Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

U.S. Marine Corps pilots with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) – 225 board an F/A-18D prior to take off during exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 9, 2017. The Marines loaded live air intercept missile – 120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM) to F/A-18D Hornets to be fired at decoys down range. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - U.S. Marine Corps pilots with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) – 225 board an F/A-18D prior to take off during exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 9, 2017. The Marines loaded live air intercept missile – 120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM) to F/A-18D Hornets to be fired at decoys down range. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Navy Sailors with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 performed maintenance on E/A-18G Growlers at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to support exercise Cope North, which is scheduled for Feb. 8 – March 8, 2017. The maintenance performed by the Sailors allows the pilots to continue operating their aircraft and participating in the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - U.S. Navy Sailors with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 performed maintenance on E/A-18G Growlers at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to support exercise Cope North, which is scheduled for Feb. 8 – March 8, 2017. The maintenance performed by the Sailors allows the pilots to continue operating their aircraft and participating in the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 conduct routine inspections and maintenance on the AV-8B Harriers during the Aviation Training Relocation Program at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 7, 2016. VMA-542 is conducting training with their harriers at Chitose Air Base in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 conduct routine inspections and maintenance on the AV-8B Harriers during the Aviation Training Relocation Program at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 7, 2016. VMA-542 is conducting training with their harriers at Chitose Air Base in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody Braunscheidel, an aviation logistics information management systems specialist assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, explains multiplication to students at MacFarlane Primary School in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 1, 2016. Marines are invited to mentor and teach students every iteration of Southern Frontier, a three week unit level training conducted by U.S. Marines at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal. The primary school’s student population is 92 percent indigenous and is very transient. Classes are designed to provide students structure and a consolidated education in literacy, numeracy, respect and behavior management. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody Braunscheidel, an aviation logistics information management systems specialist assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, explains multiplication to students at MacFarlane Primary School in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 1, 2016. Marines are invited to mentor and teach students every iteration of Southern Frontier, a three week unit level training conducted by U.S. Marines at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal. The primary school’s student population is 92 percent indigenous and is very transient. Classes are designed to provide students structure and a consolidated education in literacy, numeracy, respect and behavior management. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

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)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, begin to return to their forward operating base after receiving contact from a simulated enemy during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 28, 2016. During the culminating event, Marines established a mock air base including a landing zone and refueling point, constructed defensive and machine-gun positions, and conducted convoys and patrols over the course of four days. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, begin to return to their forward operating base after receiving contact from a simulated enemy during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 28, 2016. During the culminating event, Marines established a mock air base including a landing zone and refueling point, constructed defensive and machine-gun positions, and conducted convoys and patrols over the course of four days. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Darnell T. Richardson, right, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, passes the squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Karl T. Schmidt, outgoing H&HS commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. The passing of the guidon symbolizes the end of Schmidt’s role as commanding officer after serving in the position since June 9, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Darnell T. Richardson, right, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, passes the squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Karl T. Schmidt, outgoing H&HS commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. The passing of the guidon symbolizes the end of Schmidt’s role as commanding officer after serving in the position since June 9, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo/Released)

Marines with Combat Logistics Company 36 inspect Santa’s sleigh before kicking off the annual 1.5k Jingle Bell Jog at the IronWorks Gym, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The Jingle Bell Jog is an event for service members and their families to show off their holiday spirit as they run through the station. Events like this help raise spirits and build camaraderie during the holiday season while most service members are away from their families. - Marines with Combat Logistics Company 36 inspect Santa’s sleigh before kicking off the annual 1.5k Jingle Bell Jog at the IronWorks Gym, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The Jingle Bell Jog is an event for service members and their families to show off their holiday spirit as they run through the station. Events like this help raise spirits and build camaraderie during the holiday season while most service members are away from their families.