Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Lance Cpl. Nick Cox, a powerliner assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 performs maintenance on an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada) - Lance Cpl. Nick Cox, a powerliner assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 performs maintenance on an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada)

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)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Barton, an aircraft rescue firefighter specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, refills a fire truck during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Barton is a liaison between Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 and No. 17 Squadron Fire and Rescue team stationed at RAAF Tindal in case of emergencies with the flying squadron’s aircraft during the exercise. Pitch Black is a multination exercise that includes participation from Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Barton, an aircraft rescue firefighter specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, refills a fire truck during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Barton is a liaison between Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 and No. 17 Squadron Fire and Rescue team stationed at RAAF Tindal in case of emergencies with the flying squadron’s aircraft during the exercise. Pitch Black is a multination exercise that includes participation from Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron 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) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron 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)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)