Guthertz wants Marines moved over 8 years

Guthertz wants Marines moved over 8 years

Posted: Jan 28, 2010 10:52 AM
Updated: Jan 28, 2010 10:52 AM

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Senator Judith Guthertz made recommendations to stretch out the time period and minimize the number of Marines slated to relocate from Okinawa to Guam. While the senator points out that the military's current footprint shows more than 40,000 military personnel and their dependants expected to move to the island in the next few years, she recommend that the Marines be moved over an eight-year period.

Guthertz also recommends reducing the size of the movement to Guam by 50% by having the 4,000 in Futenma move to Tinian and Aguijan as the mayors of those territories have asked the military to consider them for the buildup. The Buildup Committee chair adds her recommendation to then relocate 4,000 of the 8,652 Marines originally intended for Guam from the current infantry base in Okinawa to the vacated facilities in Futenma.

Guthertz says she will present her plans to the federal government, the white house, and to congress in hopes that the agreement between the U.S. and Japan can be reevaluated. She also hopes to hold discussions on her recommendations on Guam as she feels it will better resolve the process.