News Stories

Single Marine Program volunteers cleanup Yuu Beach - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kaysom Montgomery, a heavy-equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, holds a trash bag for other volunteers during a Single Marine Program Yuu Beach cleanup at Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 25, 2017. The event was an opportunity to demonstrate the willingness of service members to be respectful ambassadors and contribute to making Japan a better, cleaner place to live in. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Friendly Baseball Tournament unites American, Japanese families - Ethan Kowalski, pitcher for the Iwakuni All Stars, begins to pitch during the Youth Sports’ Friendly Baseball Tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 19, 2017. The Marine Corps Community Service’s Semper Fit Program held the Youth Sports tournament to encourage a positive and healthy relationship with the Japanese locals through sports. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Americans dance with Japanese locals to honor ancestors - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Milton Bridges, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, gets dressed in a summertime kimono, called a Yukata, during the Bon-Odori festival at Kinjuen nursing home in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 14, 2017, as part of a Cultural Adaptation trip. This was the second time Bridges and his family attended the festival with Cultural Adaptation. He said the event was a good opportunity to dress-up, go dancing, enjoy good food and mingle with the locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Harris, right, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), explains to Lance Cpl. Dahee Park, an aircraft rescue firefighter with H&HS, how to put out an external fire on an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more efficient in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Harris, right, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), explains to Lance Cpl. Dahee Park, an aircraft rescue firefighter with H&HS, how to put out an external fire on an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more efficient in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

The entrance of a former poison gas storehouse used by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II at Okunoshima, Japan, March 25, 2017. The island is home to hundreds of wild rabbits that visitors are allowed to feed and pet, and has the standing remains of other buildings used by the army to create chemical weapons during World War II. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni took a free bus ride to the island courtesy of the Single Marine Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - The entrance of a former poison gas storehouse used by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II at Okunoshima, Japan, March 25, 2017. The island is home to hundreds of wild rabbits that visitors are allowed to feed and pet, and has the standing remains of other buildings used by the army to create chemical weapons during World War II. Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni took a free bus ride to the island courtesy of the Single Marine Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Local Japanese volunteers with the Japanese American Society perform the Eisa Okinawan Dance during the 60th Annual Culture Festival at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 11, 2017. The festival included Japanese dance performances, decorated exhibits and traditional activities and rituals. JAS continues to bridge the U.S.-Japan friendship by providing quality cultural events and activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Local Japanese volunteers with the Japanese American Society perform the Eisa Okinawan Dance during the 60th Annual Culture Festival at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 11, 2017. The festival included Japanese dance performances, decorated exhibits and traditional activities and rituals. JAS continues to bridge the U.S.-Japan friendship by providing quality cultural events and activities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

A Japanese volunteer prepares to test a donor’s blood during a blood drive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 7, 2017. The blood is tested to make sure there are no contagious diseases before the donor can give blood. The volunteers collaborated together and collected approximately 24,000 milliliters of blood from 59 Japanese and American donors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - A Japanese volunteer prepares to test a donor’s blood during a blood drive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 7, 2017. The blood is tested to make sure there are no contagious diseases before the donor can give blood. The volunteers collaborated together and collected approximately 24,000 milliliters of blood from 59 Japanese and American donors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 communicate to each other after loading quadcon shipping containers onto a seven-ton medium tactical vehicle replacement during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Haramura Maneuver Area, Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. The Marines worked through inclement weather conditions and a short timeline to build a 96-foot by 96-foot vertical takeoff and landing pad. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 move a flood light through the mud during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 22, 2017. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 move a flood light through the mud during exercise Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, Jan. 22, 2017. The exercise is a biannual, unit-level training exercise that is primarily focused on establishing a forward operating base and providing airfield operation services. MWSS-171 trains throughout the year completing exercises like Kamoshika Wrath 17-1 to enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donato Maffin)