Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

VMFA-121 helps prepare JASDF for F-35A - Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) personnel study the F-35B Lightning II during an educational tour and class led by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 13, 2017. Several classes were conducted for JASDF personnel regarding maintenance, serviceability, operability and more. Afterwards, they briefly toured VMFA-121’s facility, taking a peek into different departments and visiting the hangar to see, touch and study the aircraft up close. This is the first time VMFA-121 has conducted an exchange like this. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justen L. Hagstrom, a KC-130J Hercules crewmaster trainee with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, poses for a photo prior to conducting night air delivered ground refueling at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Aug. 15, 2017. Crewmasters for a KC-130J are responsible for the critical placement of cargo on the 64-ton bird, ensuring readiness for flight, overseeing in-flight operations and being prepared to act as an emergency copilot. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Plunge into AMP-IT - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Francisco Galvez-Lopez, a repairable management division Marine with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 12, listens to a Marine Corps Water Survival School instructor during the Aquatics Maximum Power Intense Training (AMP-IT) program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 30, 2017. AMP-IT is an effort to increase readiness in an aquatic atmosphere. The course involves water survival, proper swimming techniques and aquatic exercises designed to focus on strength and endurance to enhance Marines’ capabilities during swim qualifications and fitness tests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

. - U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting pose for a photo after completing the 3rd annual stair climb in honor of 9/11 victims at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 11, 2017. Participants took to climbing 108 flights of stairs as a tribute to all who were involved in the terrorist attack. Firefighter gear, to include boots, pants, a coat, oxygen tanks and bundles of fire hose, was available to participants who dared to take the challenge of suffering through the stair climb in the same gear first responders did. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jmani Townsend, an aircraft recovery Marine with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), checks fluid levels on M-31 Marine Corps Expeditionary Aircraft arresting gear during an annual certification at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 8, 2017. The M-31 arresting gear is a deployable arrestment gear that can handle rapid-cycle arrestments of aircraft with tail hooks. The annual certification was to ensure proper function of the arresting gear. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Iwakuni Expo gives residents insight into station, community - Sayaka Takabayashi, right, a Semper Fit fitness instructor with Health Promotions, and Cindy Franz, a recreation assistant with Marine Corps Community Services, demonstrate a kickboxing instruction lesson during the Iwakuni Expo at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 9, 2017. Throughout the expo, residents enjoyed shows by ballroom dancers, Semper Fit Group Exercise Programs and a Japanese dance performance. The expo aimed to give residents an idea of the services, resources and benefits available to them on base and around the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Samurai kick off first football game under Friday Night Lights - Ryutu Elmoulkatel, a kicker with the Kinnick High School “Red Devils” football team, runs the ball against the Matthew C. Perry “Samurai” during a football game at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 1, 2017. Hosting their season opener at their new sports stadium, the Samurai, a Division II team, faced off against their Division I opponent, the Red Devils, from Fleet Activities Yokosuka. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Red Devils beat the Samurai 33-0. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Students welcome new school year with new facilities - Dwayne Jefferson, principal of Iwakuni Elementary School, gives a speech to the students during the first day of school at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 30, 2017. The day marked the first time the school facility was going to be used since its construction finished this year, along with Matthew C. Perry Elementary School and Iwakuni Middle School. The new school facilities have been setup to benefit the students, faculty and staff. They are also capable of taking in more students as the MCAS Iwakuni population increases. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

. - A U.S. Army Soldier with 1-1st Special Forces Group (SFG), watches for the drop zone from a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, during air delivery training for a static line jumpmaster course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Aug. 22, 2017. The air delivery was part of unit-level training Evergreen. Air delivery offers the ability to maximize the number of personnel and equipment rapidly delivered to a forward location, with little or no ground support in the objective area. Evergreen will serve as VMGR-152’s 2017 Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation through tri-lateral training with the U.S. Army 160th Special operations Aviation Regiment and the 1st SFG to gain valuable insight on the most recent Operation Inherent Resolve assault-support tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Conducts Patriot Advanced Capability-3 training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni - Service members with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) 2nd Air Defense Missile Group, set up the MIM-104 Patriot missile system during Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) deployment training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 29, 2017. PAC-3 is a surface-to-air missile defense system, which provides a highly reactive hit-to-kill capability in both range and altitude while operating in all environments. This training displays the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance and demonstrates the JASDF’s ability to rapidly deploy multiple defense assets to U.S. military installations across Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)