by Jolene Toves

Guam - Roughly 350 U.S. Marines and sailors based out of Okinawa are in Guam participating in Exercise Guahan Shield, which kicked off Monday. "Two companies, about 175 from Combat Logistics Detachment 39 and about 175 from Infantry Company," explained Captain Justin E. Jacobs of the participating personnel.

The exercise facilitates multi-service engagement, sets conditions for bilateral and multilateral training opportunities and sports rapid response to potential theater crises and contingency operations in the Asia Pacific Region. "We are looking to highlight and take advantage of the multiservice capabilities here as well as the unique training environments and the diverse expeditionary training environments that Guam provides," Jacobs added.

The captain also added that the Guam jungles and beaches is what make training unique. Marines arrived on Guam on February 9 and 10th and are now getting settled in and ready for training in the upcoming weeks.

The training wraps up in May.