News Stories

Japanese children role-play as firefighters during a trip to Kidzania in Kobe, Japan, July 26, 2017. Kidzania is themed as a child-sized replica of a real city including buildings, shops and theaters, as well as vehicles and pedestrians moving along its streets. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents visited the theme park as part of a Youth and Teen Center trip. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Japanese children role-play as firefighters during a trip to Kidzania in Kobe, Japan, July 26, 2017. Kidzania is themed as a child-sized replica of a real city including buildings, shops and theaters, as well as vehicles and pedestrians moving along its streets. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents visited the theme park as part of a Youth and Teen Center trip. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Yamaguchi Yuki, a videographer for Hakuhodo Inc., films Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force broadcasters at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 29, 2016. The broadcasters stood on a platform that wraps around the Type Zero Carrier Fighter. This helped set the scene for the video. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - Yamaguchi Yuki, a videographer for Hakuhodo Inc., films Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force broadcasters at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 29, 2016. The broadcasters stood on a platform that wraps around the Type Zero Carrier Fighter. This helped set the scene for the video. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Two F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 prepare for takeoff during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Hornet squadron performed low-altitude tactics training throughout the last week of training, allowing the pilots to gain confidence in low flying and simultaneously conducting air-to-surface maneuvers. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training helping pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - Two F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 prepare for takeoff during Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, Aug. 31, 2016. The Hornet squadron performed low-altitude tactics training throughout the last week of training, allowing the pilots to gain confidence in low flying and simultaneously conducting air-to-surface maneuvers. Southern Frontier is a three week unit level training helping pilots gain experience and qualifications in low-altitude tactics, close air support, and air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

A group of volunteers with the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and local children pose for a photo during a community relations preschool visit at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The Marine Memorial Chapel took volunteers to the preschool, giving the air station residents an opportunity to interact with local preschool children. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - A group of volunteers with the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and local children pose for a photo during a community relations preschool visit at Midoro Hoikuen in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 23, 2016. The Marine Memorial Chapel took volunteers to the preschool, giving the air station residents an opportunity to interact with local preschool children. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop. - A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop.

Cpl. Dakota Hazel, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, receives a vaccination during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. Multiple units came together to practice deploying to an area where a threat may arise. - Cpl. Dakota Hazel, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, receives a vaccination during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. Multiple units came together to practice deploying to an area where a threat may arise.

Eileen Meyer, a 5th grade teacher with Matthew C. Perry Elementary, reads to her students as part of an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period by working across time zones and continents. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. The current record for most children to in a 24 hour period is 238, 620 with Read Across the Globe aiming to set the new record at 300,000. - Eileen Meyer, a 5th grade teacher with Matthew C. Perry Elementary, reads to her students as part of an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period by working across time zones and continents. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. The current record for most children to in a 24 hour period is 238, 620 with Read Across the Globe aiming to set the new record at 300,000.

Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Station residents share the environment with the community and are taking necessary precautions to prevent adverse effects on the environment and habitat. - Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Station residents share the environment with the community and are taking necessary precautions to prevent adverse effects on the environment and habitat.

Toshiyuki Kuwahara, chairman of Iwakuni City Assembly, Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, and Takahiro Sugawara, director general of Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau, pose for a picture after the first pitch at the ground breaking ceremony of Atagoyama Baseball Field in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 15, 2015. Atagoyama provided the dirt and sand used in constructing a new runway on MCAS Iwakuni. The ground breaking ceremony represented the construction of the baseball field and future U.S. – Japan relationships. - Toshiyuki Kuwahara, chairman of Iwakuni City Assembly, Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, and Takahiro Sugawara, director general of Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau, pose for a picture after the first pitch at the ground breaking ceremony of Atagoyama Baseball Field in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 15, 2015. Atagoyama provided the dirt and sand used in constructing a new runway on MCAS Iwakuni. The ground breaking ceremony represented the construction of the baseball field and future U.S. – Japan relationships.