Military allocates $21.2M for Kaneohe design plans

The Pentagon plans to spend $21.2 million to begin designing Kaneohe office and housing facilities that could be used by 1,800 Marines from Okinawa as early as 2014, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.

More than 8,000 Marines are being relocated from Okinawa for Guam in six years if the United States and Japan agree on a new site for a controversial airfield.

Abercrombie identified the Marines bound for Kaneohe as belonging to the 3rd Marine Division and the 12th Marine Regiment -- two units assigned to Okinawa.

Lt. Col Jeff Blau, Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith, whose boss commands the 14,000 Marines on Okinawa, declined to comment on the possible move, noting that no final decision has been made.

Earlier this year Marine leaders said Kaneohe will gain troops as the Marine Corps realigns its forces.

Abercrombie said of the $21.2 million earmarked for Kaneohe Bay, $6.8 million will be spent on designing facilities for the 3rd Division's company and division headquarters, armory, operational training facilities, motor transport maintenance, electronics/communications maintenance and supply.

An additional $4.8 million will be spent on planning for 228 bachelor enlisted quarters for 456 Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Division.

About $1.5 million will be allocated for the relocation of the 12th Marine Regiment headquarters from Okinawa.

Under a military realignment plan announced three years ago, 8,300 Marines from Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Courtney, Camp Hansen, Camp Zukeran and Makiminato Service Area -- and 9,000 of their dependents -- will be transferred from Okinawa to Guam. The Japanese government has agreed to pay the U.S. more than $6 billion of the estimated $10.3 billion needed to build or upgrade existing facilities and infrastructures on Guam.