5 Mar 2012

US Marines could be training on CNMI's Tinian by May

2:09 pm on 5 March 2012

About 175 U.S. Marines could start training on Tinian in the Northern Marianas as early as May the 8th if an assessment now underway pans out.

And if all goes to plan, it could become the first major U.S. military training exercise on Tinian in a decade.

It would also involve the restoration of Tinian's historic North Field.

Two thirds of Tinian land is leased by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Officials from Marine Aircraft Group-12 Japan visited the CNMI on Thursday to brief officials about the planned training exercise.

The Tinian mayor, Ray Dela Cruz, said at the weekend that it was about time the Department of Defense made use of its leased land on Tinian.

The mayor has been assured the Marines would buy as much of their daily supplies as possible from local vendors and be allowed to visit local establishments.