Guam News - Guam News

Guam - An example of the increased military exercises on Guam is exercise Guahan Shield which is ongoing. Guahan shield is comprised of two companies of Okinawa based marines and sailors with the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Guahan Shield is being conducted as part of the III MEF's responsibility to ensure it's marines and sailors are thoroughly trained to meet mission requirements and perform at the highest level of readiness.

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About 90 marines in the 3rd battalion 6th regiment were conducting what's known as tower operations. These operations include rappelling down the side of the tower and sliding down what's called a fast rope. Staff Sgt. Russel Douthat explains that these tower operations prepares the marines for rappelling and fast roping out of aircraft.

"Well with fast rope with what their conducting right now behind us here is nothing but a large single rope the marines just grab the rope it's almost a controlled free fall the rope just slows them down enough so that it isn't a free fall and it kind of lines them up with the ground so they can exit an aircraft extremely fast on an objective,” said Staff Sgt. Douthat.

 Exercise Guahan shield 2013 began on February 11th and will conclude in may. Douthat explains that Guam provides a unique area for marines to train in both urban and jungle environments.