with them. We may have some changes which should be minor,” he told the Variety.
According to the draft report, it is best for the CNMI to collaborate with the U.S. in the military buildup project rather than compete with Guam.
It identified several potential areas where the CNMI’s support services can be used. These include providing meals for the troops, producing more water, having its aerial and seaport facilities ready for military use, among others.
“The CNMI’s vast waterfront resources provide a unique opportunity to conduct joint exercises that emulate landing at unimproved port facilities to provide theater or area of operation port opening capabilities. The follow-on exercises from which the DoD could benefit include Joint Logistics over the Shore and In the Stream Discharge,” it said.
Tinian, whose two-thirds of public lands are currently leased to the military, is envisioned to host a number of drills, including hosting small weapons training.
Should this happen, the consultant said the CNMI has the opportunity to propose further capital investments by offering land for ammunition storage facilities on Tinian.
“The users of the range will require ammunition for each training rotation. This ammo will have to be transported into the island each time or it will need to be stored on the island,” the draft report states.
“The storage option will allow the CNMI to propose storage facilities to be built and maintained on Tinian, furthermore, it is suggested that the storage facilities be built inside the airport perimeter to take advantage of the active security that is already in place,” it added.
