News Stories

A Japanese volunteer prepares to test a donor’s blood during a blood drive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 7, 2017. The blood is tested to make sure there are no contagious diseases before the donor can give blood. The volunteers collaborated together and collected approximately 24,000 milliliters of blood from 59 Japanese and American donors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - A Japanese volunteer prepares to test a donor’s blood during a blood drive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 7, 2017. The blood is tested to make sure there are no contagious diseases before the donor can give blood. The volunteers collaborated together and collected approximately 24,000 milliliters of blood from 59 Japanese and American donors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard M. Rusnok Jr., oncoming commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, receives the VMFA-121 guidon from Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, outgoing commanding officer of VMFA-121, on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 3, 2017. The passing of the guidon is a Marine Corps tradition signifying the passing on of the commanding officer billet. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard M. Rusnok Jr., oncoming commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, receives the VMFA-121 guidon from Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, outgoing commanding officer of VMFA-121, on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 3, 2017. The passing of the guidon is a Marine Corps tradition signifying the passing on of the commanding officer billet. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

U.S. Marines, Sailors and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel conducted a mass casualty exercise on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 1, 2017. The exercise assessed the air station’s initial response, incident management, activation of emergency operations center and mass casualty plan in the event of a downed aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marines, Sailors and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel conducted a mass casualty exercise on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 1, 2017. The exercise assessed the air station’s initial response, incident management, activation of emergency operations center and mass casualty plan in the event of a downed aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst gives a speech before the start of the 7th annual U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert at the Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, Feb. 25, 2017. The concert is a way for the student performers to experience different cultures and communicate with each other through music despite the language barrier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst gives a speech before the start of the 7th annual U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert at the Sinfonia Iwakuni Concert Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, Feb. 25, 2017. The concert is a way for the student performers to experience different cultures and communicate with each other through music despite the language barrier. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, speaks to Marines and Sailors about the Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society during the kickoff at the Strike Zone Bowling Center at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 24, 2017. The NMCRS is a non-profit organization whose long-term mission is to help service members become financially self-sufficient by teaching them to manage their personal finances and prepare for unplanned expenditures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, speaks to Marines and Sailors about the Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society during the kickoff at the Strike Zone Bowling Center at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 24, 2017. The NMCRS is a non-profit organization whose long-term mission is to help service members become financially self-sufficient by teaching them to manage their personal finances and prepare for unplanned expenditures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

The Yokota High School ladies basketball team poses for a photo after winning the 2017 Division 2 Girls’ Basketball Tournament at the Matthew C. Perry High School gym on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 23, 2017. M.C. Perry High School hosted 11 teams from the Far East Division for the tournament. The teams endured two days of physically demanding competition for the opportunity at a championship game in a double elimination style tournament. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - The Yokota High School ladies basketball team poses for a photo after winning the 2017 Division 2 Girls’ Basketball Tournament at the Matthew C. Perry High School gym on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 23, 2017. M.C. Perry High School hosted 11 teams from the Far East Division for the tournament. The teams endured two days of physically demanding competition for the opportunity at a championship game in a double elimination style tournament. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marines wait in line while food service specialists sauté Mongolian entrée selections on the grill during Mongolian Bar Wednesday in the R.G. Robinson Mess Hall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 8, 2017. Mongolian Bar Wednesday was started in an effort to attract more patrons to the mess halls by offering specialty meals such as the Mongolian Bowl. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez.) - U.S. Marines wait in line while food service specialists sauté Mongolian entrée selections on the grill during Mongolian Bar Wednesday in the R.G. Robinson Mess Hall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Feb. 8, 2017. Mongolian Bar Wednesday was started in an effort to attract more patrons to the mess halls by offering specialty meals such as the Mongolian Bowl. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez.)

U.S. Marine Corps pilots with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) – 225 board an F/A-18D prior to take off during exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 9, 2017. The Marines loaded live air intercept missile – 120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM) to F/A-18D Hornets to be fired at decoys down range. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - U.S. Marine Corps pilots with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) – 225 board an F/A-18D prior to take off during exercise Cope North at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 9, 2017. The Marines loaded live air intercept missile – 120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM) to F/A-18D Hornets to be fired at decoys down range. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Marcos Martinez, expeditionary fire rescue staff noncommissioned officer in charge with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, right, poses for a photo with his opponent during the Duamau Tournament, a jiu jitsu competition at the TK Training Center in Hiroshima, Japan, Feb. 5, 2017. Jiu jitsu is a sport that teaches competitors to respect their opponents and build on the differences. Martinez trains among other Marines at the IronWorks North gym on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Marcos Martinez, expeditionary fire rescue staff noncommissioned officer in charge with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, right, poses for a photo with his opponent during the Duamau Tournament, a jiu jitsu competition at the TK Training Center in Hiroshima, Japan, Feb. 5, 2017. Jiu jitsu is a sport that teaches competitors to respect their opponents and build on the differences. Martinez trains among other Marines at the IronWorks North gym on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)