Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Station volunteers and orphans from Garden of Light Children’s Home in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, trick-or-treat during a Halloween event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Oct. 31, 2015. During their visit, 50 station volunteers escorted 15 orphans to a haunted house operated by Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, enjoyed bonding over dinner and trick-or-treating around the air station. While trick-or-treating, visitors and volunteers could see how station residents celebrate the spooky holiday, from the eccentric costumes to the decorated houses. - Station volunteers and orphans from Garden of Light Children’s Home in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, trick-or-treat during a Halloween event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Oct. 31, 2015. During their visit, 50 station volunteers escorted 15 orphans to a haunted house operated by Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, enjoyed bonding over dinner and trick-or-treating around the air station. While trick-or-treating, visitors and volunteers could see how station residents celebrate the spooky holiday, from the eccentric costumes to the decorated houses.

Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese children from Ekimae Hoikuen Pre-school visited the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni City, Oct. 27, 2015. The community relations event, hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel on the air station, gave service members the opportunity to interact with the Japanese youth and teach them about Halloween. The children also recited the American and Japanese alphabets with the senior citizens at the nursing home. - Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese children from Ekimae Hoikuen Pre-school visited the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni City, Oct. 27, 2015. The community relations event, hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel on the air station, gave service members the opportunity to interact with the Japanese youth and teach them about Halloween. The children also recited the American and Japanese alphabets with the senior citizens at the nursing home.

Renee Thomason, first place winner for her age group, races to the finish line at the 28th Annual Triathlon at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 25, 2015. Open to station residents and the Japanese community, the triathlon consisted of a two lap swim in the harbor, 20k bicycle race and an 8k run. - Renee Thomason, first place winner for her age group, races to the finish line at the 28th Annual Triathlon at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 25, 2015. Open to station residents and the Japanese community, the triathlon consisted of a two lap swim in the harbor, 20k bicycle race and an 8k run.

Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake. - Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake.

On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team. - On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team.

Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, watch chestnut factory workers size and sort “Ganne-guri” during a chestnut picking trip in Ganne Miwa-cho, Iwakuni City, Oct. 22, 2015. The Japan Agricultural Cooperatives’ Yamaguchi East (JA Yamaguchi East) in Iwakuni City hosted the trip for station residents and locals to experience the chestnut picking process from beginning to end. - Residents of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, watch chestnut factory workers size and sort “Ganne-guri” during a chestnut picking trip in Ganne Miwa-cho, Iwakuni City, Oct. 22, 2015. The Japan Agricultural Cooperatives’ Yamaguchi East (JA Yamaguchi East) in Iwakuni City hosted the trip for station residents and locals to experience the chestnut picking process from beginning to end.

Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers take a stance after a simulated riot control situation during Exercise Guard and Protect at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 20-23, 2015. Marines and JGSDF soldiers were challenged with real world situations such as riot control, armed intruder response and vehicle searches to prepare in case the air station has to take a defense posture. - Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers take a stance after a simulated riot control situation during Exercise Guard and Protect at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 20-23, 2015. Marines and JGSDF soldiers were challenged with real world situations such as riot control, armed intruder response and vehicle searches to prepare in case the air station has to take a defense posture.

Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner. - Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner.

Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community.

Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of. - Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of.