News Stories

U.S Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse Meyers, a power liner with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, gives a familiarization class to Cpl. Michael Barton, an aircraft rescue firefighter specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, and the No. 17 Squadron Fire and Rescue team at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Barton is a liaison between VMFA-122 and No. 17 Squadron firefighters in case of emergencies involving the flying squadron’s aircraft during Exercise Pitch Black 2016. The familiarization class covered the basic dos and don’ts of operating around the aircraft during an emergency to ensure a safe and successful recovery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse Meyers, a power liner with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, gives a familiarization class to Cpl. Michael Barton, an aircraft rescue firefighter specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, and the No. 17 Squadron Fire and Rescue team at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Barton is a liaison between VMFA-122 and No. 17 Squadron firefighters in case of emergencies involving the flying squadron’s aircraft during Exercise Pitch Black 2016. The familiarization class covered the basic dos and don’ts of operating around the aircraft during an emergency to ensure a safe and successful recovery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Marine Corps firefighting creates new life for Texas native

Looking for some excitement and a job that meant something more to him, Michael Barton left the monotony of working in the oil fields of Texas and followed in the footsteps of family and friends, joining the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 20.“Most of my friends had joined the military by then,” said Barton. “My father served in the Corps as intel,

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Staff Sgt. Jerrod Gelbaugh, the ordnance staff noncommissioned officer in charge with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, assists Cpl. Mark Tate, an aviation ordnance technician with VMFA-122, remove a Bomb Rack Unit 55 from an F/A-18C during exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Southern Frontier is three weeks of unit level training helping the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. VMFA-122 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and are currently assigned to MAG-12 at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program. Australia is the last stop on the squadron’s deployment before heading back home. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - Staff Sgt. Jerrod Gelbaugh, the ordnance staff noncommissioned officer in charge with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, assists Cpl. Mark Tate, an aviation ordnance technician with VMFA-122, remove a Bomb Rack Unit 55 from an F/A-18C during exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Southern Frontier is three weeks of unit level training helping the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. VMFA-122 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and are currently assigned to MAG-12 at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program. Australia is the last stop on the squadron’s deployment before heading back home. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Ordnance Marines, pilots train with high explosives Down Under

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 ordnance Marines built, inspected and loaded high explosive ordnance during Exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016.This three week training evolution helps the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low

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An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Ready Group lands Down Under

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 and other elements of Marine Aircraft Group 12 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, traveled to Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 22, 2016, to participate in

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Kikuko Shinjo, better known as ‘Shinjo-Sensei,’ an 89 year-old native of Iwakuni and survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima during World War II, poses in front of paper cranes donated to the Children’s Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan, July 15, 2016. Shinjo invited a group of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to help her donate 1,000 paper cranes, which she folded, to the Children’s Peace Monument at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a symbol for peace. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - Kikuko Shinjo, better known as ‘Shinjo-Sensei,’ an 89 year-old native of Iwakuni and survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima during World War II, poses in front of paper cranes donated to the Children’s Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan, July 15, 2016. Shinjo invited a group of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents to help her donate 1,000 paper cranes, which she folded, to the Children’s Peace Monument at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a symbol for peace. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Atomic bomb survivor continues legacy of helping others, striving for peace

“I took care of a lot of people,” said Kikuko Shinjo. “They used to mumble and just say ‘it’s painful,’ ‘dad,’ or ‘mom.’ I could not forget that experience, even after 70 years.”Shinjo, better known as ‘Shinjo-Sensei,’ is an 89 year-old native of Iwakuni, Japan, and a survivor of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima during World War II. Although Shinjo

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An Oshima Island child and participant in the hula dancing during the U.S. – Japan Luau Party poses for a picture on Oshima Island, Japan, July 23, 2016. Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the island of Oshima to join in celebration of the island’s history and the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - An Oshima Island child and participant in the hula dancing during the U.S. – Japan Luau Party poses for a picture on Oshima Island, Japan, July 23, 2016. Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the island of Oshima to join in celebration of the island’s history and the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

Marines celebrate Hawaiian style

Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and locals of Oshima Island attended the U.S. – Japan Luau Party at the Sunshine Southern Seto, Oshima Island, Japan, July 23, 2016.The luau celebrated Hawaiian culture and the friendship between the United States and Japan through hula dancing, swimming in the ocean, games and food.Shinichi Shishido,

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Students of Iwakuni-Kawashimo Kindergarten listen to a safety brief during a school visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2016. The school visit is a time honored tradition between the base and the local community and holds a lasting memory with the visiting students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - Students of Iwakuni-Kawashimo Kindergarten listen to a safety brief during a school visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2016. The school visit is a time honored tradition between the base and the local community and holds a lasting memory with the visiting students. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

Local kindergarteners make a splash at MCAS Iwakuni

Kindergarteners with Iwakuni-Kawashimo Kindergarten visited Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for their annual pool visit July 21, 2016.The Japanese kindergarteners and resident children swam at the outdoor pool, enjoyed lunch at the crossroads and visited the base Zero Hangar.The tradition began 30 years ago when the first school visited

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U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

America’s Squadron concludes company training, begins culminating event

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, completed the second stage of Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 23, 2016.This stage focused and trained each individual company on air base ground defense and how they will support MWSS-171 if they are forward

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Families line up for ice cream while attending the Fire and Ice ice cream social at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 20, 2016. The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted the event in collaboration with the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Department at Fire Station Four, where Japanese firemen and air station residents participated in family activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - Families line up for ice cream while attending the Fire and Ice ice cream social at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 20, 2016. The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted the event in collaboration with the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Department at Fire Station Four, where Japanese firemen and air station residents participated in family activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Ice cream, fire trucks, friendship

The Exceptional Family Member Program hosted the Fire and Ice ice cream social in collaboration with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Fire Department at Fire Station Four, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 20, 2016.The event included ice cream, pictures with Sparky the dog, touring a fire truck and a chance to visit with the station Japanese fire

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, shakes hands with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jaoquin F. Malavet, commanding general of Marine Corps Instillations Pacific, during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, shakes hands with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jaoquin F. Malavet, commanding general of Marine Corps Instillations Pacific, during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)