Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

From left to right, Lilly Barnes, Janessa Rivera, and Brinley Barnes, students at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, pose for a group picture during Literacy Night at M.C. Perry Elementary School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 15, 2015. Literacy Night promotes the importance of reading in a way the children find fun and enjoyable. - From left to right, Lilly Barnes, Janessa Rivera, and Brinley Barnes, students at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, pose for a group picture during Literacy Night at M.C. Perry Elementary School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 15, 2015. Literacy Night promotes the importance of reading in a way the children find fun and enjoyable.

Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-81 and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-1 pose for a group picture at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 8, 2015. VQ-1 came to MCAS Iwakuni for an annual unit exchange between VQ-1 and VQ-81. The two units discussed their plans to increase their unit interoperability, strengthening the bond between the two units. - Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-81 and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-1 pose for a group picture at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 8, 2015. VQ-1 came to MCAS Iwakuni for an annual unit exchange between VQ-1 and VQ-81. The two units discussed their plans to increase their unit interoperability, strengthening the bond between the two units.

Yuki Kintanaka, a student at Bunkyo Women’s University in Hiroshima, Japan, performs a traditional dance for Matthew C. Perry High School students at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Nov. 23, 2015. Bunkyo Women’s University students visited the station to learn about American culture as well as teach the American students a little about their own. School trips like this help the bond between Japan and the U.S. grow stronger. - Yuki Kintanaka, a student at Bunkyo Women’s University in Hiroshima, Japan, performs a traditional dance for Matthew C. Perry High School students at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Nov. 23, 2015. Bunkyo Women’s University students visited the station to learn about American culture as well as teach the American students a little about their own. School trips like this help the bond between Japan and the U.S. grow stronger.

Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members. - Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members.

Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance. - Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance.

Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake. - Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake.

Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner. - Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner.

Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community.

Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of. - Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of.

A preschooler from Kawashimo Preschool in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, scurries around the playground during a relay race at Kawashimo Preschool Sept. 29, 2015. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the preschool to show their support and give back to the community. - A preschooler from Kawashimo Preschool in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, scurries around the playground during a relay race at Kawashimo Preschool Sept. 29, 2015. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the preschool to show their support and give back to the community.