News Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matt Heidtman, an airframes Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, tightens fasteners on an F/A-18C Hornet during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Marines perform maintenance on the aircraft in preparation for departure at the conclusion of Southern Frontier. This three week unit level training that helps pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matt Heidtman, an airframes Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, tightens fasteners on an F/A-18C Hornet during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Marines perform maintenance on the aircraft in preparation for departure at the conclusion of Southern Frontier. This three week unit level training that helps pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Lancaster, a steel worker with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Facilities welds chains onto the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Vietnam Memorial as part of a restoration project at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. The memorial, located next to the main side post office, contains a granite monument with 493 engraved names of Marines from the 1st MAW who died in action during the Vietnam War. Constructed in May 1972, the memorial has a black and red torii standing between it and the setting sun to honor the fallen, and symbolizes the friendship and support of our Japanese neighbors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Lancaster, a steel worker with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Facilities welds chains onto the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Vietnam Memorial as part of a restoration project at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. The memorial, located next to the main side post office, contains a granite monument with 493 engraved names of Marines from the 1st MAW who died in action during the Vietnam War. Constructed in May 1972, the memorial has a black and red torii standing between it and the setting sun to honor the fallen, and symbolizes the friendship and support of our Japanese neighbors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Two F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 prepare for takeoff during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Hornet squadron performed low-altitude tactics training throughout the last week of training, allowing the pilots to gain confidence in low flying and simultaneously conducting air-to-surface maneuvers. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training helping pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - Two F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 prepare for takeoff during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Hornet squadron performed low-altitude tactics training throughout the last week of training, allowing the pilots to gain confidence in low flying and simultaneously conducting air-to-surface maneuvers. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training helping pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Students from Matthew C. Perry High School play pass the water during the Back to School Bash at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 26, 2016. This school year will mark the last first day of school for students at the old M.C. Perry buildings. The high school students participated in activities such as the wacky tourist, mega twister, dizzy izzy, the frozen t-shirt challenge, a hula hoop relay and a water balloon fight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - Students from Matthew C. Perry High School play pass the water during the Back to School Bash at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 26, 2016. This school year will mark the last first day of school for students at the old M.C. Perry buildings. The high school students participated in activities such as the wacky tourist, mega twister, dizzy izzy, the frozen t-shirt challenge, a hula hoop relay and a water balloon fight. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

The Scooter Brown Band, a country and southern rock band based out of Houston, Texas, perform for the crowd during the Summer Music Festival hosted by Marine Corps Community Services at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. The Scooter Brown Band performed as the headline band during the festival, which also included local bands from Iwakuni and Hiroshima. The Summer Music Festival was put together for service members, residents and Japanese locals to enjoy the end of the summer with free music, food and fun. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - The Scooter Brown Band, a country and southern rock band based out of Houston, Texas, perform for the crowd during the Summer Music Festival hosted by Marine Corps Community Services at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. The Scooter Brown Band performed as the headline band during the festival, which also included local bands from Iwakuni and Hiroshima. The Summer Music Festival was put together for service members, residents and Japanese locals to enjoy the end of the summer with free music, food and fun. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Students line up at cones that correspond with what grade level they are entering on Matthew C. Perry’s first day of school on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 29, 2016. This school year differs from others as it is the last time the first day of school will be held at the current facility. Students will transition to the newly constructed schools halfway through the school year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - Students line up at cones that correspond with what grade level they are entering on Matthew C. Perry’s first day of school on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 29, 2016. This school year differs from others as it is the last time the first day of school will be held at the current facility. Students will transition to the newly constructed schools halfway through the school year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Trevor Serenelli, ordnance Marine assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, shouts directions while guiding a bomb onto an aircraft during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 26, 2016. VMFA-122 delivered munitions while providing close air support to ground combat units at Bradshaw Range Complex during the training. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training evolution helping the flying squadron gain qualifications and experience in low altitude, air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Trevor Serenelli, ordnance Marine assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, shouts directions while guiding a bomb onto an aircraft during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 26, 2016. VMFA-122 delivered munitions while providing close air support to ground combat units at Bradshaw Range Complex during the training. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training evolution helping the flying squadron gain qualifications and experience in low altitude, air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

A K-9 with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handlers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. U.S. and Japanese handlers then escorted their K-9’s to locate explosives hidden throughout the stations old furniture store. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - A K-9 with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni’s Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit searches for hidden explosives during joint training with Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters officers and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit military working dog handlers at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Marines placed explosives in hidden locations before handlers and their K-9’s arrived, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. U.S. and Japanese handlers then escorted their K-9’s to locate explosives hidden throughout the stations old furniture store. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

A volunteer extends her hand to a Japanese local preschooler at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The children bonded with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers through laughter, blowing bubbles and a water fight during a community relations preschool visit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - A volunteer extends her hand to a Japanese local preschooler at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The children bonded with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni volunteers through laughter, blowing bubbles and a water fight during a community relations preschool visit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Boxes of 2.75-inch high explosive rockets wait to be assembled during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 24, 2016. Southern Frontier afforded Iwakuni Marines the opportunity to train with high explosive weapon body groups typically not used in Japan, while expanding technical and tactical proficiency in their craft. Munitions built during this training are in support of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, who also 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) - Boxes of 2.75-inch high explosive rockets wait to be assembled during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 24, 2016. Southern Frontier afforded Iwakuni Marines the opportunity to train with high explosive weapon body groups typically not used in Japan, while expanding technical and tactical proficiency in their craft. Munitions built during this training are in support of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, who also 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)