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False rumor
Someone has been passing false rumors on Tinian that I hope you will help put to an end.
The rumor is that the construction of the Air Force Divert Facility on West Field will eventually mean military personnel will be permanently stationed on Tinian. That is not true.
There is no plan by any of the services within the U.S. Department of Defense to station any troops on Tinian other than for training exercises.
The Divert Facility is only a parking lot for giant Air Force jet-powered refueling aircraft. They will land on the current Tinian Commuter Terminal main runway. They will then taxi to the new Divert Facility and park their aircraft. They will bring with them an aircraft maintenance crew that will service the aircraft on Tinian. There will be no lodging or other facilities on the Divert Facility for the aircraft crew. All will stay at lodging being constructed in San Jose Village. They will then conduct practice missions from Tinian, returning to the Divert Facility. When the two-week training period is over, they will return to their home base and the parking lot will be empty. Private firms may provide security for the facility, as well as grounds maintenance.
The Divert Facility will provide no further funding to the CNMI, other than the $21 million that has already been paid to the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
When construction of the Divert Facility is complete, the contractors and their employees will return to from whence they came.
Don A. Farrell
Marpo Heights, Tinian
