Adm. Clark visits Guam,
says he's
pleased with progress on sub planBy Donovan Brooks
Guam bureau chief
Donovan Brooks / S&S
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vernon Clark talks to the media Wednesday after stepping
off a Naval Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE H-46 aircraft at Andersen Air Force
Base on Guam. |
ANDERSEN
AIR FORCE BASE — Afforded only a whirlwind tour of Guam, Chief of Naval Operations
Adm. Vernon Clark said Wednesday he was nonetheless pleased with what he saw.
"I
came specifically to look at the infrastructure, look at our ability to provide
quality-of-life and quality-of-work issues for the additional people that will be coming
here. I was very impressed with what I saw," Clark said at a news briefing before
hopping aboard a Navy P-3 aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base and heading to Singapore.
Clark and his staff arrived Tuesday night.
"It’s
been years since I’ve been back here," said Clark, who last visited Guam more
than 20 years ago as a junior officer.
Clark said
he likes the Navy’s plan to base fast-attack submarines and crews on Guam. "This
is going to be a great plus for us," he said. "There will ultimately be three
submarines coming here. It will add a great deal to our operational flexibility and be a
force multiplier for us."
Guam’s
location has strategic value, Clark said. "We will gain operational days with the
positioning of submarines in this position."
The Navy
has said the USS City of Corpus Christi will be the first submarine under its plan to be
based here.
Clark met
with local officials, including Guam Gov. Carl Gutierrez and Delegate Robert Underwood.
"The
principal message I received … was how Guam wants to partner with the Navy,"
Clark said, "and my message to them was the Navy needs to partner with Guam."
Clark took
time to re-enlist 11 sailors at the Navy’s Top O the Mar club and spoke to a group of
commanders and petty officers.
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