News Stories

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)

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviators assist each other in boarding an inflatable raft during Winter Survival Training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 9-11, 2016. Mandatory for all aviators and aircrew, the JMSDF conducts this training semi-annually, once in the summer and once in the winter. The final portion consisted of drifting training where the aviators dressed in Taikan Taisui Fuku, a cold and water resistant suit. They jumped into the water, swam to inflatable-life-saving boats and worked as a team to climb aboard. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviators assist each other in boarding an inflatable raft during Winter Survival Training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 9-11, 2016. Mandatory for all aviators and aircrew, the JMSDF conducts this training semi-annually, once in the summer and once in the winter. The final portion consisted of drifting training where the aviators dressed in Taikan Taisui Fuku, a cold and water resistant suit. They jumped into the water, swam to inflatable-life-saving boats and worked as a team to climb aboard. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 assists Sgt. Deedmund Nettles, left, food service specialist with MWSS-171, in removing his personal protective equipment during Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The course covered topics such as the hazards associated with working around chemicals, how to locate information on different chemicals, and the four aspects of planning and organizing a hazardous waste site, which are organizational structure, work plan, safety meetings and inspections. This training provided Marines with the proper knowledge to identify contain and clean up hazardous materials. - A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 assists Sgt. Deedmund Nettles, left, food service specialist with MWSS-171, in removing his personal protective equipment during Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The course covered topics such as the hazards associated with working around chemicals, how to locate information on different chemicals, and the four aspects of planning and organizing a hazardous waste site, which are organizational structure, work plan, safety meetings and inspections. This training provided Marines with the proper knowledge to identify contain and clean up hazardous materials.

Station residents provide required information to the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, and American Red Cross during a noncombatant evacuation processing center exercise in the IronWorks Gym at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 11, 2015. This exercise practices evacuating endangered personnel in a host foreign nation to a safe location. An evacuation can take place for a variety of reasons such as natural disasters, industrial accidents and military threats. - Station residents provide required information to the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, and American Red Cross during a noncombatant evacuation processing center exercise in the IronWorks Gym at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 11, 2015. This exercise practices evacuating endangered personnel in a host foreign nation to a safe location. An evacuation can take place for a variety of reasons such as natural disasters, industrial accidents and military threats.

Lance Cpl. Kevin Kelly, right, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives praise to his K-9 after successfully attacking Cpl. Justin Stockton, military working dog handler with H&HS, who played a simulated noncompliant suspect during night training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 9, 2015. To ensure the safety of personnel on the air station, this training is conducted to keep military working dogs familiarized with the installation as its landscape continues to develop with the Defense Policy Review Initiative. The K-9’s are trained in the five phases of aggression, basic obedience and building searches which aid in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. - Lance Cpl. Kevin Kelly, right, military working dog handler with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives praise to his K-9 after successfully attacking Cpl. Justin Stockton, military working dog handler with H&HS, who played a simulated noncompliant suspect during night training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 9, 2015. To ensure the safety of personnel on the air station, this training is conducted to keep military working dogs familiarized with the installation as its landscape continues to develop with the Defense Policy Review Initiative. The K-9’s are trained in the five phases of aggression, basic obedience and building searches which aid in a variety of potentially dangerous situations.

Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely. - Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely.

Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident. - Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident.

Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, stationed load onto Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s MK-31 tractor/extended bed during Exercise Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Aibano, Japan, Sept. 8, 2015. MWSS-171 is supporting Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 and 1st Battalion 2nd Marines during this exercise using their communications, motor transport and refueling capabilities. - Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, stationed load onto Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s MK-31 tractor/extended bed during Exercise Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Aibano, Japan, Sept. 8, 2015. MWSS-171 is supporting Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 and 1st Battalion 2nd Marines during this exercise using their communications, motor transport and refueling capabilities.

Seaman Halon Hamilton, maintenance man aboard the boat with Harbor Operations, guides the driver up to a buoy during a training evolution aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 2, 2015. Walking the boat up to a buoy simulates pulling into a narrow berth or alongside a pier.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Seaman Halon Hamilton, maintenance man aboard the boat with Harbor Operations, guides the driver up to a buoy during a training evolution aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 2, 2015. Walking the boat up to a buoy simulates pulling into a narrow berth or alongside a pier.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)