Members of the 734th Air Mobility Squadron prepare the Patriot Express for departure at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 30, 2023. (Pedro Tenorio/U.S. Air Force)
The Navy and Air Force have temporarily stopped personnel moves to new duty stations on Guam as the island continues to piece itself together after a May 24 typhoon.
The Navy has paused permanent change of station, or PCS, moves to Naval Base Guam until June 30, Lt. Cmdr. Katie Koenig, a spokeswoman for Joint Region Marianas, told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday.
The Air Force halted PCS moves to Andersen Air Force Base until July 24, although that date may change, a spokeswoman for the 36th Air Wing said by email Thursday.
“The stop movement for inbound PCSers was put into place May 25 following Typhoon Mawar in order to ensure incoming service members and their families have adequate resources available to them when it comes time for them to PCS,” said 1st Lt. Jade Watkins. “These resources include housing, food, lodging and childcare.”
However, airmen already on their way to Andersen should continue their moves and are encouraged to work with their sponsors and chains of command to ensure a smooth PCS, she said.
Members of the 734th Air Mobility Squadron prepare the Patriot Express for departure at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 30, 2023. (Pedro Tenorio/U.S. Air Force)
The storm caused significant damage to Andersen’s passenger terminal. To remedy the situation, the 734th Air Mobility Squadron turned the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron hangar into a temporary terminal.
The Marine Corps has not stopped PCS moves to Camp Blaz on the island, but it will assess each individual case, Camp Blaz spokeswoman Maj. Diann Rosenfeld said by email Wednesday.
Mawar was the strongest typhoon to hit Guam since Typhoon Pongsona in 2002. Mawar’s eye brushed Guam’s northern edge with winds that reached 140 mph. Up to 2 feet of rain fell on parts of the island.
As of Wednesday, more than half the island was still without electricity, according to the Guam government’s Joint Information Center. Many parts of the 210-square-mile territory lack access to clean water while island residents collect and dispose of debris left in the typhoon’s wake.
The U.S. territory has approximately 21,700 military members and their families at Andersen in the north, Blaz in the northwest and at the naval base in the south.
The chief of naval operations paused PCS moves to Guam in a Navy administrative message, NAVADMIN 128/23, on May 23, Koenig said.
Those with orders to Guam and still at their current commands should remain in place or contact their detailers or MyNavy Career Center for further guidance, according to the message.
Commanders on Guam may override the PCS pause for mission-essential personnel on a case-by-case basis, Koenig said.
Sailors on temporary duty to Guam are not affected by the PCS halt but those scheduled for temporary duty there over the next 30 days should contact their chain of command to determine whether they should proceed as scheduled, the NAVADMIN states.
