Pacific Vanguard is due to begin on Aug 24 and will see ships from the naval forces of the United States, Japan, Korea and Australia converge on the waters off Guam.
The exercise is due to continue until Sept. 3.
The Korean Navy’s 4,400-ton Wang Geon destroyer and a Lynx helicopter are participating, with some 160 personnel, according to media reports in Korea. Exercises will be designed to include maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare and air defense operations. Some ships will carry aircraft and helicopters.
Pacific Vanguard was first held in 2019, according to Journal files. The Canadian Navy participated in 2024. Last year, the exercise involved about 1,500 personnel.
REFORPAC took place from July 9 to Aug. 8. The exercise also offered participating military a chance for R&R in Guam.
The military exercise was followed by a port visit to Guam beginning Aug. 17 by the USS George Washington carrier group – to include the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, with the destroyer USS Shoup visited Saipan. The destroyer visited Saipan previously in 2024 and 2023.
For further details on military activity, see: Summer military exercises and forces will flood the islands
In related news, Techni-Con Inc. of Mangilao was awarded a $7.99 million “firm-fixed-price contract to repair underground power,” according to an Aug. 20 release from the U.S. Department of Defense, CHamoru Standard Time.
The contract provides for replacement of the underground electrical feeders, duct banks, switches, and transformers for the Munitions Storage Area at Andersen Air Force Base. Work is expected to be completed by March 22, 2027. The contract was a competitive acquisition, and nine offers were received, according to the release. The 36th Contracting Squadron, at Andersen made the award. mbj
