News Stories

Orville Burrell, better known as “Shaggy,” a musical artist and Marine Corps veteran, performs a live concert at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 26, 2017. Shaggy sang a variety of his hit songs including “Boombastic,” “It Wasn’t Me” and “Oh Carolina.” The concert was part of an Armed Forces Entertainment tour that included three military installations across Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - Orville Burrell, better known as “Shaggy,” a musical artist and Marine Corps veteran, performs a live concert at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 26, 2017. Shaggy sang a variety of his hit songs including “Boombastic,” “It Wasn’t Me” and “Oh Carolina.” The concert was part of an Armed Forces Entertainment tour that included three military installations across Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Youth and Teen Center members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni hold up Kidzos, a special currency used in the theme park Kidzania in Kobe, Japan, July 26, 2017. Kidzania is an indoor education entertainment center that provides children the interactive experience of working adult jobs and earning currency. The currency can be spent on activities and used to buy souvenirs from gift shops. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Youth and Teen Center members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni hold up Kidzos, a special currency used in the theme park Kidzania in Kobe, Japan, July 26, 2017. Kidzania is an indoor education entertainment center that provides children the interactive experience of working adult jobs and earning currency. The currency can be spent on activities and used to buy souvenirs from gift shops. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents work together to devein shrimp for sushi and tempura during a Japanese cooking class at Santopia in Otake, Japan, July 25, 2017. Air station residents traveled with the Cultural Adaptation Program to partake in the class where they learned to properly prepare and cook sushi, tempura and a Japanese pudding dessert. The class gave a common purpose for participants to work together and learn Japanese cooking skills that can be utilized within their own homes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents work together to devein shrimp for sushi and tempura during a Japanese cooking class at Santopia in Otake, Japan, July 25, 2017. Air station residents traveled with the Cultural Adaptation Program to partake in the class where they learned to properly prepare and cook sushi, tempura and a Japanese pudding dessert. The class gave a common purpose for participants to work together and learn Japanese cooking skills that can be utilized within their own homes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cole Moore, a powerline mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, secures storage on an F/A-18C Hornet at JASDF Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 24, 2017. Maintenance keeps aircraft in a constant state of preparedness to enhance operational readiness and mission accomplishment. This is the first time that VMFA-232 has been to JASDF Hyakuri Air Base, which gave the local Japanese forces the ability to simulate air-to-air maneuvers with dissimilar aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cole Moore, a powerline mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, secures storage on an F/A-18C Hornet at JASDF Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 24, 2017. Maintenance keeps aircraft in a constant state of preparedness to enhance operational readiness and mission accomplishment. This is the first time that VMFA-232 has been to JASDF Hyakuri Air Base, which gave the local Japanese forces the ability to simulate air-to-air maneuvers with dissimilar aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

U.S. Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 12 grapple at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2017. The USO hosted a field meet and cookout for MALS-12, which included several competitions such as grappling, pull-ups and a Humvee pull. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - U.S. Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 12 grapple at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 21, 2017. The USO hosted a field meet and cookout for MALS-12, which included several competitions such as grappling, pull-ups and a Humvee pull. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Christian Cozart, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, visits a display of an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more effective in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Christian Cozart, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, visits a display of an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more effective in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Guests tour Kizuna Stadium during a scoreboard lighting ceremony in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 19, 2017. The ceremony offered a private viewing of the almost completed stadium that is to be used by U.S. service members, their families and local Japanese. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Guests tour Kizuna Stadium during a scoreboard lighting ceremony in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 19, 2017. The ceremony offered a private viewing of the almost completed stadium that is to be used by U.S. service members, their families and local Japanese. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Capt. Monika Jones, branch chief, Iwakuni Veterinary Services, Public Health Activity Japan, shakes hands with guests during the opening of the veterinary clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, July 13, 2017. The new facility was built to accommodate the growing number of patients and military working dogs on the air station. The veterinary clinic is responsible for the welfare of hundreds of military pets and military working dogs and the new facility allows technicians to double the amount of patients they can see. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. N.W. Huertas) - U.S. Capt. Monika Jones, branch chief, Iwakuni Veterinary Services, Public Health Activity Japan, shakes hands with guests during the opening of the veterinary clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, July 13, 2017. The new facility was built to accommodate the growing number of patients and military working dogs on the air station. The veterinary clinic is responsible for the welfare of hundreds of military pets and military working dogs and the new facility allows technicians to double the amount of patients they can see. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. N.W. Huertas)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jesse Schmitt, a powerlines mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, signals to an F/A-18C Hornet pilot that he is clear to start his engines at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 12, 2017. VMFA-232 has been conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation program, which is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces. It reduces local noise impacts by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jesse Schmitt, a powerlines mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, signals to an F/A-18C Hornet pilot that he is clear to start his engines at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 12, 2017. VMFA-232 has been conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation program, which is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces. It reduces local noise impacts by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Chaz West, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, prepares to conduct an explosive detonation during a training exercise at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The training prepares EOD Marines to handle explosive threats for any aircraft incident that may happen on the installation. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Chaz West, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, prepares to conduct an explosive detonation during a training exercise at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The training prepares EOD Marines to handle explosive threats for any aircraft incident that may happen on the installation. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)