News Stories

Russian crew members work to unload a KC-130J flight simulator from an AN-124 Ruslan aircraft on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 2, 2016. The aircraft delivered a KC-130J flight simulator that will later be installed in the base’s Operational Training Complex. Upon its completion, MCAS Iwakuni’s OTC will be the largest in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - Russian crew members work to unload a KC-130J flight simulator from an AN-124 Ruslan aircraft on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 2, 2016. The aircraft delivered a KC-130J flight simulator that will later be installed in the base’s Operational Training Complex. Upon its completion, MCAS Iwakuni’s OTC will be the largest in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Eckert performs an abdominal exercise with an ammo can while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Currently serving as a motor transport mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Eckert’s passion for physical fitness grew once he enlisted and finds ways to incorporate exercises into his daily activities. (Courtesy Photo) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Eckert performs an abdominal exercise with an ammo can while stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Currently serving as a motor transport mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Eckert’s passion for physical fitness grew once he enlisted and finds ways to incorporate exercises into his daily activities. (Courtesy Photo)

U.S. Navy Sailors from the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic remove clothing from a simulated victim during first-receiver operations training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2016. Provided by the Decontamination, Education and Consulting on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Limited Liability Company, the course educates first receivers in conducting decontamination, field treatment and saving victims from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Conducting this training helps refresh Sailors on their tactical skills sets specific to CBRN response, maintain situational readiness and ensures the safety of personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Navy Sailors from the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic remove clothing from a simulated victim during first-receiver operations training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2016. Provided by the Decontamination, Education and Consulting on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Limited Liability Company, the course educates first receivers in conducting decontamination, field treatment and saving victims from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Conducting this training helps refresh Sailors on their tactical skills sets specific to CBRN response, maintain situational readiness and ensures the safety of personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released)

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Cpl. Michael Martinez, a bulk fuels specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 mans a M240 bravo light-machine while convoying to a simulated aircraft crash site during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. The squadron conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Cpl. Michael Martinez, a bulk fuels specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 mans a M240 bravo light-machine while convoying to a simulated aircraft crash site during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. The squadron conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 assemble an M240 Bravo Light-Machine Gun on a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 9, 2016. The squadron plans to conduct various drills pertaining to aviation ground support forces, aircraft salvage and recovery, convoys, direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations, establishing a tactical motor pool, providing air operations and planning expeditionary fire rescue services. The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 assemble an M240 Bravo Light-Machine Gun on a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 9, 2016. The squadron plans to conduct various drills pertaining to aviation ground support forces, aircraft salvage and recovery, convoys, direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations, establishing a tactical motor pool, providing air operations and planning expeditionary fire rescue services. The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Iwakuni City firefighters carry a casualty to an ambulance during the Mass Casualty Exercise 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 23, 2016. Conducted in preparation for the JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, the exercise simulated a dual aircraft collision where large crowds will be expected. The JMSDF participated in the exercise to enhance bilateral cooperation with U.S. first responders, establish safety measures and maintain situational readiness. To make the exercise more realistic, first responders did not know when, where or what would happen. After evaluating last year’s exercise, more residents participated in the exercise as actors and selected as either a casualty or bystander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Iwakuni City firefighters carry a casualty to an ambulance during the Mass Casualty Exercise 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 23, 2016. Conducted in preparation for the JMSDF/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, the exercise simulated a dual aircraft collision where large crowds will be expected. The JMSDF participated in the exercise to enhance bilateral cooperation with U.S. first responders, establish safety measures and maintain situational readiness. To make the exercise more realistic, first responders did not know when, where or what would happen. After evaluating last year’s exercise, more residents participated in the exercise as actors and selected as either a casualty or bystander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for explosives during joint training with Marines from the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. Trained in a variety of areas such as locating explosives and narcotics and conducting patrols, handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in order to maintain operational readiness, become a more effective team and ensure the safety of the station residents. Sgt. Adrian Nanez, PMO kennel master with Headquarters and Headquarters, placed explosives in hidden locations while the duo waited out of site, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Police Lt. Muneyuki Hirao, a police dog trainer at Hiroshima Prefectural Police Headquarters, and his K-9 search for explosives during joint training with Marines from the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. Trained in a variety of areas such as locating explosives and narcotics and conducting patrols, handlers and their military working dogs train regularly in order to maintain operational readiness, become a more effective team and ensure the safety of the station residents. Sgt. Adrian Nanez, PMO kennel master with Headquarters and Headquarters, placed explosives in hidden locations while the duo waited out of site, resulting in a more cautious and thorough search, increasing the overall training effectiveness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Iwamoto, Japanese interpreter instructor, throws a rubber grenade while conducting a combat fitness test during the Public Affairs Office’s annual English seminar on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 16, 2016. The seminar is held annually by the station Public Affairs Office to help improve upon the JGSDF’s understanding and use of the English language prior to their deployment in support of exercises in both the United States and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio/Released) - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Iwamoto, Japanese interpreter instructor, throws a rubber grenade while conducting a combat fitness test during the Public Affairs Office’s annual English seminar on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 16, 2016. The seminar is held annually by the station Public Affairs Office to help improve upon the JGSDF’s understanding and use of the English language prior to their deployment in support of exercises in both the United States and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio/Released)