News Stories

Fleet Readiness Center Western Pacific Detachment Iwakuni brings first aircraft into new hangar - From left to right, James Bock, F/A-18 Super Hornet planned maintenance interval line program manager with Fleet Readiness Center Western Pacific (FRCWP), Tomoshi Kometani, general manager of Nippi Corporation maintenance division, U.S. Navy Capt. Matthew Edwards, commanding officer of FRCWP, and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Palmer, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 22, 2017. The ceremony celebrated FRCWP Detachment Iwakuni’s induction of the first aircraft for maintenance in the unit’s new hangar. The facility allows the air station to conduct depot-level maintenance locally rather than flying aircraft to Naval Air Facility Atsugi. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

US Marine exceeds expectations, accepts award - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher J. Garza, left, sergeant major of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Burke, center, detention facility staff noncommissioned officer and supervisor with Headquarters and Headquarters (H&HS), and Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, pose for a photo in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 9, 2017. Burke received the USO Service Member of the Year Award at the 10th Annual Service Salute Gala. One service member from each military installation in Japan attends the gala to receive the award. Burke went above and beyond the expectations of his normal duties as a Marine by showing exemplary leadership skills, volunteering his time at the USO, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and community relations events hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel. (courtesy photo)

MAG-12 secures the 2017 Fall Classic football game - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Walter Williams, a wide receiver for Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12, runs the football at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 15, 2017, during the 26th annual 2017 Fall Classic football game. The game was set up to increase unit camaraderie and competitiveness across the air station. Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (H&HS) looked as if they were going to “take the cake” this year, intercepting the ball once and scoring two touchdowns, but H&HS began to slip up as the game progressed to the second half, throwing two interceptions for major turnovers. MAG-12 defeated H&HS 43-22. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

Service members volunteer, make difference in community - U.S. Marines and Sailors based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, dig a hole to make a koi pond at You En, a special needs home in Hiroshima City, Sept. 15, 2017. The landscaping at the special needs home consisted of digging holes for a future garden as well as a koi pond for the residents to enjoy walking through and watching it grow day-by-day. The event helped build relations between the service members and the Japanese community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

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)