A Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with 1st Marine Air Wing, lands on a newly designated airstrip on the island of Peleliu, Republic of Palau, June 22. (Lance Cpl. Hannah Hollerud/Marine Corps)

We have heard a lot about operations of the Fast Response Cutters based in Guam and the arrival of a dedicated WMEC (Harriet Lane) for operations in Oceana, but really these surface units need eyes in the sky.

Barbers Point, HI, is the only Coast Guard Air Station in the Central and Western Pacific. The new C-130Js have got much longer legs, but it’s always good to have options.

I talked about some of the options for basing or at least temporary operations here. It looks like the US Military is adding some additional options.

The Air Force is reopening the World War II air base at Tinian. and improving facilities at YAP, Federated States of Micronesia. Defense News reports that the Marines have reopened an airstrip on Peleliu, Republic of Palau.

The Air Force has embarked on a program they call Agile Combat Employment concept that seeks smaller and dispersed overseas air bases.

Ultimately it seems the Coast Guard will need to base some fixed wing and perhaps helicopters West of Barbers Point, Hawaii.

We recently had a SAR case that highlighted the problem, a man overboard incident roughly 607 nautical miles south of Guam, reported 25 June.

“The U.S. Coast Guard, in a testament to international cooperation, also dispatched an HC-130 Hercules aircraft and crew from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, to Guam, where they will stage. Due to the distance, the crew will observe mandatory rest and then proceed to the search area on the morning of June 27.”

In a SAR case, particularly a man overboard, prompt response is essential, but the tyranny of distance also effects our ability to maintain surveillance over vast areas of the US Exclusive Economic Zone and that of the Compact of Free Association nations that we are obligated to protect.

Perhaps the Air Force under the Agile Combat Employment concept could build the Coast Guard an air base in Western Pacific. It would be a win-win. The Coast Guard gets a base. The Air Force base will be maintained and have a cadre in residence to help in a contingency.