Guam Military Assignment
Have you been alerted that your next overseas duty assignment will be Guam, the dreaded rock? Don’t think of it as a year or more out of your life. Guam has a lot to offer assigned military members and families. Guam is genuine Pacific tropical island paradise and popular tourist destination with plenty of activities to keep you busy during your days and nights. Guam offers wide beaches, snorkeling and scuba diving, deep sea sport fishing, world class golf courses, lush tropical jungles and a rich cultural and historical heritage. Guam is centrally located in the Pacific about 2/3 of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines. With flying times of approximately 7 hours to Hawaii and about 3 hours to the Philippines, Korea or Japan, Guam is a great base for Asian travel. Military space available travel throughout Asia and to Hawaii is available from Anderson Air Base.
Naval Base MarianasNaval Base Guam. U.S. Naval Base Guam is located approximately mid island on Guam’s West coast on the Philippine Sea. The Base is situated on Apra Harbor which is shared by the Navy, the commercial port and other recreational entities. The Commander Regional Naval Region Marianas (CNRM) is located on the Naval Base. Anderson Air Base.
Anderson is located approximately 22 miles North of Guam Naval Base on the Northern tip of the island. The U.S. Navy Hospital is located a few miles North of the Naval Base on the cliff line overlooking the Philippine Sea. The Hospital is a short term acute care hospital, able to handle most situations rarely requiring off-island patient medevac. There are a number of smaller Army and Air Force Reserve and National Guard installations located in the Northern half of the island.
Navy and Air ForceCommissary and Exchange Stores
Commissary and Exchange Stores The Navy and Air Force maintain large, well stocked, commissary and exchange stores, furniture and appliance stores, gas stations and auto service centers on both the Naval Station and Andersen AB.
Navy Family HousingLockwood, Terrace
Military Family HousingThe Navy and Air Force provide attractive, spacious, safe and well maintained on-base military housing and other family oriented benefits such as DoD schools, military health care facilities and a large full service equipped Navy hospital.
Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) operates clubs and facilities to include golf courses, scuba and snorkeling, tours, private military beaches a marina and other dedicated military recreational facilities. Located approximately 3,300 miles West of Hawaii, 1,550 miles South of Japan and 1,500 East of the Philippines, Guam is an ideal hub for travel within the Far East, Australia, Hawaii and back to the U.S. mainland. The US Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) operates space available travel opportunities at the passenger air terminal at Anderson AB.
Recreation Facilities and Opportunities
Guam offers a great variety of recreational and leisure activities and travel opportunities to occupy your off-duty and make Guam an enjoyable and rewarding assignment.
Top of the RockMorale Welfare and Recreation (MWR). The Guam Joint MWR offers a wide range of recreational activities for military personnel and their families. On-base recreational facilities include swimming pools, gyms and fitness centers, tennis courts, golf courses,
recreation centers, theaters, teen centers, singles organizations, clubs and dining facilities, boating and marina facilities, camping and recreational equipment rentals, a dive shop and diving lessons, auto craft shops and other activities you would expect to find on a large military base. The Top of the Rock on Anderson AB and Top of the Mar on Nimitz Hill are open to all-ranks. Torpedoes and Tomahawks, on Naval Base Guam, offers dining and recreation facilities. Clippers Landing offers outdoor dining overlooking the Sumay Marina. MWR can also arrange for fishing trips, horse riding and other off-base activities.
CNRM Command ChapelReligious Services. Religion has been an important aspect of life on Guam since the Jesuits arrived on Guam to spread their specific brand of religion to the Natives. Today, over 70% of the island is Catholic, but other religions are represented and services available. The Naval Base Guam Command Chapel offers Catholic and Protestant services. Likewise, the Anderson AB Chapel also offers Catholic and Protestant services. Both Chapels provide religious support such as pastoral care, unit visitation, counseling, worship services, religious community activities and religious education.
Scuba Diving. Guam offers divers exceptionally clear waters that maintain temperature between 82-86 (28C) degrees year round, unspoiled coral reefs with sheer walls which are home to hundreds of varieties of coral and fish, and a number of World War II airplane and ship wrecks. A number of marine preserves have been established to protect Guam’s undersea life which are open to, and offer great experiences, to divers and underwater photographers. Dives can be initiated from the shore or boat, depending on the destination. Diving instruction, equipment and trip are offered by a number of commercial dive operators with one of the larger dive stores located on the Naval Station. Check our Fun things to Do page.
Polaris PointMilitary Beaches. Guam is a genuine Pacific Island paradise with coral ringed beaches, warm crystal clear waters for snorkeling, scuba diving or just lounging on the clean white sand. Some of the best beaches on Guam are on the military bases and restricted for use of military personnel and their families and guests. MWR offers cabanas, canoes, fishing boats, diving lessons, barbecue grills and picnic tables.
Gab Gab BeachGab Gab Beach on Naval Base Guam is popular for picnics, snorkeling and scuba diving. There is a small beach and club on Polaris Point. Haputo Beach on the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station is popular for hiking, cave exploring and snorkeling. Tarague and Sirena beaches on Andersen AB are great for outings. There is a snack bar at Tarague Beach. Sirena Beach is private and available by reservation only.
Andersen ABTravel Opportunities. The Northern Marianas Islands of Saipan and Tinian are highly desirable dive locations, are rich with historical and cultural sites and are only 30 minutes away by air. Japan, Korea and the Philippines are all within 4 hours with flights available daily. Flights to Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland also depart daily. Direct International commercial flights to other parts of Asia are currently limited: however, flights can be booked through Japan, Korea and the Philippines to such locations as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Honk Kong and China. Military space available travel is available to many Pacific locations and back to the U.S. Mainland from the Andersen Air Terminal.
United Service Organization (USO). The USO has long been recognized as a home-away-from-home for service members and their families.
Who hasn’t had coffee and snacks or crashed in the USO while waiting for a flight in the San Francisco, New York or another lonely International Air terminal. The Guam USO, located in the Royal Orchid Hotel in Tumon, offers a number of services for military members, such as free computers and internet, complimentary coffee and refreshments, DVD movies with large screen projection, books, free phone home program, information about recreation in Guam’s tourism district and discount coupons.
Chamorro Cultural ShowGuam has the potential to be a very enjoyable tour. Recreational opportunities abound. The people of Guam are proud of their culture and proud to be a part of the USA. The Military contribute a great deal to the economy of Guam and the Military, and Military personnel, are welcomed and treated extremely well on Guam. Enjoy the great leisure and recreational opportunities, but take time to learn some of the history and culture and to get out and meet some of the people. Check out our other links and get set for a great tour.