Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Location: Dededo, Guam (U.S. Territory)
Installation Type: Marine Corps Base
Status: Active

Overview

Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz is located in Dededo, in the northern portion of Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific. Camp Blaz was established as the Marine Corps’ first new base built from the ground up in more than 70 years, activated on October 1, 2020. The base is named for Brigadier General Vicente “Ben” Tomas Garrido Blaz, a Chamorro native of Guam, decorated Marine Corps officer, and former U.S. Congressional Delegate from Guam. Camp Blaz is part of a broader realignment of U.S. forces in the Pacific, receiving approximately 5,000 Marines and their families relocated from Okinawa, Japan, as part of the U.S.-Japan force realignment agreement. The installation supports III Marine Expeditionary Force operations across the Indo-Pacific.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide forward-deployed Marine Corps forces for III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) operations in the Indo-Pacific; support combat ready forces for rapid deployment in support of U.S. Pacific Command requirements; serve as a major western Pacific power projection hub.
Major Units: Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) Camp Blaz; III Marine Expeditionary Force Support Installation Guam; 3rd Marine Division elements; Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz garrison
Tenant Units: Various III MEF and U.S. Pacific Command supporting organizations; joint service elements; Guam Army National Guard coordination

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Dededo (population approximately 45,000, Guam’s largest village) – within Dededo; Hagatna (Agana, capital of Guam) – approximately 12 km south; Tumon Bay resort area – approximately 10 km south
Nearest Commercial Airport: A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) in Tamuning – approximately 15 km south; international flights to Japan, Korea, and Honolulu
Gate Access: Main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; new base security infrastructure; coordinated access with Naval Base Guam and Anderson Air Force Base on the island

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 5,000 (full buildout ongoing; numbers increasing as Okinawa relocation completes)
Family Members: Approximately 4,500 (growing with relocation)
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 10,500 (growing)

Key Facilities

Medical: New medical facilities as part of Camp Blaz construction; primary care and emergency care; specialty referrals to Naval Hospital Guam (Apra Harbor, approximately 20 km south) for comprehensive hospital care; medevac to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii for complex cases
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base (newly built facilities)
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and facilities (new construction)
Fitness & Recreation: New fitness centers; pools; recreation facilities (newly constructed as part of base buildout); Guam has excellent diving, snorkeling, and warm Pacific Ocean water sports year-round; Camp Blaz has access to northern Guam beaches and Ritidian Point National Wildlife Refuge
Schools: Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools in Guam serve military children; new DoDEA schools being built/expanded to accommodate Camp Blaz families; Guam High School and DoDEA Guam elementary schools serve the military community
Childcare: Child Development Center (new construction); limited initial capacity; register early; increased capacity planned as part of buildout
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care; strict Guam biosecurity rules apply for incoming pets (brown tree snake protection)
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based; new facility

Housing

On-Post Housing: New family housing as part of Camp Blaz construction; first new Marine Corps base construction project requires entirely new housing development; construction ongoing
Average Wait Time: Variable as new housing is completed; apply as early as possible
Off-Post Housing: Guam’s residential communities (Dededo, Yigo, Mangilao, Barrigada, Tamuning) available; OHA applies; Guam housing market has experienced increased pressure with Camp Blaz buildout; off-base housing typically smaller than American standards; air conditioning essential
OHA Rate Reference: Check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Guam OHA reflects Western Pacific island costs; may be higher than historical Guam rates due to increased demand

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; Camp Blaz sponsorship programs are being developed as the base matures; Guam PCS requires advance planning for pets, vehicles, and island life preparation; similar to Naval Base Guam in terms of logistics
In-Processing: Camp Blaz in-processing; typically 2-3 days; Guam biosecurity briefings; tropical medicine awareness; vehicle registration on Guam
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Family Services Center; enrollment required; EFMP screening mandatory before Guam orders; Naval Hospital Guam provides care; complex specialist cases require medevac to Hawaii or CONUS; EFMP approval may be difficult for complex cases given island medical limitations

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Tropical maritime; warm year-round (average high 86F/30C throughout the year); high humidity; dry season January-June; wet season (typhoon season) July-December; typhoon risk significant; trade winds help moderate temperatures; northern Guam near Ritidian has some of the island’s most pristine beaches and coral reefs
Cost of Living: High; Guam imports most goods; food, gasoline, and manufactured goods more expensive than CONUS; OHA and COLA adjustments help; on-base commissary and exchange critical; no cold weather costs; Guam COLA is significant
Nearby Attractions: Ritidian Point National Wildlife Refuge (Guam’s most pristine beaches and coral reefs, adjacent to northern Guam near Camp Blaz); Two Lovers Point (scenic overlook, 10 km south); Tumon Bay resort area with beaches and duty-free shopping (10 km south); WWII historical sites throughout Guam; Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Museum; Guam Museum in Hagatna; diving on WWII shipwrecks; Chamorro Village and cultural events; ferry/flight access to Saipan (CNMI, 1 hour), Palau (1.5 hours), Philippines (3 hours), Japan (2.5 hours)
Spouse Employment: On-base employment through NAF, MCX, commissary, DoDEA, and contractor positions; Guam’s economy based on tourism and military; remote work with U.S. employers possible (time zone UTC+10 creates coordination challenges); Family Services Center assists; Guam’s military community growth with Camp Blaz creates more on-base employment opportunities

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA: Guam is a U.S. territory – no SOFA applies; U.S. federal law applies; Guam Organic Act governs the territory; same as Naval Base Guam
Host Nation Rules: Guam is U.S. territory; Chamorro culture deserves respect; Guam is deeply proud of its liberation by the U.S. Marines in 1944 and has a profound connection to the Marine Corps; Chamorro cultural values of inafa’maolek (making things right/harmony) and respect for elders; military presence is welcomed by most Guamanians
Curfew: No SOFA curfew; unit policies apply; Guam laws on minors’ curfew apply
Ration Card / Customs: Standard U.S. rules; Guam agricultural inspection at airport strictly enforced (brown tree snake prevention is critical)
Vehicle Registration: Guam DMV registration; right-hand traffic (same as U.S. mainland); Guam roads have improved with base construction; international driver’s license not required
Language and Culture: Chamorro and English are official languages; English primary language for commerce and government; Guam’s culture is a unique blend of Chamorro, Spanish colonial, American, and Asian influences; Catholic faith prominent; Chamorro villages and fiestas are cultural institutions
Currency and Banking: U.S. Dollar (USD); U.S. banking standard; ATMs and credit cards widely available; USPS delivers to APO AP addresses
Travel Restrictions: Freedom of movement within U.S. territory; passport required for international travel; CNMI (Saipan, Tinian) accessible without passport (U.S. territory); Japan, Philippines, Palau all within 1.5-3 hours by air
Mail: APO AP address assigned; USPS service to APO AP; online shopping from U.S. retailers available; packages take longer than CONUS delivery
Pets: Guam requires USDA health certificate, Guam DAWR import permit, and arrival inspection; strict biosecurity – brown tree snake prevention critical; no high-risk species; dogs and cats with proper documentation; fees for inspection; begin process well in advance; on-base veterinary care available

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.campblaz.marines.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/marine-corps-base-camp-blaz; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarineCorpsBaseCampBlaz, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law