Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (purple), and Headquarters and HeadquartersSquadron (red) battle it out in the final round of the Commander’s Cup Basketball Tournament March 23, 2013, on the outdoor basketball court near IronWorks Gym. The tournament ended with MWSS-171 taking home the first-place trophy. - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 (purple), and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (red) battle it out in the final round of the Commander’s Cup Basketball Tournament March 23, 2013, on the outdoor basketball court near IronWorks Gym. The tournament ended with MWSS-171 taking home the first-place trophy.

Kintai Bridge cleanup participants place trash in a designated area next to the bridge during the event, which took place next to the bridge March 23, 2013. Lt. Cmdr. Denise Wallingford, Marine Aircraft Group 12 chaplain, said 137 people participated in the event. - Kintai Bridge cleanup participants place trash in a designated area next to the bridge during the event, which took place next to the bridge March 23, 2013. Lt. Cmdr. Denise Wallingford, Marine Aircraft Group 12 chaplain, said 137 people participated in the event.

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 heavy equipment operators replace the dirt they extracted practicing to build fighting positions and anti-tank trenches at the Haramura training area near Hiroshima during Exercise Thunder Horse, March 17-22, 2013. Weather added difficult obstacles for operators, as vehicles would get stuck in the mud and clay. - Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 heavy equipment operators replace the dirt they extracted practicing to build fighting positions and anti-tank trenches at the Haramura training area near Hiroshima during Exercise Thunder Horse, March 17-22, 2013. Weather added difficult obstacles for operators, as vehicles would get stuck in the mud and clay.

Marines with Combat Engineers, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, hike through the mountainpasses of Haramura near the site of Exercise Thunder Horse, March 21, 2013. Throughout the hike, Marines would check the Marine in front of them to make sure their equipment was not falling off or loose. - Marines with Combat Engineers, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, hike through the mountain passes of Haramura near the site of Exercise Thunder Horse, March 21, 2013. Throughout the hike, Marines would check the Marine in front of them to make sure their equipment was not falling off or loose.

A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 provides security as his fellow Marines search for an improvised explosive device during an afternoon convoy patrol in the Haramura training area as part of Exercise Thunder Horse, March 19, 2013. The convoys tasked Marines in dealing with certain scenarios replicating possible situations encountered in Afghanistan. - A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 provides security as his fellow Marines search for an improvised explosive device during an afternoon convoy patrol in the Haramura training area as part of Exercise Thunder Horse, March 19, 2013. The convoys tasked Marines in dealing with certain scenarios replicating possible situations encountered in Afghanistan.

Cpl. Raffeal Ahamad, a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 collateral duty inspector, discusses components that make up a General Electric F404 engine with Mark Boone Junior, “Sons of Anarchy” television star, at the MALS-12 power plant here March 14, as part of the 2013 USO Handshake Tour. Fellow SOA alum, Kim Coates and Dayton Collie were also in attendance. The stars also visited with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 servicemembers and signed autographs and posed for pictures at the Marine Corps Exchange. The trio closed out this portion of the tour by signing more autographs at the Hornet’s nest later that evening. - Cpl. Raffeal Ahamad, a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 collateral duty inspector, discusses components that make up a General Electric F404 engine with Mark Boone Junior, “Sons of Anarchy” television star, at the MALS-12 power plant here March 14, as part of the 2013 USO Handshake Tour. Fellow SOA alum, Kim Coates and Dayton Collie were also in attendance. The stars also visited with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 servicemembers and signed autographs and posed for pictures at the Marine Corps Exchange. The trio closed out this portion of the tour by signing more autographs at the Hornet’s nest later that evening.

Station volunteers with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 build a tunnel for the children of the Marifu Hoikuen (Marifu pre-school/kindergarten) during a community-relations event March 14, 2013. Children advancing to the next grade had the opportunity to run through the tunnel first. - Station volunteers with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Aircraft Group 12 build a tunnel for the children of the Marifu Hoikuen (Marifu pre-school/kindergarten) during a community-relations event March 14, 2013. Children advancing to the next grade had the opportunity to run through the tunnel first.

Noah Saulsberry, right, an Iwakuni Legends player, tries to block Christopher Kinney, left, a Jolly Green Giants player, during the Youth Basketball championship held at IronWorks Gym sports courts here, March 14, 2013. At the two minute mark in the final period, the Giants took the lead and continued to score, finishing the game 31-21. - Noah Saulsberry, right, an Iwakuni Legends player, tries to block Christopher Kinney, left, a Jolly Green Giants player, during the Youth Basketball championship held at IronWorks Gym sports courts here, March 14, 2013. At the two minute mark in the final period, the Giants took the lead and continued to score, finishing the game 31-21.