Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

VMFA-121 trains to fuel airpower in contaminated environments - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Tristan Aber, a motor transport operator with Logistics Department Fuels Division, helps fuel an F-35B Lightning II during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 15, 2017. A hot refuel is a fast-paced fueling method that allows aircraft to take in fuel while powered up, which gets them back to the fight quicker. Executing missions on time and being faster than the enemy is a vital aspect to the Marine Corps, and exercises like these assure that Marines can keep working quickly no matter what environment they’re forced to work in. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

VMGR-152's PME, a flight you wouldn't want to miss - U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, collect sand at Iwo To (Iwo Jima), Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. Multiple squadrons participated in the professional military education on the island to gain information on its historical significance and foster esprit de corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

MCAS Iwakuni Harbor Ops conducts facilities-response training - U.S. Navy Sailors with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), enter the water at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. Harbor Operations conducted facilities-response training to learn how to control potential oil or fuel spills in the waters surrounding the station. They used buoys to trap oily substances, which allowed a skimmer boat to filter chemicals from the water and clean it. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

MAG-12 runs their battle colors in support of 1st MAW's 242-mile run - U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 take part in the 1st Marine Air Wing’s Marine Corps birthday 242-mile run at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. The Marines participated in the event by running in two mile increments to reach their goal of 48.4 miles as part of the total 242 miles collectively run by multiple units with the 1st MAW in honor of the Marine Corps’ 242nd birthday. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

DPRI, MCCS hold grand opening of new gas station - Workers prepare for a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the new gas station grand opening at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 6, 2017. The gas station provides a secondary place for Status of Forces Agreement personnel to fuel vehicles and facilitates other amenities such as coin-operated vacuums, a tire pressure check station and an automatic car wash. The project was paid for by the government of Japan to accommodate the growing population of the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Hitting home runs in comradery - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Matthew England, an air terminal operations center passenger service agent with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), slides to home base during a goodwill softball game at Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 5, 2017. The game is a shop event held to bring Marines and Japanese nationals that work at the air terminal on base together and build office comradery. They also played with the Iwakuni City Sun Land baseball team, helping strengthen the bond between America and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

MCAS Iwakuni exerts excellent energy efficiency - Utilities and Energy Management personnel pose for their annual office photo at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 2, 2017. The team helped MCAS Iwakuni reach gold-installation status for the Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management Award by submitting data of the air station’s utility and energy consumption to Headquarters Marine Corps. MCAS Iwakuni earned the title for efficiently conserving energy for the third year in a row. (courtesy photo by Kurano Masao)

Kizuna Stadium brings American, Japanese locals together - The Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni color guard presents colors during the Kizuna stadium grand opening in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 4, 2017. The stadium is seen as more than just a sports complex for teams to train and play in. It is a hallmark of what the U.S.-Japan friendship has accomplished in Iwakuni City. Everything from the dogwood trees planted just outside to the name of the stadium itself – Kizuna, which means bond – represents the prosperous union between the two allies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Maintainers’ ground work keep Bats flying - U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Brian Walker, the aviation technician chief with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, oversees his Marines as they finish maintaining an F/A-18D Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 27, 2017. An aviation technician’s, also known as a maintainer, job is to secure the well-being of their pilots by ensuring the functionality of the F/A-18D . (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

'Spook Squadron' 171 goes bump in the night - Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 hosts a haunted house event for the community at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 29-31, 2017. The fundraising event raised money for the 242nd U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball and the squadron’s annual Christmas party where they invite a local orphanage to come on base to attend. Although the main attraction for the event was the haunted house, there was also a bounce house for the smaller children to play in, food and candy to eat, clothing items to buy and a fortune teller for participants to “learn their destiny.” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)