An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .mil

A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.

Secure .mil websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Marines

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

News Stories

Archive: August, 2002

Yards say a lot about people

There's a lot to be said about first impressions. Whether at a job interview, meeting your new boss for the first time or making new friends, first impressions set the stage. But what about that first impression when someone comes to your home? What do they see, weeds out of control, grass tall enough to low crawl through, enough junk to label

Welcoming the departed

An annual migration of people starts in mid-August across Japan. Highways, bullet trains and even airplanes are crowded with people due to the traditional Buddhist holiday, called Obon. Obon is a unique holiday, because it isn't celebrated on a specific day. Because the original lunar calendar was converted to a solar calendar, the holiday is

Youth DEFY drugs

Approximately 60 Iwakuni children participated in a weeklong summer camp geared towards educating them about ways to resist drug use. The Drug Education for Youth program teaches children valuable lessons about avoiding drugs, working with others and building self-confidence in themselves. According to Kerri George, DEFY Camp director, the classes,

Marines learn prisoner escort

The newest Chaser Course class graduated Aug. 8 into a realm that few may have expected to go when they first joined the Marine Corps - escorting prisoners. All service members may eventually have to serve as a chaser, regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty. Chasers are responsible for escorting prisoners to various appointments, and

Residents warned of identity theft

With the world's growing dependency on electronic information come easier opportunities for people who make a living stealing off of others. Financial and legal experts offer tips on how to combat such enemies and what to do if you should find yourself a victim of identity theft or financial fraud. Keeping a watchful eye on your financial dealings

Ready group regroups

Col. Stephen Pomeroy took the reigns of Marine Aircraft Group 12 from Col. John DeWitt July 24 in a change of command ceremony held on the station's flightline. Pomeroy comes to Iwakuni after serving in Washington, D.C. for two years where he was assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. Pomeroy said he intends to uphold the MAG-12 tradition of

Help for new family members provided

When service members and families go to new duty stations, or get stationed overseas for the first time, they often find themselves looking for assistance to make their move go smoothly. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni offers many programs for service members and their families to help with their transition. The Relocation Assistance Program gives

MCX implements Civil Recovery Program

Recently the Marine Corps Exchange instituted a program in an effort to protect exchange assets. The MCX has started a Civil Recovery Program to charge customers caught shoplifting for actual and administrative costs associated with shoplifting, theft detection, and theft prevention. "If someone is caught stealing anything from the MCX or the 7 Day

Lending Locker helps new arrivals

If your household goods are in transit, you don't need to buy temporary replacements. There is a service aboard the station that provides them for free. The Lending Locker, operated by Marine Corps Community Services, provides household items individuals and families can check out when they are moving into and out of Marine Corps Air Station

Respirators protect noncombatants

Safety precautions are no stranger to station residents, but newcomers to Iwakuni will find themselves getting used to equipment intended to keep everyone aboard the station safe in the event of a chemical or biological incident. Shortly after arriving in Iwakuni, noncombatants should be fitted for a respirator and trained on how to use it in case