Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

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.

Colonel Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, greets Gen Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, during Nakatani’s visit to the air station, Dec. 2, 2015. As part of the growing U.S. – Japan relationship, this visit provided Nakatani an opportunity to connect with station officials and view pertinent installation facilities that aid in the Marine Corps’ mission success. - Colonel Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, greets Gen Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, during Nakatani’s visit to the air station, Dec. 2, 2015. As part of the growing U.S. – Japan relationship, this visit provided Nakatani an opportunity to connect with station officials and view pertinent installation facilities that aid in the Marine Corps’ mission success.

Maribell Martinez, left, a station resident, sends packages at Row Home 9148 A, one of the various mobile post office locations being manned by Lance Cpl. Natalie Mullin, middle, and Lance Cpl. Sara Garciamedina, right, postal clerks with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 4, 2015. Throughout the week, one mobile location will be opened daily and manned by postal Marines that can offer assistance if needed. The postal express are mobile locations that offer opportunities for station residents to drop-off holiday mail while also meeting the U.S. postal service mailing deadlines. - Maribell Martinez, left, a station resident, sends packages at Row Home 9148 A, one of the various mobile post office locations being manned by Lance Cpl. Natalie Mullin, middle, and Lance Cpl. Sara Garciamedina, right, postal clerks with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 4, 2015. Throughout the week, one mobile location will be opened daily and manned by postal Marines that can offer assistance if needed. The postal express are mobile locations that offer opportunities for station residents to drop-off holiday mail while also meeting the U.S. postal service mailing deadlines.