Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

VMFA-121 helps prepare JASDF for F-35A - Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) personnel study the F-35B Lightning II during an educational tour and class led by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 13, 2017. Several classes were conducted for JASDF personnel regarding maintenance, serviceability, operability and more. Afterwards, they briefly toured VMFA-121’s facility, taking a peek into different departments and visiting the hangar to see, touch and study the aircraft up close. This is the first time VMFA-121 has conducted an exchange like this. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Conducts Patriot Advanced Capability-3 training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni - Service members with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) 2nd Air Defense Missile Group, set up the MIM-104 Patriot missile system during Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) deployment training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 29, 2017. PAC-3 is a surface-to-air missile defense system, which provides a highly reactive hit-to-kill capability in both range and altitude while operating in all environments. This training displays the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance and demonstrates the JASDF’s ability to rapidly deploy multiple defense assets to U.S. military installations across Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

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)

Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gen. Kenichiro Nagumo, 6th Air Wing commanding general, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John L. Dolan, commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, study a flight diagram during a visit to Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 9, 2016. Dolan visited Komatsu Air Base for the first time to observe the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise between Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The ATR program has three main goals: to increase operational readiness, improve interoperability, and reduce local noise impacts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gen. Kenichiro Nagumo, 6th Air Wing commanding general, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John L. Dolan, commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, study a flight diagram during a visit to Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 9, 2016. Dolan visited Komatsu Air Base for the first time to observe the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise between Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The ATR program has three main goals: to increase operational readiness, improve interoperability, and reduce local noise impacts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Sgt. Leonard Archuleta, an avionics collateral duty quality assurance representative, right, and Lance Cpl. Sean Stiles, an avionics technician, left, with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 work on an F/A-18D Hornet at Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - Sgt. Leonard Archuleta, an avionics collateral duty quality assurance representative, right, and Lance Cpl. Sean Stiles, an avionics technician, left, with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 work on an F/A-18D Hornet at Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.

Capt. Anthony D. Ramey, Marine Aircraft Group 12 current operations officer, explains to Japan Air Self-Defense Force cadets the importance of pre-checks before a flight during a Japanese Observer Exchange Program tour here Sept. 27. The tour refocused the cadets’ efforts to complete flight training. - Capt. Anthony D. Ramey, Marine Aircraft Group 12 current operations officer, explains to Japan Air Self-Defense Force cadets the importance of pre-checks before a flight during a Japanese Observer Exchange Program tour here Sept. 27. The tour refocused the cadets’ efforts to complete flight training.

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 ordnance technician salutes a VMFA(AW)-242 pilot and a weapon systems officer before they take off from the flight line here May 19. VMFA(AW)-242 launched its jets to conduct ongoing simulated air-to-air combat training with elements of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. VMFA(AW)-242 wrapped up its third week of the newly implimented air-to-air trianing with the Western Air Defense Force 8th Air Wing’s F-15J 204th and F-2A 6th JASDF Tactical Fighter Squadrons from Tsuiki Air Base. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 ordnance technician salutes a VMFA(AW)-242 pilot and a weapon systems officer before they take off from the flight line here May 19. VMFA(AW)-242 launched its jets to conduct ongoing simulated air-to-air combat training with elements of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. VMFA(AW)-242 wrapped up its third week of the newly implimented air-to-air trianing with the Western Air Defense Force 8th Air Wing’s F-15J 204th and F-2A 6th JASDF Tactical Fighter Squadrons from Tsuiki Air Base.

Two Marine Aircraft Group 12 pilots explain to Japanese Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Wing, 3rd Squadron pilots the capabilities of missiles that can be attached to an F/A-18 at a Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 hangar here Feb. 18 during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program hosted by MAG-12. The exchange program aims at bettering the working relationship and understanding between the Japanese and American pilots. - Two Marine Aircraft Group 12 pilots explain to Japanese Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Wing, 3rd Squadron pilots the capabilities of missiles that can be attached to an F/A-18 at a Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 hangar here Feb. 18 during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program hosted by MAG-12. The exchange program aims at bettering the working relationship and understanding between the Japanese and American pilots.