Background: The Senate report accompanying the 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill requires the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review DOD’s master planning effort for the military buildup on Guam.  Accordingly, GAO is reviewing the status of DOD’s master planning effort for the buildup of forces and infrastructure on Guam, and the extent that DOD has identified and addressed infrastructure and funding requirements, base operation and support services, training and mobility capabilities, joint basing opportunities, and other challenges associated with the buildup in this planning effort. 

Purpose: As part of our review, we are seeking to gain information on the challenges that the territory of Guam and its communities face in accommodating thousands of military personnel and dependents as a result of overseas rebasing actions.

Community concerns/issues

1.    What has been your experience in dealing with the military installations? 

a.    Free and open contact?  While communication is free and open, there is minimal information received due to it being pre-decisional and close-hold except through the DoDEA superintendent and Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) Education Officer.  The DoDEA superintendent and AAFB Education Officer is part of the subcommittee on Education and has been open and up front with information to see how DoDEA and higher education plans on base have been unfolding, to the extent possible, to meet the needs of military and their dependents. 

b.    Cooperation/reach out by installation officials?  Cooperation and reachout concerning outside the fence education impact has been through the DoDEA superintendent and AAFB Education Officer.  DoDEA superintendent has been supportive in maximizing transfer of excess equipment to the Guam Public School System (GPSS) as replacement equipment arrives for DoDEA.  AAFB Education Officer has been supportive in terms of better collaboration and identifying expectations that would meet military and their dependents’ higher educational needs.  During the week of January 14, 2008, the President of the Guam Community College (GCC) has been asked to participate in the Andersen Civilian Advisory Council.  Through this Council, key business leaders and civic leaders will interface, in a social setting, with senior leaders of AAFB to discuss mutual concerns affecting residents on Guam.

 

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