Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Erika Vargas, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, answers questions for the judges during the Food Service Specialist of the Quarter competition at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 13, 2017. The event prepared Marines for a larger competition July 26-27 in Okinawa. This was Vargas’ second time participating in the competition. She took first place, surpassing her placement last quarter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Erika Vargas, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, answers questions for the judges during the Food Service Specialist of the Quarter competition at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 13, 2017. The event prepared Marines for a larger competition July 26-27 in Okinawa. This was Vargas’ second time participating in the competition. She took first place, surpassing her placement last quarter. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher J. Garza, sergeant major of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, cuts the cake during the Single Marine Program’s (SMP) Marine Lounge grand opening at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. Originally located on the second floor over Crossroads Mall, the Marine Lounge was moved to make it more available to single and unaccompanied service members on the air station. Garza attended the event to cut the ribbon, slice the cake and support the SMP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher J. Garza, sergeant major of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, cuts the cake during the Single Marine Program’s (SMP) Marine Lounge grand opening at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. Originally located on the second floor over Crossroads Mall, the Marine Lounge was moved to make it more available to single and unaccompanied service members on the air station. Garza attended the event to cut the ribbon, slice the cake and support the SMP. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher O’Neal, an expeditionary airfield systems technician attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, shoots an M240B machine gun during phase two of Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 5, 2017. Phase two consisted of conducting live-fire training exercises to give MWSS-171 the knowledge and confidence to utilize weapons systems effectively in a deployed environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher O’Neal, an expeditionary airfield systems technician attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, shoots an M240B machine gun during phase two of Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 5, 2017. Phase two consisted of conducting live-fire training exercises to give MWSS-171 the knowledge and confidence to utilize weapons systems effectively in a deployed environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Frank Machniak, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, prepares to exit an F/A-18C Hornet after landing at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 7, 2017. VMFA-232 is conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation (ATR) Program, The ATR is designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces. It also reduces noise impact across the country by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Frank Machniak, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, prepares to exit an F/A-18C Hornet after landing at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 7, 2017. VMFA-232 is conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation (ATR) Program, The ATR is designed to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces. It also reduces noise impact across the country by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Kinjuen Nursing Home residents eat somen nagashi, or sliding somen noodles, during a nursing home visit with the MCAS Iwakuni Cultural Adaptation Program in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 7, 2017. The nursing home invited tenants of the air station to celebrate a Tanabata, also known as the star festival. It gave tenants of the air station a taste of Japanese culture and friendship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Kinjuen Nursing Home residents eat somen nagashi, or sliding somen noodles, during a nursing home visit with the MCAS Iwakuni Cultural Adaptation Program in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 7, 2017. The nursing home invited tenants of the air station to celebrate a Tanabata, also known as the star festival. It gave tenants of the air station a taste of Japanese culture and friendship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, rushes to provide security for a forward operating base during an immediate action drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp, Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points were established during the two-week exercise to train the Marines to provide explosives, weaponry, fuel, security, logistics and personnel to a forward line of troops and aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell) - A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, rushes to provide security for a forward operating base during an immediate action drill while participating in exercise Eagle Wrath 2017 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp, Fuji, Japan, June 17, 2017. Forward operating bases and forward arming and refueling points were established during the two-week exercise to train the Marines to provide explosives, weaponry, fuel, security, logistics and personnel to a forward line of troops and aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)