Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Cpl. Javon Franklin, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, assists in loading high explosive ordnance on an F/A-18C Hornet during exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Southern Frontier is three weeks of unit level training helping the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. VMFA-122 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and are currently assigned to MAG-12 at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program. Australia is the last stop on the squadron’s deployment before heading back home. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - Cpl. Javon Franklin, an aviation ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, assists in loading high explosive ordnance on an F/A-18C Hornet during exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 28, 2016. Southern Frontier is three weeks of unit level training helping the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. VMFA-122 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and are currently assigned to MAG-12 at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program. Australia is the last stop on the squadron’s deployment before heading back home. (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)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force aviation officer cadets from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ozuki Aviation Training Squadron observe an F/A-18C static display during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program tour at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 17, 2016. Hosted by Marine Aircraft Group 12, the exchange program aims to better the understanding and working relationships between U.S. and Japanese pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Japan Air Self-Defense Force aviation officer cadets from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ozuki Aviation Training Squadron observe an F/A-18C static display during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program tour at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 17, 2016. Hosted by Marine Aircraft Group 12, the exchange program aims to better the understanding and working relationships between U.S. and Japanese pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Lance Cpl. Lestat Lanier, an airframer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, scrapes letters off an F/A-18C at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. VMFA-122, also known as the “Werewolves,” arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 14 from MCAS Beaufort, S. C., for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program. The Werewolves squadron will conduct contingency, bilateral and multilateral training with their Japanese counterparts and services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Lance Cpl. Lestat Lanier, an airframer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, scrapes letters off an F/A-18C at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. VMFA-122, also known as the “Werewolves,” arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 14 from MCAS Beaufort, S. C., for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program. The Werewolves squadron will conduct contingency, bilateral and multilateral training with their Japanese counterparts and services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Sgt. Steven Johnson (wearing woodland gortex jacket), a quality assurance representative with Marine Fighter Attacks Squadron 122 and Fairbanks, Alaska native, assists a maintenance Marine with pre-flight turning of one of the squadron's F/A-18C Hornets, Sept. 11, 2014, aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 is conducting unit level training in Alaska as part of Exercise Distant Frontier. - Sgt. Steven Johnson (wearing woodland gortex jacket), a quality assurance representative with Marine Fighter Attacks Squadron 122 and Fairbanks, Alaska native, assists a maintenance Marine with pre-flight turning of one of the squadron's F/A-18C Hornets, Sept. 11, 2014, aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 is conducting unit level training in Alaska as part of Exercise Distant Frontier.

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 3, 2014. The Hornet was loaded with ordnance for a bombing mission as part of the squadron’s unit level training, named Distant Frontier. - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 3, 2014. The Hornet was loaded with ordnance for a bombing mission as part of the squadron’s unit level training, named Distant Frontier.

Col. William Lieblein, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31, and Lance Cpl. Dakota Cassell, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, inspect an F/A-18C aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 25, 2014. Lieblein, who visited VMFA-122 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., participated in the first flight of the squadron’s unit level training in Alaska. VMFA-122 arrived to Alaska from Hawaii and is scheduled to train with squadrons from the United States Air Force to enhance interoperability between services. - Col. William Lieblein, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31, and Lance Cpl. Dakota Cassell, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, inspect an F/A-18C aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 25, 2014. Lieblein, who visited VMFA-122 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., participated in the first flight of the squadron’s unit level training in Alaska. VMFA-122 arrived to Alaska from Hawaii and is scheduled to train with squadrons from the United States Air Force to enhance interoperability between services.

A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 F/A-18C Hornet takes off from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 21, 2014. This was the last training flight for the squadron, nicknamed the “Werewolves,” during their unit level training on the island. The squadron participated in both Exercise Rim of the Pacific and ULT while part of the unit deployment program with Marine Aircraft Group 12, stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. - A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 F/A-18C Hornet takes off from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 21, 2014. This was the last training flight for the squadron, nicknamed the “Werewolves,” during their unit level training on the island. The squadron participated in both Exercise Rim of the Pacific and ULT while part of the unit deployment program with Marine Aircraft Group 12, stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

Cpl. Christopher Molden, a non-destructive inspection technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, conducts an eddy-current inspection on an F/A-18C Hornet aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 21, 2014. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 is in Hawaii supporting Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 during Rim of the Pacfic Exercise 2014. Rim of the Pacific is a multinational maritime exercise that provides a unique training opportunity which helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. - Cpl. Christopher Molden, a non-destructive inspection technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, conducts an eddy-current inspection on an F/A-18C Hornet aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 21, 2014. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 is in Hawaii supporting Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 during Rim of the Pacfic Exercise 2014. Rim of the Pacific is a multinational maritime exercise that provides a unique training opportunity which helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans.

A maintenance Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 washes an F/A-18C Hornet during routine maintenance aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 21, 2014. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 is in Hawaii for Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014, a multinational maritime exercise hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet and provides realistic training that increases participants’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations. - A maintenance Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 washes an F/A-18C Hornet during routine maintenance aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 21, 2014. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 is in Hawaii for Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014, a multinational maritime exercise hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet and provides realistic training that increases participants’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations.