Marines transform sleepy Tinian into a bustling hub

Some 100 U.S. Marines stationed in Japan arrived yesterday morning on Tinian via a private high-speed vessel, transforming the sleepy island into a hub of military training and related activities, at least for the duration of Exercise Geiger Fury 2012, the largest military exercise the CNMI has seen in years.

Exercise Geiger Fury marks another milestone in the partnership between the CNMI and the U.S. Department of Defense, which leases two-thirds of Tinian.

At around 6:30am, the vessel was already waiting near the Tinian harbor for its local partners to guide it through the channel.

It was already past 9am when military forklifts, bulldozers, other types of heavy equipment and Marines started disembarking from the vessel that took them from Japan’s Iwakuni and then to Yokohama for repair and refueling, and finally to Tinian.

Residents and government personnel watched as the Tinian dock transformed into a temporary holding area for military vehicles and Marines preparing to head for the West Field and North Field where the training are to take place.

The rest of the estimated 200 Marines taking part in the exercise are expected to arrive either via planes or also by sea vessel in the coming days.

Soon, there will be F-18 Hornets and C-130s on Tinian skies as part of the exercise.

The training on Tinian allows Marine Aircraft Group-12 out of Japan “to improve aviation combat readiness and simulate operations in a deployed austere environment,” among other things.

Tinian was the launching pad for the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hastening the end of World War II.

Marine Cpl. Adam Santana, 22, said that it is interesting to take a journey into an island that played a major role during the war.

“We came from Iwakuni, Japan, which is approximately 25 minutes from Hiroshima where they actually [dropped] the bomb so you get to see both parts of where it happened, and how it actually happened, and what the outcome of it was. So yes, it’s pretty interesting,” Santana told Saipan Tribune in an interview aboard the high-speed vessel docked at the Tinian seaport.

There have been reports out of Japan that Tinian may be a future training site also for Japanese forces, alongside U.S. forces.

Col. Robert D. Loynd, officer-in-charge of Marine Forces Pacific Forward-Guam and CNMI, said the arrival of the Marines for the exercise is a “significant” event on multiple levels.

“This is a very important event not only for the Marine Corps being able to train in an expeditionary environment, which is so important to us. Some of these training venues are unique throughout this part of the world, and Tinian certainly affords us some tremendous opportunities,” he told reporters.

Loynd said the U.S. Marine Corps took part in and has been part of some very significant events in the history of the Marianas and the region.

“We’re eager to return to our home, to our roots, very much expeditionary and amphibious in nature and I look forward also to improving our partnership with the Northern Mariana Islands and Tinian, as we explore future opportunities for expanded training here in the future,” he added.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz, who was already by the dock at 7:15am, said this is the beginning of another chapter in CNMI history.

“Finally,” the mayor said, as he watched Marines and machines offload from the ship. “People thought this will never be pulled off on Tinian.”

Gerald K. Crisostimo, a resident of San Jose, Tinian and assistant ports manager, said, “It’s about time” the military uses its leased lands on Tinian and help the local economy grow.

Alvin John, of Marpo Valley, said it’s his first time to see Marines arriving on Tinian to train.

“I thought about joining the military, but I stayed here to take care of family matters such as land and family. But I have lots of relatives who are in the military,” said John, a firefighter on Tinian.

Marine Master Sgt. Shane Smoger said the Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s job is “go forward deployed and construct a fully operational airfield in an expeditionary manner.”

“To return the aircraft on North Field on Tinian I think that’s pretty big for us, we’re looking forward to it. I’ve been in the Marines for 17 years and this is probably the most interesting and the most unique operation or detachment I’ve been on,” he said.

Geiger Fury 2012 will be conducted on both West and North Fields on Tinian in the CNMI, while Aviation Training Relocation will be conducted at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

Approximately 700 personnel will participate in the ATR training in Guam and around 200 personnel will participate in Geiger Fury on Tinian.

Training on Tinian’s North Field includes clearing, stripping, and repairing the landing surface on Able and Baker runways and the installation of matting for vertical take-off and landing of rotary and fixed-wing operations.

Training on Tinian’s West Field includes emplacement of arresting gear and fuel storage/distribution for purposes of extending aviation training throughout the Mariana Island Range Complex.