News Stories

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 and Marine Air Group (MAG) 12 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 14, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 and Marine Air Group (MAG) 12 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 14, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Akeem Mcfarlane, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron teaches Gabriel Keller, a Junior Recruit Day participant, how to use a fire hose during the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter training portion of Marine Aircraft Group 12’s Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. The purpose of Junior Recruit Day is to increase family readiness in the community by showing children and young adults what their parents do on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Akeem Mcfarlane, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron teaches Gabriel Keller, a Junior Recruit Day participant, how to use a fire hose during the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter training portion of Marine Aircraft Group 12’s Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. The purpose of Junior Recruit Day is to increase family readiness in the community by showing children and young adults what their parents do on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Mason Roy)

A participant in the 4th Annual Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Golf Tournament kneels over the green to determine the angle required to put the ball in the hole at the Iwakuni Country Club in Iwakuni City, Japan, April 28, 2017. The tournament raised funds for NMCRS, which provides emergency financial assistance to active-duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - A participant in the 4th Annual Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Golf Tournament kneels over the green to determine the angle required to put the ball in the hole at the Iwakuni Country Club in Iwakuni City, Japan, April 28, 2017. The tournament raised funds for NMCRS, which provides emergency financial assistance to active-duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell)

Volunteers attend a barbeque picnic to celebrate their hard work and volunteer service after the 3rd Annual Single Marine Program’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Each day of the week volunteer service members spent time supporting the community by visiting a local Iwakuni nursing home, cutting and sorting coupons, teaching and playing chess with local Japanese students, and cleaning and walking dogs at the base kennel. Clean-up day was the finale dedicated to bringing all the volunteers together to recognize and celebrate their contribution to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - Volunteers attend a barbeque picnic to celebrate their hard work and volunteer service after the 3rd Annual Single Marine Program’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Each day of the week volunteer service members spent time supporting the community by visiting a local Iwakuni nursing home, cutting and sorting coupons, teaching and playing chess with local Japanese students, and cleaning and walking dogs at the base kennel. Clean-up day was the finale dedicated to bringing all the volunteers together to recognize and celebrate their contribution to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell)

A Republic of Korea F-15K Slam Eagle descends to land on the runway after concluding a defensive counter air mission during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, April 18, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - A Republic of Korea F-15K Slam Eagle descends to land on the runway after concluding a defensive counter air mission during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, April 18, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jason Taylor, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, shovels dirt and mud during airfield damage and repair training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2017. The ADR training required Marines to utilize their skill set to tactically and proficiently fix any anomalies to a simulated damaged airfield. The training focused on becoming more efficient in situations that may require Marines to act in real-world scenarios to maintain the tempo of aircraft operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jason Taylor, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, shovels dirt and mud during airfield damage and repair training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2017. The ADR training required Marines to utilize their skill set to tactically and proficiently fix any anomalies to a simulated damaged airfield. The training focused on becoming more efficient in situations that may require Marines to act in real-world scenarios to maintain the tempo of aircraft operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 board a C-130 Hercules during an exercise to Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 12, 2017. VMA 311 is participating in Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, an operational readiness exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. This annual exercise helps to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 board a C-130 Hercules during an exercise to Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 12, 2017. VMA 311 is participating in Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, an operational readiness exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. This annual exercise helps to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rebecca Messex, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, poses for a photo with a meal she prepared during a Food Service Specialist of the Quarter competition at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 13, 2017. Messex placed first in the competition and was selected for an opportunity to compete in the Marine Corps Installations Pacific Food Service Specialist of the Quarter Board to be held on April 19, 2017, in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rebecca Messex, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, poses for a photo with a meal she prepared during a Food Service Specialist of the Quarter competition at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 13, 2017. Messex placed first in the competition and was selected for an opportunity to compete in the Marine Corps Installations Pacific Food Service Specialist of the Quarter Board to be held on April 19, 2017, in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)