Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

VMM-262 departs MCAS Iwakuni - U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, stationed out of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, board a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 20, 2017. VMM-262 supported exercise Forest Light as the aviation combat element. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 hosted a Christmas party for a local orphanage at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 17, 2017. - Children from Yahata Gakuen Orphanage climb into a heavy equipment vehicle during a Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 17, 2017. U.S. Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 welcomed the children to open gifts, play sports, eat lunch and explore U.S. military vehicles such as a Humvee, a heavy equipment vehicle and a tractor, rubber-tired, articulated steering and multi-purpose vehicle. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Muriah King)

MCAS Iwakuni welcomes US Navy squadrons - U.S. Navy Lt. Nathan Goodall, an EA-18G Growler pilot with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, greets his family at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 4-5, 2017. Friends and family waited for their service member to fly in and welcome them home to the air station. The relocation of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 from Naval Air Facility Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni fulfills the final Defense Policy Review Initiative objective. The relocation is in accordance with the United States’ strategic vision for the rebalance in the Indo-Asia Pacific Region and does much to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan security alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

US Ambassador to Japan makes first visit to MCAS Iwakuni - Ambassador William Hagerty, left , U.S. ambassador to Japan, a Boy Scout from Troop 77 , a Boy Scout from Troop 1 and Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, Japan, pose for a photo after symbolically planting a dogwood tree at Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 30, 2017. Ambassador Hagerty toured Kizuna Stadium during his first official Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visit since arriving in Japan earlier this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

Japanese American Society celebrates 60th anniversary in holiday party - Rasetsu ninja performers from Hiroshima take a photo with kids during the Japanese American Society (JAS) Iwakuni Holiday and 60th Anniversary Party at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 2, 2017. The party was a way for Japanese locals and MCAS Iwakuni residents to spend some time getting to know one another by combining their cultures and sharing a night of celebrating the holidays and 60 years of JAS. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marcus Campbell)

Sumos take off for El Centro Horizon - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Eric Brown, left, and Capt. Brian Kursawe, KC130-J Hercules pilots with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, conduct tactical navigation during unit-level training detachment El Centro Horizon at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., Dec. 2, 2017. The purpose of VMGR-152’s El Centro Horizon ULT detachment is to increase squadron combat readiness through the diverse training ranges available at the Yuma training complex. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Initial Japan-Based CVW-5 Jet Squadrons Fly-in to MCAS Iwakuni - An EA-18G Growler with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 taxis to a hangar at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 28, 2017. VAQ-141 arrived at MCAS Iwakuni as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5’s relocation from Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan. The relocation of CVW-5 from NAF Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni fulfills the final Defense Policy Review Initiative objective. The relocation is in accordance with the United States’ strategic vision for the rebalance in the Indo-Asia Pacific Region and does much to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan security alliance.

NEO exercise enhances station readiness - Amanda Braudt, a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni resident, visits the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society booth during a Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercise at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 21, 2017. The exercise consisted of a processing center at the IronWorks North Gym where U.S. service members, dependents and other station residents walked through various checkpoints, practicing what they would do in the event of an evacuation and receiving all the necessary information regarding their departure. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

MCWIS Marines carry on responsibilities of training America's amphibious fighting force - U.S Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Melisa Cancienne, a Marine Corps instructor of water survival and the squadron gunnery sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), observes Marines inflating a blouse during an intermediate swim qualification at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 16, 2017. Swim qualification is one of the different ways Marines maintain their annual training requirements. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic illustration by Sgt. N.W. Huertas)

Breaking language barriers, building bonds - Contestants, judges and distinguished guests pose for a picture during the 56th Annual Japanese and English Speech Contest at Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 19, 2017. The contest was hosted by the Japanese American Society to help contestants understand and appreciate each other’s language and culture, strengthening the Japanese and American friendship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Muriah King)