Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher) - U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher)

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)

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. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Eckert performs an abdominal exercise with an ammo can while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Currently serving as a motor transport mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Eckert’s passion for physical fitness grew once he enlisted and finds ways to incorporate exercises into his daily activities. (Courtesy Photo) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Eckert performs an abdominal exercise with an ammo can while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Currently serving as a motor transport mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Eckert’s passion for physical fitness grew once he enlisted and finds ways to incorporate exercises into his daily activities. (Courtesy Photo)

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gary W. Thomason, exeutive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, discusses military operations with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Atsushi Tanaka, JMSDF Capt. Madoka Sato and JMSDF Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, during their visit to the air station in Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gary W. Thomason, exeutive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, discusses military operations with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Capt. Atsushi Tanaka, JMSDF Capt. Madoka Sato and JMSDF Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, during their visit to the air station in Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Sgt. Isaac Ross, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, helps a child with the fire hose during Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2016. Junior Recruit Day allowed the children of service member’s assigned Marine Aircraft Group 12 to get a first-hand look at what their military parent’s experiences on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio) - Sgt. Isaac Ross, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, helps a child with the fire hose during Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2016. Junior Recruit Day allowed the children of service member’s assigned Marine Aircraft Group 12 to get a first-hand look at what their military parent’s experiences on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio)

The Marine Aircraft Group 12 color guard marches in formation during a Sgt. Maj. Sergio MartinezRuiz’s relief and appointment ceremony at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 5, 2016. This ceremony symbolizes the end of MartinezRuiz’s tour after assuming the role of MAG-12’s sergeant major in May of 2014. - The Marine Aircraft Group 12 color guard marches in formation during a Sgt. Maj. Sergio MartinezRuiz’s relief and appointment ceremony at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 5, 2016. This ceremony symbolizes the end of MartinezRuiz’s tour after assuming the role of MAG-12’s sergeant major in May of 2014.

Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely. - Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely.