Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz is making significant development progress with their newest barracks installation that opened on May 16.

“This marks the beginning of life on Camp Blaz’s Main Cantonment,” said Col. Ernest Govea, commanding officer, MCBCB. “Marines and Sailors are going to finally be able to live on the base and have an improved quality of life and readiness.”

In the morning, Marines and Sailors, previously housed on Andersen Air Force Base, began moving into their new home. In the coming weeks, Marines and Sailors living aboard Naval Base Guam will transition into the new facilities.

“It is really unique to be able to be the first person to move into a barracks room, and that will probably never happen again in my career,” said Lance Cpl. Juan Dela Cerda, an administrative clerk with the S-1 section of Camp Blaz. “Besides how unique it is, it’s just nice to have a place to call my own.”

Camp Blaz also hosted a ribbon-cutting soft opening, commemorating not just the completion of a building, but years of planning, coordination, and hard work by Navy and Marine Corps leaders, engineers, and contractors dedicated to bring the vision of Camp Blaz to life.

Construction on Camp Blaz is overseen by the Officer in Charge of Construction Marine Corps Marianas. The OICC is a specialized Navy command led by U.S. Navy Capt. Blake Burket, who also attended the soft opening on Friday.

“This ribbon cutting is a big deal for our team," said Burket. "Our construction managers, contracting officers, and engineering technicians work for years on these projects. Starting from a blank field to delivering a final building is very rewarding. It’s something they can hang their hat on, both as residents of Guam making history in their own backyard, and as professionals, contributing to this milestone moment.”

The 300-room barracks and common area were designed to enhance on-base living for the Marines and Sailors. The common area includes recreational activities, study areas, a kitchen, and laundry facilities.

“These new barracks are a huge upgrade, everything’s clean, modern, and actually feels like a home,” said Dela Cerda. “The common areas are spotless with new TVs, couches, and even a solid kitchen setup. It is definitely a morale booster.”

The facility is the first of several key infrastructures on the Main Cantonment aimed at fully operationalizing the base. In addition to moving onto the base, Camp Blaz and Naval Base security forces activated the Blaz main gate.

“It is foundational, you can’t build a base without people living on it and working on it,” said Govea. “It’s only going to improve our operational capabilities by having Marines and Sailors who are happy to be with Camp Blaz and ready to get after it every day.”

Currently, seven other bachelor enlisted quarters are under construction with completion dates phased over the next one to three years.