News Stories

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 19, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force through bilateral combat training. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, travel to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 19, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force through bilateral combat training. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

Air Force One lands at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 27, 2016. President Barack Obama visited MCAS Iwakuni and spoke with service members and their families after the Ise-Shima Group of Seven Summit meeting. The G7 Summit is a meeting of the leaders of the G7 countries which include: Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released) - Air Force One lands at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 27, 2016. President Barack Obama visited MCAS Iwakuni and spoke with service members and their families after the Ise-Shima Group of Seven Summit meeting. The G7 Summit is a meeting of the leaders of the G7 countries which include: Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released)

A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 conducts table three rifle qualifications 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 conducts table three rifle qualifications 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. (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)

Pemberton Aerosports executed a flag jump during the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, Japan, May 5, 2016. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has conducted a single-day air show and open house specifically designed to foster positive relationships between the air station and our Japanese hosts, and the event traditionally draws more than 200,000 visitors and participants. This year is the 40th Friendship Day, offering a culturally enriching experience that displays the mutual support that the U.S. and Japan share. This annual event showcases a variety of static displays, aviation performances and demonstrations, and provides food and entertainment for guests of the largest single-day event in Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released) - Pemberton Aerosports executed a flag jump during the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, Japan, May 5, 2016. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has conducted a single-day air show and open house specifically designed to foster positive relationships between the air station and our Japanese hosts, and the event traditionally draws more than 200,000 visitors and participants. This year is the 40th Friendship Day, offering a culturally enriching experience that displays the mutual support that the U.S. and Japan share. This annual event showcases a variety of static displays, aviation performances and demonstrations, and provides food and entertainment for guests of the largest single-day event in Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released)

Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

MV-22 Osprey squadron, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 17-18, 2016, in support of the Government of Japan's relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes near Kumamoto. The long-standing alliance between Japan and the U.S allows U.S military forces in Japan to provide rapid, integrated support top the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and civil relief efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - MV-22 Osprey squadron, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 17-18, 2016, in support of the Government of Japan's relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes near Kumamoto. The long-standing alliance between Japan and the U.S allows U.S military forces in Japan to provide rapid, integrated support top the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and civil relief efforts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Children from the Josho Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City say goodbye to Noriko Yamada, an administrative specialist with the Marine Memorial Chapel, and service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2016. Visiting the school provided service members the chance to teach children how to speak and count in English, fostering the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The chapel coordinated this community event as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Children from the Josho Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City say goodbye to Noriko Yamada, an administrative specialist with the Marine Memorial Chapel, and service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2016. Visiting the school provided service members the chance to teach children how to speak and count in English, fostering the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The chapel coordinated this community event as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Ayano Nakamura, left, and Cindy Herrera, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, play Acchi-Muite-Hoi, which is a game using rock-paper-scissors, during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. Commonly eaten during the Japanese New Year and festivals, mochi is made when glutinous rice is soaked, steamed and pounded with a wooden mallet and mortar, forming a sticky, stretchy texture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Ayano Nakamura, left, and Cindy Herrera, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, play Acchi-Muite-Hoi, which is a game using rock-paper-scissors, during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. Commonly eaten during the Japanese New Year and festivals, mochi is made when glutinous rice is soaked, steamed and pounded with a wooden mallet and mortar, forming a sticky, stretchy texture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 17, 2016.With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The half marathon first place for the men was Nobuhisa Tanigawa, 35, completing at 1 hour, 13 minutes, 37 seconds, and for the women was Yukiko Kobayakawa, 43, completing at 1:32:26. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks/Released) - Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 17, 2016.With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The half marathon first place for the men was Nobuhisa Tanigawa, 35, completing at 1 hour, 13 minutes, 37 seconds, and for the women was Yukiko Kobayakawa, 43, completing at 1:32:26. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks/Released)