Presently, no new hires are being SENT to Guam. It has become a little more senior and nobody is forced to go there unlike years past. Climate much like Hawaii but is prone to BIG storms. Flying is fantastic but the island life if not for everyone. Health care sucks and you would likely want to catch a plane for the mainland with anything serious health wise. Island population is not overly friendly to us mainland types - they tolerate us but not much more. Some beach areas but limited. A great place for WWII historians as this is where much of it happened. Saipan is just 20 minutes away by plane and is a great resort place to get away from Guam. The number one tourist attraction when I was there was the super K mart just recently constructed. Bus loads of Japanese tourists were dropped off on a regular basis. Diving is fabulous as well as through the Marshall islands. Mariannas Trench, which is the deepest known ocean depth at about 30,000 feet is right off Guam. Diet is alot of rice and fish dishes and SPAM. Guam is the number one consumer of SPAM in the world. Public schools are unacceptable and private school is the only option. I think Guam would make a great stay for a year or two but anymore than that would be a stretch. There is a cost override to be based there which used to be $1000 or so but I am not sure how much it is now. Golf is great and housing prices are on the high side. With the 737-800 being the only AC flown there, commuting is difficult with the two man cockpit. In years past with the 727 and DC-10 it was possible to fly 10 on and 20 off but no more. I think some still commute but realize that Guam is a 7 hour flight from HNL. Some go through NRT (Tokyo) but it is a 3 hour flight even from Tokyo. My advice is NOT to commute if you go there. Hope this answered some of your questions. By the way, in the two years I was based there I never saw a snake. They are there, but you have to look for them which I was never interested in.