Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen - U.S. Marine Corps chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN) specialists assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 6, 2024. As CBRN Defense Specialists, Marines are trained to respond to and clear areas with possible CBRN hazards in addition to training units in general CBRN information, identification, and response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen)

From basic utilities to religion: how Marines live in harsh environments - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 set up tents during Exercise Eagle Wrath 18 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 21, 2018. Eagle Wrath 18 is an annual training exercise designed to increase squadron proficiency in a forward operating environment, test forward command and control structure, and practice for real-world contingency missions. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)

'Spook Squadron' 171 goes bump in the night - Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 hosts a haunted house event for the community at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 29-31, 2017. The fundraising event raised money for the 242nd U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball and the squadron’s annual Christmas party where they invite a local orphanage to come on base to attend. Although the main attraction for the event was the haunted house, there was also a bounce house for the smaller children to play in, food and candy to eat, clothing items to buy and a fortune teller for participants to “learn their destiny.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher O’Neal, an expeditionary airfield systems technician attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, shoots an M240B machine gun during phase two of Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 5, 2017. Phase two consisted of conducting live-fire training exercises to give MWSS-171 the knowledge and confidence to utilize weapons systems effectively in a deployed environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher O’Neal, an expeditionary airfield systems technician attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, shoots an M240B machine gun during phase two of Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 5, 2017. Phase two consisted of conducting live-fire training exercises to give MWSS-171 the knowledge and confidence to utilize weapons systems effectively in a deployed environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, rushes to provide security for a forward operating base during an immediate action drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp, Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points were established during the two-week exercise to train the Marines to provide explosives, weaponry, fuel, security, logistics and personnel to a forward line of troops and aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, rushes to provide security for a forward operating base during an immediate action drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp, Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points were established during the two-week exercise to train the Marines to provide explosives, weaponry, fuel, security, logistics and personnel to a forward line of troops and aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, provide security during a patrol while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Eagle Wrath 2017 is a two-week training evolution focusing on air base ground defense, establishing forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points in an austere environment as a way to support Marine Aircraft Group 12. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, provide security during a patrol while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Eagle Wrath 2017 is a two-week training evolution focusing on air base ground defense, establishing forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points in an austere environment as a way to support Marine Aircraft Group 12. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Barry Bethea, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting specialist with Marine Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, fireman carries a simulated casualty to a medical station during an unexpected mass casualty drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, June 15, 2017. The purpose of the drill was to see how medical personnel react in coalition with the Marines to make sure they are working in a fluid manner. Eagle Wrath 2017 is a two-week training evolution focusing on air base ground defense and establishing a forward operating base in an austere environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Barry Bethea, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting specialist with Marine Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, fireman carries a simulated casualty to a medical station during an unexpected mass casualty drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, June 15, 2017. The purpose of the drill was to see how medical personnel react in coalition with the Marines to make sure they are working in a fluid manner. Eagle Wrath 2017 is a two-week training evolution focusing on air base ground defense and establishing a forward operating base in an austere environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 move a flood light through the mud during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 22, 2017. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 move a flood light through the mud during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 22, 2017. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jorge Lares, left, and Kendal Kleinhenz, right, combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, use a walk behind concrete saw to simulate repairs to a damaged runway during unit level training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 17, 2016. The training focused on base recovery exercises to better prepare the Marines for scenarios that could arise while on station or during deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jorge Lares, left, and Kendal Kleinhenz, right, combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, use a walk behind concrete saw to simulate repairs to a damaged runway during unit level training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 17, 2016. The training focused on base recovery exercises to better prepare the Marines for scenarios that could arise while on station or during deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)