Exercise Geiger Fury in full throttle

The number of U.S. Marine Aircraft Group-12 personnel out of Japan that are now on Tinian climbed to 175 and dozens more are expected, with Exercise Geiger Fury now in full swing.

Exercise Geiger Fury is the largest U.S. military exercise the CNMI has seen in years, thrusting Tinian into the spotlight as a possible permanent training site not only for U.S. forces but its allies as well, although there’s no final word on this yet.

Lt. Cdr. Aisha Bakkar, public affairs officers of the Marine Forces Pacific Guam and CNMI, said yesterday that all operations “have been going exceptionally well and on time.”

“The arresting gear is secured in place on West Field and the Marines anticipate having their first F/A-18 conduct an arrested landing in blackout conditions around 2am with the pilot using night vision goggles,” she told Saipan Tribune.

The bulk of the Marines arrived on Tinian on May 14 aboard a private high-speed vessel, joining others who came to Tinian from Guam, totaling around 120.

Additional Marines started coming in on C-130s on May 15.

“Right now we have a total of 175 Marines on Tinian,” Bakkar said.

Of that number, 83 are working up at North Field, 81 at West Field, eight at the water purification point on Chulu Beach and three at the Tinian Health Clinic, she said. MAG-12 has been providing free medical and dental services to island residents.

Exercise Geiger Fury allows Marine Aircraft Group-12 “to improve aviation combat readiness and simulate operations in a deployed austere environment,” among other things.

Bakkar said the training goes on, rain or shine.

“But if we start having adverse weather conditions with excessive winds, then air operations could be impacted. But standard storms won’t stop operations. Our numbers will flex between 175 and 200 as Marines travel back and forth from Guam. They have been averaging about three C-130 flights a day either delivering equipment and personnel or fuel,” she said.

This week will see 24-hour Marine operations both on Tinian and in Guam.

Since the Marines’ arrival last week, Tinian has seen a flurry of activities that residents and local government officials hope would help boost the local economy.

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

Joseph Cruz, vice chair of the Tinian Municipal Council, said that Tinian waited for several years for such a military exercise to be done on island but the wait will be all worth it.

“The military is now using its leased land. And I also give credit to Tinian Mayor [Ramon] Dela Cruz and others who made this happen,” he said.