The Margin - The Margin

This century, Guam’s strategic value has soared as the US confronts another rising superpower in the region.

Guam sits along what US strategists call the ‘second island chain’ — a crucial launch pad for forward deployment into the Asia-Pacific region in the event of a war with China.

The US has invested heavily in militarizing Guam. Nearly 25 percent of the island is used by the military, primarily by the Air Force and Navy, alongside a growing Marine Corps base and specialized Army defense installations.

Today, 8,000 joint service members, civilians and contractors work and live on base, including 2,500 spouses.

Guam has a unique ecosystem home to endemic species, but it’s a small island and many environmental protection areas overlap with military installations.

AAFB is directly above the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer that supplies around 80 percent of the island’s drinking water.