Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment. - Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment.

Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident. - Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident.

Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds. - Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds.

Marines of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron pose for a picture after being awarded first place for the intramural pistol matches at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. Intramural pistol matches are designed to introduce participants to the competition in arms program style of shooting, enabling Marines to compete in a match locally run. This allows more participation and helps identify Marines that may do well at the Far East Division Matches in Okinawa. - Marines of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron pose for a picture after being awarded first place for the intramural pistol matches at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. Intramural pistol matches are designed to introduce participants to the competition in arms program style of shooting, enabling Marines to compete in a match locally run. This allows more participation and helps identify Marines that may do well at the Far East Division Matches in Okinawa.

1st Lt. Donovan Holloway, air intelligence officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, plays with a Japanese orphan during a Single Marine Program volunteer event at Kaihoku-En Children’s Home in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Nov. 14, 2015. The children interacted and built relationships with the 18 service members during the visit. The visit afforded the children the opportunity to meet new people and have an afternoon filled with interaction. - 1st Lt. Donovan Holloway, air intelligence officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, plays with a Japanese orphan during a Single Marine Program volunteer event at Kaihoku-En Children’s Home in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Nov. 14, 2015. The children interacted and built relationships with the 18 service members during the visit. The visit afforded the children the opportunity to meet new people and have an afternoon filled with interaction.

Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members. - Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members.

Makaiya Harris, first place winner of the advanced group, receives a gold medal at the 54th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest at the Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 8, 2015. Japanese contestants wrote their own speeches in English and American students delivered theirs in Japanese. The ultimate goal of the speech contest is to promote understanding and friendship between Americans and Japanese. - Makaiya Harris, first place winner of the advanced group, receives a gold medal at the 54th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest at the Iwakuni Sinfonia in Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 8, 2015. Japanese contestants wrote their own speeches in English and American students delivered theirs in Japanese. The ultimate goal of the speech contest is to promote understanding and friendship between Americans and Japanese.

Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance. - Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance.

Kip Winterowd, National Cheerleaders Association director of curriculum, gives cheerleaders a pep talk during cheer week at Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 2, 2015. This is the 3rd year in a row MCAS Iwakuni hosted the Far East Cheerleading tournament and 12 teams from the Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific participated in a week of learning and fun.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Kip Winterowd, National Cheerleaders Association director of curriculum, gives cheerleaders a pep talk during cheer week at Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 2, 2015. This is the 3rd year in a row MCAS Iwakuni hosted the Far East Cheerleading tournament and 12 teams from the Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific participated in a week of learning and fun.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop. - A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop.