ANDERSEN AFB, Guam - Local media, distinguished guests and government officials visited Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 12, to gain insight on Exercise Forager Fury II and the service members involved.
The guests were given a brief introduction outside of the MAG-12 Marine Operations Control Center, viewed the participating aircraft on the flight line, and spoke to several participants, to see and understand what Marines are capable of in a combat environment.
"FFII is an opportunity for MAG-12 to exercise and assess our ability to generate combat power and sustain it in an austere environment," explained Lt. Col. Bill Sheridan, executive officer of MAG-12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “We have an existing structure, we are using but the main control center was fully built by the Marines."
After visiting the MOCC, the group traveled to the flight line where the visitors watched multiple aircraft in support of FF II take off and land up close.
For some, this was not a new experience and gave them a chance to reminisce on their time in the Marine Corps.
“I actually worked with a Marine Wing Support Squadron like the one in Tinian supporting the MAG,” said retired Marine Corps Capt. Jessy Gogue, mayor of Chalan Pago-Ordot, Guam. "I've been out of the Corps for 20 years now, so I wanted to see where the Corps was at as far as its operational abilities."
The Corps’ operational abilities didn't lack, according to retired Army Col. Tom Ada, senator with the Guam legislature.
"To me the most impressive part was the logistics and maintenance that is involved in supporting an exercise like this," said Ada.
The guests saw a small part of what it takes to manage a combat exercise, with the majority of the field work being done on Tinian, but what they did see was impressive, according to Gogue.
"I'm still impressed with the Marine Corps after what I've seen," said Gogue. "It's great to see the Corps hasn't changed much. They've evolved but the rudimentary philosophy is still the same, take care of your people and take care of your equipment."
FF II is scheduled to conclude on Dec. 20.