Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Photo by Lance Cpl. Siwan Lewis - U.S. Navy Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Nathan Cobb, a technical services manager with Armed Forces Network Iwakuni, and North Carolina native, maintains servers at AFN Iwakuni, Feb 6, 2025. Cobb routinely diagnoses and repairs radio and television broadcasting equipment at AFN Iwakuni to ensure Marines, Sailors and their dependents have uninterrupted access to American radio and television programing as well as command information and news from across the Department of Defense. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Siwan Lewis)

Photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Billy Emerton, left, a flight equipment technician, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Air Wing and Gunnery Sgt. David Emerton, equal opportunity advisor for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, both natives of Texas, pose for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 5, 2024. Answering the nation's call has always been a proud tradition in many American homes. Marines having siblings who also serve in the armed forces is nothing new, but for the Emerton brothers, their service has been closer than most. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco). - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco).

Photo by Lance Cpl. Rylan Adcock - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Coby, a financial management resource analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 21, 2024. Coby, a native of Lake Forest, California, continuously seeks self-improvement through education and physical and mental health. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rylan Adcock)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett - Catherine Matchem-Watkins, a Marine Corps Family Team Building Trainer with Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni, poses for a photo with her family at Akiyoshidai Safari Land, Japan. Matchem-Watkins, a native of Chicago, Illinois, learned time management skills at a young age that she continues to use to this day to effectively balance time with her family, work, and volunteering in her busy schedule. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett)

Photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco - U.S. Navy Aviation Support Equipment Technician Second Class Patrice Brooks, a native of Jamaica, and Aviation Electrician’s Mate First Class Celeste Taylor, a Texas native, both with Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), Iwakuni, discuss potential career paths at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 16, 2024. As the command career counselor for AIMD Iwakuni and president of the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions, Brooks holds a responsibility to ensure all Sailors under her guidance are well prepared to advance their careers and be valuable contributors to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco)

Photo by Cpl. Raymond Tong - Ret. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christina Grantham, now the director of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo in front of her retirement shadow box at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 9, 2023. As the director of the NMCRS, Grantham provides support to individuals facing adversity through a variety of means, including quick-assist loans, the visiting nurses program, thrift shops, education assistance, and personal finance classes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Raymond Tong)

Photo by Sgt. Mitchell Austin - Robert Butterworth, a training specialist at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Provost Marshals Office at poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Apr. 21, 2023. A native of Davenport Iowa, Butterworth joined the Army National Guard after seeing how 9/11 changed the world and wanted to make a difference. After completing his tour with the National Guard, he looked for new direction where he found a passion teaching and training military police. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Mitchell Austin)

Photo by Staff Sergeant. Jessika Braden - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jayden Watson, a future operations noncommissioned officer with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), gives a presentation at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 15, 2023. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Watson joined the Marine Corps in 2019 to make headway toward a safe and healthy lifestyle and provide for his three younger siblings. Despite facing adversity throughout his career, Watson has contributed to the success of Marines on the installation by serving as a combat marksmanship coach, an accredited Lean Six Sigma Instructor, and an adversity recovery mentor. (Courtesy photo by Staff Sergeant. Jessika Braden)

photo by Lance Cpl. Micah Taylor - U.S. Army Sgt. Monica Laverdure (right), an Animal Care Specialist with Public Health Activity (PHA) Japan, Iwakuni Branch, and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sierra Parks, a military working-dog handler assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Provost Marshal’s Office (PMO), discuss a military-working dog’s health at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 4, 2023. Laverdure, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, is one of the few Soldiers stationed on MCAS Iwakuni’s veterinary treatment facility where she works to keep both military working dogs and personal pets on the air station healthy and active. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Micah Taylor)