News Stories

From left to right, Rhonda Kirk, program assistant with the Youth and Teen Center, Anna Kirk, and Kris Kirk, Mathew C. Perry Elementary School students, and Gunnery Sgt. Isaiah Kirk, cyber network chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni observe a Koi pond at the Hiroshima Botanical Garden in Hiroshima City, Japan, Dec. 23, 2015. The visit afforded residents the opportunity to explore various exhibits and view the festive displays at the garden. - From left to right, Rhonda Kirk, program assistant with the Youth and Teen Center, Anna Kirk, and Kris Kirk, Mathew C. Perry Elementary School students, and Gunnery Sgt. Isaiah Kirk, cyber network chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni observe a Koi pond at the Hiroshima Botanical Garden in Hiroshima City, Japan, Dec. 23, 2015. The visit afforded residents the opportunity to explore various exhibits and view the festive displays at the garden.

Marines with Combat Logistics Company 36 inspect Santa’s sleigh before kicking off the annual 1.5k Jingle Bell Jog at the IronWorks Gym, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The Jingle Bell Jog is an event for service members and their families to show off their holiday spirit as they run through the station. Events like this help raise spirits and build camaraderie during the holiday season while most service members are away from their families. - Marines with Combat Logistics Company 36 inspect Santa’s sleigh before kicking off the annual 1.5k Jingle Bell Jog at the IronWorks Gym, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The Jingle Bell Jog is an event for service members and their families to show off their holiday spirit as they run through the station. Events like this help raise spirits and build camaraderie during the holiday season while most service members are away from their families.

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.

Volunteers from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, wish residents at the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni, a merry Christmas after caroling on Dec. 16, 2015. The chapel coordinated this community even as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. Nursing home residents expressed happiness, appreciation and shed tears of joy toward the residents. - Volunteers from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, wish residents at the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni, a merry Christmas after caroling on Dec. 16, 2015. The chapel coordinated this community even as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. Nursing home residents expressed happiness, appreciation and shed tears of joy toward the residents.

From left to right, Lilly Barnes, Janessa Rivera, and Brinley Barnes, students at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, pose for a group picture during Literacy Night at M.C. Perry Elementary School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 15, 2015. Literacy Night promotes the importance of reading in a way the children find fun and enjoyable. - From left to right, Lilly Barnes, Janessa Rivera, and Brinley Barnes, students at Matthew C. Perry Elementary School, pose for a group picture during Literacy Night at M.C. Perry Elementary School on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 15, 2015. Literacy Night promotes the importance of reading in a way the children find fun and enjoyable.

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, VMFA(AW)-242, F/A-18D Hornet performs an engine test inside a hush house at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 14, 2015. These facilities are used to reduce noise in the local area when testing aircraft engines. Building and using facilities like these help strengthen the bond between the air station and the local community by showing that the station listens to the needs of the community and are doing their best to accommodate local citizens. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, VMFA(AW)-242, F/A-18D Hornet performs an engine test inside a hush house at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 14, 2015. These facilities are used to reduce noise in the local area when testing aircraft engines. Building and using facilities like these help strengthen the bond between the air station and the local community by showing that the station listens to the needs of the community and are doing their best to accommodate local citizens.

Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more. - Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more.

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.

Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, visit the Peace Memorial Park area after visiting the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima, Dec. 5, 2015. The Youth and Teen Center provided station residents the opportunity to explore the Peace Memorial Park area and shop around the area. The dome is the only building that remains and provided students with a visual image of the aftermath of World War II. - Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, visit the Peace Memorial Park area after visiting the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima, Dec. 5, 2015. The Youth and Teen Center provided station residents the opportunity to explore the Peace Memorial Park area and shop around the area. The dome is the only building that remains and provided students with a visual image of the aftermath of World War II.

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.