Statements from US Department of Defense or related press releases

US Marines Begin Relocation from Okinawa to Guam's Camp Braz, 19 Years After Agreement

Dec 14, 2024, 10:16 AM

The relocation of U.S. Marine Corps personnel from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam has commenced, marking the first significant move under an agreement made between Japan and the United States 19 years ago in 2005. The transfer began with an advance team of approximately 100 logistics support personnel from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, with the goal of reducing the burden on local communities in Okinawa while maintaining the deterrence capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The relocation plan includes moving over 4,000 Marines to Guam, with the total number of personnel to be reduced in Okinawa to about 10,000. The U.S. military has stated that the relocation signifies the first phase of moving Marines to locations outside of Japan, with subsequent phases to follow. The move is part of a broader realignment strategy to distribute U.S. military presence in the region more evenly, particularly in light of regional security concerns involving China. The personnel will be stationed at the new base, Camp Braz, on Guam. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani conveyed the start of the transfer to Nago Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi, who welcomed the move. The Marines being relocated are mainly from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Courtney, the 4th Marine Regiment at Camp Schwab, and the Combat Logistics Battalion 4 at Camp Foster.