US Army to build training facility at Marpi range

The U.S. Army will build a new training facility and improve the Department of Public Safety’s existing shooting range in San Juan, Marpi at no cost to the CNMI government.

“All expenses to build the facility and other developments in the area will be shouldered by the U.S. Army. We expect construction to begin either in late May or early June,” CNMI range master Ambrosio T. Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune in a phone interview.

The U.S. Army 9th Regional Readiness Command from Hawaii led by Col. Joh Lee signed a memorandum of agreement with DPS led by commissioner Santiago F. Tudela and Ogumoro.

Witnesses to the MOA signing included Brigadier Gen. John Ma and former Judge Edward Manibusan, who is the CNMI civilian aide to the secretary of the Army.

The MOA will allow the U.S. Army Reserve stationed on Saipan to begin using the DPS training facility in San Juan, Marpi, thereby reducing expenditure for the Army Reserve.

Tudela, in a statement, expressed gratitude for the agreement with the U.S. Army, saying the CNMI law enforcement will also benefit from the range improvement and saving the local government cost on the needed improvement in the facility.

The three-phase construction includes a training facility for the M203 practice grenade lounger, M16/M4 rifle range, and M249/M240 bravo machine gun range, along with a three-storey control tower and a close combat quarter for tactical training. Ogumoro said the project also includes an area for a pistol range.

“The U.S. Army will spend significant amount for the construction and improvement of the range,” DPS said in a statement.

Ogumoro also thanked Major Sablan, the liaison between the U.S. Army and DPS, as well as DPS firearm instructor Dave Hosono for coordinating the range operation.

In separate news, the CNMI Crime Stoppers will be holding its annual school presentations next week, according to DPS public information officer Eric David.

The schedules are as follows: Chacha Junior High School cafeteria for eighth graders only (May 5, 8:30 a.m.); Hopwood Junior High School (May 5, 10am); Kagman High School cafeteria (May 6, 8:30am); Saipan Southern High School cafeteria (May 7, 9am); and Marianas High School (May 8, 10am)

For more information, contact Crime Stoppers coordinator Jason T. Tarkong at 664-9026 or 664-9001.

A Police Week proclamation signing will also be held at the Governor’s Conference Room on Tuesday at 10am.