Lance Cpl. Tyler D. Teigen, a Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 combat engineer, releases straps for supplies during flight line and harbor loading and unloading exercises here Monday. This is the first time MWSS-171 has been able to perform an exercise on this scale without actually supporting a unit deployment program squadron. - Lance Cpl. Tyler D. Teigen, a Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 combat engineer, releases straps for supplies during flight line and harbor loading and unloading exercises here Monday. This is the first time MWSS-171 has been able to perform an exercise on this scale without actually supporting a unit deployment program squadron.

Candice Ho, left, and Bryan S. Otherson, IYAOYAS-B players, wait for the referee to blow the whistle during an intramural dodgeball double-elimination tournament at the IronWorks sports courts here Dec. 9. IYAOYAS A and B fought hard in the tournament, but were not able to put away the Tail Hookers who took first place in the tournament. - Candice Ho, left, and Bryan S. Otherson, IYAOYAS-B players, wait for the referee to blow the whistle during an intramural dodgeball double-elimination tournament at the IronWorks sports courts here Dec. 9. IYAOYAS A and B fought hard in the tournament, but were not able to put away the Tail Hookers who took first place in the tournament.

Ashley, a dancer with the Miami Marlins’ Mermaids pets one of the Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit dogs after a demonstration by PMO’s K-9 unit here Dec. 7. The Marlins spent the day visiting different units around the station, signing autographs and spending time with Marines while learning about what Marines aboard the station do every day. Armed Forces Entertainment gives professional athletes, comedians and other entertainers the opportunity to visit American bases and stations outside the continental U.S. This is the fourth AFE trip the Marlins have conducted and their::r::::n::first time visiting the Pacific region. Everywhere the Marlins went they were greeted with open arms by Marines who were more than willing to share stories about their daily lives, but::r::::n::most importantly to get to spend time with the visitors. The Marlins signed autographs for service members and a baseball for the commanding officer of each unit they visited. After::r::::n::visiting several units aboard the station, the Marlins went::r::::n::to the Penny Lake baseball field where the Mermaids practiced and performed a dance routine with resident children while the players played a mini-softball game with other children. AFE::r::::n::organizes approximately 120 yearly trips that entertain::r::::n::approximately 500,000 troops. - Ashley, a dancer with the Miami Marlins’ Mermaids pets one of the Provost Marshal’s Office K-9 unit dogs after a demonstration by PMO’s K-9 unit here Dec. 7. The Marlins spent the day visiting different units around the station, signing autographs and spending time with Marines while learning about what Marines aboard the station do every day. Armed Forces Entertainment gives professional athletes, comedians and other entertainers the opportunity to visit American bases and stations outside the continental U.S. This is the fourth AFE trip the Marlins have conducted and their::r::::n::first time visiting the Pacific region. Everywhere the Marlins went they were greeted with open arms by Marines who were more than willing to share stories about their daily lives, but::r::::n::most importantly to get to spend time with the visitors. The Marlins signed autographs for service members and a baseball for the commanding officer of each unit they visited. After::r::::n::visiting several units aboard the station, the Marlins went::r::::n::to the Penny Lake baseball field where the Mermaids practiced and performed a dance routine with resident children while the players played a mini-softball game with other children. AFE::r::::n::organizes approximately 120 yearly trips that entertain::r::::n::approximately 500,000 troops.

Capt. Christopher Robinson, a Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 pilot, looks over the cockpit before take-off during a 72 hour air surger here Dec. 7. Pilots flew throughout the night and faced the obstacles of rain and flying in darkness. - Capt. Christopher Robinson, a Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 pilot, looks over the cockpit before take-off during a 72 hour air surger here Dec. 7. Pilots flew throughout the night and faced the obstacles of rain and flying in darkness.

Marines with Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 examine one of three Piti guns, Japanese-made Vickers-type Model 3 140 mm coastal defense guns, in their original emplacements during a comprehensive tour of battle sights and relics from the war in the Pacific during World War II here Dec 3. The weapons although intended for use primarily against ships and landing craft during World War II have never been fired. Piti guns weapons will remain silent for the rest of their existence. - Marines with Marine Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 examine one of three Piti guns, Japanese-made Vickers-type Model 3 140 mm coastal defense guns, in their original emplacements during a comprehensive tour of battle sights and relics from the war in the Pacific during World War II here Dec 3. The weapons although intended for use primarily against ships and landing craft during World War II have never been fired. Piti guns weapons will remain silent for the rest of their existence.

Matthew C. Perry Elementary School student counsel members bow in appreciation to Yoshihiko Fukudo, Iwakuni City mayor, Lt. Col. P.J. Kerr, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni executive officer, other distinguished guests and community leaders for the Mikans given during the 2nd annual Mikan Exchange at the Sakura Theater here Dec. 15. The Mikan fruit exchange gave the M.C. Perry children a taste, literally, of Japanese culture. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary School student counsel members bow in appreciation to Yoshihiko Fukudo, Iwakuni City mayor, Lt. Col. P.J. Kerr, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni executive officer, other distinguished guests and community leaders for the Mikans given during the 2nd annual Mikan Exchange at the Sakura Theater here Dec. 15. The Mikan fruit exchange gave the M.C. Perry children a taste, literally, of Japanese culture.

Athletes pass IronWorks Gym here during their bike route for the 2011 Heat the Streets Duathlon that took::r::::n::place here Sunday. Participants were spread out across the grass in front of IronWorks Sunday morning before the::r::::n::race started, stretching out to prepare for the challenge ahead. The Duathlon is an annual event sponsored by::r::::n::Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni to strengthen bonds between station residents and Japanese locals.::r::::n::Besides Friendship Day, the races MCCS Iwakuni sponsors are the best way to allow locals access to the station. Participants started the race in front of IronWorks Gym with a four kilometer run to Penny Lake fields::r::::n::and back on the seawall. Participants then changed over to their bikes inside the bike rack area for a 24-kilometer::r::::n::biking portion. The last part of the race had participants place their bikes back in the racks and run for another four kilometers from the seawall to Penny Lake fields, finishing::r::::n::in front of IronWorks. - Athletes pass IronWorks Gym here during their bike route for the 2011 Heat the Streets Duathlon that took::r::::n::place here Sunday. Participants were spread out across the grass in front of IronWorks Sunday morning before the::r::::n::race started, stretching out to prepare for the challenge ahead. The Duathlon is an annual event sponsored by::r::::n::Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni to strengthen bonds between station residents and Japanese locals.::r::::n::Besides Friendship Day, the races MCCS Iwakuni sponsors are the best way to allow locals access to the station. Participants started the race in front of IronWorks Gym with a four kilometer run to Penny Lake fields::r::::n::and back on the seawall. Participants then changed over to their bikes inside the bike rack area for a 24-kilometer::r::::n::biking portion. The last part of the race had participants place their bikes back in the racks and run for another four kilometers from the seawall to Penny Lake fields, finishing::r::::n::in front of IronWorks.