News Stories

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Philip Park, right, command chaplain with Marine Aircraft Group 12, recieves a school basketball jersey from Jemmy Jermias, the school principal, during a visit at Sekolah Menengah Eben Haezar Manado High School in Manado, Indonesia, Nov. 9, 2016. The exchanging of gifts symbolizes each other’s appreciation for cultural exchanges and community relations events. As part of a community relations event, the visit offered Marines and Sailors with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 225 the opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges and build relationships within the local community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Philip Park, right, command chaplain with Marine Aircraft Group 12, recieves a school basketball jersey from Jemmy Jermias, the school principal, during a visit at Sekolah Menengah Eben Haezar Manado High School in Manado, Indonesia, Nov. 9, 2016. The exchanging of gifts symbolizes each other’s appreciation for cultural exchanges and community relations events. As part of a community relations event, the visit offered Marines and Sailors with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 225 the opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges and build relationships within the local community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members executed exercise Active Shield at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 11, 2016. Active Shield is an annual exercise designed to test the abilities of U.S. and Japanese forces to work alongside each other to protect and defend Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and other U.S. assets in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members executed exercise Active Shield at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 11, 2016. Active Shield is an annual exercise designed to test the abilities of U.S. and Japanese forces to work alongside each other to protect and defend Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and other U.S. assets in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Delwin K. Ellington, sergeant major of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 225, presents a signed basketball to Deysie Lumowa, the head mistress at Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 1 High School in Manado, Indonesia, Nov. 4, 2016. As part of a community relations event, the visit offered service members the opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges and build relationships within the local community. At the end of the event, Marines and Sailors exchanged gifts with Lumowa, showing each other’s appreciation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Delwin K. Ellington, sergeant major of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 225, presents a signed basketball to Deysie Lumowa, the head mistress at Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 1 High School in Manado, Indonesia, Nov. 4, 2016. As part of a community relations event, the visit offered service members the opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges and build relationships within the local community. At the end of the event, Marines and Sailors exchanged gifts with Lumowa, showing each other’s appreciation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornets with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 225, taxi down the flight line to begin exercise Cope West 17 at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Indonesia, Nov. 1, 2016. This fighter-focused, bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Indonesian Air Force is designed to enhance the readiness of combined interoperability between the two nations. The squadron plans to complete their unit air-to-air training requirements, which focuses on basic fighter maneuvering, section engaged maneuvering, offensive anti-air warfare and active air defense versus the Indonesian Air Force to increase situational readiness, interoperability, knowledge and partnership between the U.S. and Indonesia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson) - Two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornets with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 225, taxi down the flight line to begin exercise Cope West 17 at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Indonesia, Nov. 1, 2016. This fighter-focused, bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Indonesian Air Force is designed to enhance the readiness of combined interoperability between the two nations. The squadron plans to complete their unit air-to-air training requirements, which focuses on basic fighter maneuvering, section engaged maneuvering, offensive anti-air warfare and active air defense versus the Indonesian Air Force to increase situational readiness, interoperability, knowledge and partnership between the U.S. and Indonesia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Henson)

Lance Cpl. Nick Cox, a powerliner assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 performs maintenance on an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada) - Lance Cpl. Nick Cox, a powerliner assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 performs maintenance on an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada)

Airframes mechanics assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 remove a hydraulic pump from an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation, and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada) - Airframes mechanics assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 242 remove a hydraulic pump from an F/A-18D Hornet after a flight mission during Exercise Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 18, 2016. Powerliners, airframes mechanics, communication navigation, and ordnance technicians, work around the clock to ensure flight schedules are met for aviation operations during the exercise. During this U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise, F/A-18D Hornets flew in a plethora of missions that emphasize joint integration, interoperability and expeditionary readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada)

U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher) - U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher)

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 performs a vertical landing while using the lights on the mobile Expeditionary Hover Position Indicator to adjust its position at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 9, 2016. VMA-542 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and is forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the unit deployment program. The Harrier pilots used the mobile EHPI in coordination with Aircraft Recovery assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron to recertify on boat-deck landings to prepare for other future operations in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 performs a vertical landing while using the lights on the mobile Expeditionary Hover Position Indicator to adjust its position at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 9, 2016. VMA-542 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and is forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the unit deployment program. The Harrier pilots used the mobile EHPI in coordination with Aircraft Recovery assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron to recertify on boat-deck landings to prepare for other future operations in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)