Valiant Shield 2007 Begins
By Trina A San Agustin
Variety News Staff
Tuesday 7 August 07
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VALIANT Shield 2007, the largest naval war games in Guam waters, began yesterday.
Participating in this year’s event are over 20,000 U.S. military personnel and three carrier strike groups — the USS John Stennis, the USS Nimitz, and the conventionally powered carrier the USS Kitty Hawk.
Valiant Shield ends on Aug. 13.
U.S. Air Force personnel are said to have 60 fighters, bombers, air refuel tankers, as well as cargo planes.
The Valiant Shield series of exercises focuses on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces and enhances real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces and in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to the range of mission areas, according to the Valiant Shield 2007 Web site.
In addition to the field training exercises, staff training exercises will take place concurrently for the Joint Task Force. The task force consists of 519 staff and component staffs at their headquarters in Hawaii and San Diego, according to the Valiant Shield 2007 Web site.
The exercises will bring together Air Force and Navy personnel and their assets to “work through a range of war fighting skills such as maritime interdiction and command and control.”
“This exercise, the greatest concentration of naval and air power in the Western Pacific since the Vietnam War, demonstrates joint command, control and communications of U.S. forces while highlighting continued U.S. commitment to allies and friends of the region. We are also hosting observers from many nations, including China,” the Web site reads.
This is not the island’s first time to play host to a large exercise. Last summer, naval war games involved more than 22,000 U.S. military personnel, 30 ships, and 280 aircraft. Officials say the number of this year’s participants mirrors that of last year.
Because of this exercise, residents can expect more traffic on Guam roadways, an increase in retail shoppers, as well as increased foot traffic in Tumon as the participants of Valiant Shield may have several days off to visit the island.
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liberty. Show all posts
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Military Training a Boon For Guam
Posted on: Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Military training a boon for Guam
Honolulu Advertiser
Associated Press
HAGATNA, Guam — With fewer visitors coming this year, the island's business community has looked forward to this week's joint U.S. military exercises.
Gerald Perez, chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee, said the exercises are expected to create an "economic surge across the island" when the sailors make port visits.
The average sailor spends $200 to $300 per day during a port visit, and the exercises, called "Valiant Shield," could bring up to 20,000 sailors to Guam, Perez said.
"Just do the math," he said. "If only half of those people spend a few days on Guam, we are talking about millions of dollars."
All told, Valiant Shield could send at least $4 million flowing into the economy of this U.S. territory. The expected infusion comes at a time when the island's main economic engine — the $1.2 billion tourism industry — is seeing fewer tourists and lackluster visitor spending. More than 1 million tourists, mostly from Japan, visit Guam each year.
Perez explained that port visits are not only a boon for hotels, restaurants and bars. He noted that many sailors want to play golf or become certified to skin dive once they hit land.
"There are a lot more women on these boats than people realize, too. They make port and want to get their hair done or go to a spa," Perez said.
To maximize spending, the Chamber of Commerce has persuaded bus companies to schedule extra bus routes to military installations. Perez expected all local businesses to feel some effect from the port visits.
Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base will play a "support role" in Valiant Shield, said Lt. Donnell Evans, Naval Base Guam's public affairs officer.
So will Jan Z's Lounge.
Assistant manager Joe Pangelinan expects the visiting military personnel to swarm the restaurant and bar throughout the week.
"Basically, we will need to double up all of our preps — more lemons, more burgers, more staff, more of everything," he said. "But we'll be ready for them."
But some military will be doing more than eating, drinking and relaxing.
Dozens of servicemen and women have joined their Guam-stationed military counterparts and local civilians in donating their time, sweat and skills to a community effort to prepare, clean and fix Guam's more than 30 public schools.
With only a couple more weeks left before more than 30,000 public school students return to their classrooms, the volunteer work — including painting walls; cutting grass; and fixing doors, classroom fixtures and furniture — couldn't have come at a better time.
Guam, with a population of 170,000, is 3,700 miles southwest of Hawai'i.
Military training a boon for Guam
Honolulu Advertiser
Associated Press
HAGATNA, Guam — With fewer visitors coming this year, the island's business community has looked forward to this week's joint U.S. military exercises.
Gerald Perez, chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee, said the exercises are expected to create an "economic surge across the island" when the sailors make port visits.
The average sailor spends $200 to $300 per day during a port visit, and the exercises, called "Valiant Shield," could bring up to 20,000 sailors to Guam, Perez said.
"Just do the math," he said. "If only half of those people spend a few days on Guam, we are talking about millions of dollars."
All told, Valiant Shield could send at least $4 million flowing into the economy of this U.S. territory. The expected infusion comes at a time when the island's main economic engine — the $1.2 billion tourism industry — is seeing fewer tourists and lackluster visitor spending. More than 1 million tourists, mostly from Japan, visit Guam each year.
Perez explained that port visits are not only a boon for hotels, restaurants and bars. He noted that many sailors want to play golf or become certified to skin dive once they hit land.
"There are a lot more women on these boats than people realize, too. They make port and want to get their hair done or go to a spa," Perez said.
To maximize spending, the Chamber of Commerce has persuaded bus companies to schedule extra bus routes to military installations. Perez expected all local businesses to feel some effect from the port visits.
Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base will play a "support role" in Valiant Shield, said Lt. Donnell Evans, Naval Base Guam's public affairs officer.
So will Jan Z's Lounge.
Assistant manager Joe Pangelinan expects the visiting military personnel to swarm the restaurant and bar throughout the week.
"Basically, we will need to double up all of our preps — more lemons, more burgers, more staff, more of everything," he said. "But we'll be ready for them."
But some military will be doing more than eating, drinking and relaxing.
Dozens of servicemen and women have joined their Guam-stationed military counterparts and local civilians in donating their time, sweat and skills to a community effort to prepare, clean and fix Guam's more than 30 public schools.
With only a couple more weeks left before more than 30,000 public school students return to their classrooms, the volunteer work — including painting walls; cutting grass; and fixing doors, classroom fixtures and furniture — couldn't have come at a better time.
Guam, with a population of 170,000, is 3,700 miles southwest of Hawai'i.
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