Military notifies public of ongoing, pending exercises

The military has issued public advisories to Guam residents in connection with ongoing and upcoming military exercises, including an exercise that will involve the firing of blank ammunition to simulate an attack.

U.S. Marines from Japan are currently conducting an urban warfare training on Guam, until Feb. 4, according to the Marines, with most of the training happening at the island’s military bases.

Residents may notice increased activity on Jan. 30, and on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, the Marines stated.

“We have coordinated this exercise through the appropriate on-island agencies and village officials, including the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense, and village mayors to ensure the safety and awareness of residents and to minimize any impact in the community,” Marine Col. Brent W. Bien stated in an open letter to the community.

“We understand that our presence may briefly raise the noise level in some villages and we greatly appreciate your patience and understanding. We hope you will bear with us as we complete this critical training exercise.”

Naval Base Guam announced it will conduct an anti-terrorism and force protection exercise, called Citadel Protect 2017, from Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. The training will focus on responding to improvised explosive devices on the water and active shooters on land.

Residents are advised not to be alarmed if they see or hear an increased military presence in the Apra Harbor area, including the firing of blank ammunition as part of simulated attacks, the Navy stated.