Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Renee Thomason, first place winner for her age group, races to the finish line at the 28th Annual Triathlon at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 25, 2015. Open to station residents and the Japanese community, the triathlon consisted of a two lap swim in the harbor, 20k bicycle race and an 8k run. - Renee Thomason, first place winner for her age group, races to the finish line at the 28th Annual Triathlon at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 25, 2015. Open to station residents and the Japanese community, the triathlon consisted of a two lap swim in the harbor, 20k bicycle race and an 8k run.

Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake. - Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake.

On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team. - On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team.

Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner. - Marines congregate after receiving their issued rifles during Strategic Mobility Exercise 16 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19-23, 2015. STRATMOBEX tests the ability of the Marines and their units to deploy to an area in need of assistance in a timely manner.

Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community.

Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of. - Station residents and instructors pose for a group photo during a tea ceremony with the Omotesenke Tea Ceremony Club hosted by the Cultural Adaptation Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2015. Programs like these help familiarize Americans with the culture of Japan, which they are now a part of.

A Special Olympics athlete competes in a bowling competition during the Special Olympics Hiroshima at the Strike Zone Bowling Center at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 4, 2015. As the last event before the Olympians received their medals, the special Olympics maintained its inspirational tempo by promoting a competitive atmosphere, camaraderie and sportsmanship. - A Special Olympics athlete competes in a bowling competition during the Special Olympics Hiroshima at the Strike Zone Bowling Center at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 4, 2015. As the last event before the Olympians received their medals, the special Olympics maintained its inspirational tempo by promoting a competitive atmosphere, camaraderie and sportsmanship.

A preschooler from Kawashimo Preschool in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, scurries around the playground during a relay race at Kawashimo Preschool Sept. 29, 2015. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the preschool to show their support and give back to the community. - A preschooler from Kawashimo Preschool in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, scurries around the playground during a relay race at Kawashimo Preschool Sept. 29, 2015. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni visited the preschool to show their support and give back to the community.

Japanese children from schools in the local area and children from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, participate in the Japan-U.S. Friendship Kid's Soccer Event coordinated by the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau at the Suo-Oshima Town Athletics Track and Field in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2015. This annual event serves as an opportunity for American and Japanese children to interact and help build bonds between the people of the U.S. and Japan. - Japanese children from schools in the local area and children from Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, participate in the Japan-U.S. Friendship Kid's Soccer Event coordinated by the Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau at the Suo-Oshima Town Athletics Track and Field in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 27, 2015. This annual event serves as an opportunity for American and Japanese children to interact and help build bonds between the people of the U.S. and Japan.

Cpl. Veronica Shoemake, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, poses for a picture after winning the Chef of the Quarter competition at the R.G. Robinson Mess Hall on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 24, 2015. This is Shoemake’s second time winning this competition. A package, including everything Shoemake has done during the third quarter, will be submitted to Marine Corps Installations Pacific allowing her to compete against other regional winners of the Chef of the Quarter competition. - Cpl. Veronica Shoemake, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, poses for a picture after winning the Chef of the Quarter competition at the R.G. Robinson Mess Hall on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 24, 2015. This is Shoemake’s second time winning this competition. A package, including everything Shoemake has done during the third quarter, will be submitted to Marine Corps Installations Pacific allowing her to compete against other regional winners of the Chef of the Quarter competition.