Agile Reaper military exercise starts April 3

Starting April 3, members of the U.S. Air Force will be setting up camp for its annual Agile Reaper exercise on Saipan and Tinian, according to a notice from the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

CPA wants to give the Saipan and Tinian communities a heads up that about 150 U.S Air Force personnel will be putting up tents and setting up camp at the Saipan airport field this Wednesday, and will be occupying half of the area north of the American Red Cross building for over a week as they conduct their Agile Reaper 2024 military exercise.

According to CPA assistant operations supervisor Zachary Reyes, the community should not be alarmed as the exercises are expected to occur on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam from April 3 to 15.

For the most part, Reyes said, Saipan will serve as the main headquarters of this exercise so about half of the massive Saipan airport field will be closed off to the community to serve as the military’s camp grounds.

In addition, the Saipan community can expect an increase in military operations flights from April 6 to 15.

The aircraft that will be seen on Saipan are two C-17 cargo aircraft.

Tinian will see the most air action, Reyes said, as most of the main aircraft operations will be done there.

Reyes said the U.S. military is planning on hosting another “Pet-a-Jet” event while they conduct their exercise on Saipan. That’s when the military puts an aircraft on display for the public to see and inspect. In this case, the aircraft that may be open to the public are the military’s two C-17 cargo planes.

“We will keep the community posted,” said Reyes.