News Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Kiyotaka Nozaki, right, Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau deputy procurement director, presents a painting to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, during the grand opening of the Command Assembly Hall at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 1, 2016. Costing approximately $28 million, construction of the building began September 2013 and finished March 2016 with an additional $1.5 million spent furnishing the facility. The old 20,776 square foot theater, which opened in 1954, is scheduled to be demolished in order to expand the Child Development Center. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Kiyotaka Nozaki, right, Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau deputy procurement director, presents a painting to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer, during the grand opening of the Command Assembly Hall at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, July 1, 2016. Costing approximately $28 million, construction of the building began September 2013 and finished March 2016 with an additional $1.5 million spent furnishing the facility. The old 20,776 square foot theater, which opened in 1954, is scheduled to be demolished in order to expand the Child Development Center. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Sanford, Combat Logistics Company 36’s new commanding officer, addresses Marines during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 20, 2016. Capt. Roderick Singleton Jr. relinquished his authority of CLC-36’s commanding officer to Sanford. Sanford will be assuming his first position of commanding officer after serving as the Marine Corps Installations Pacific installation motor transport officer for two years before becoming the plans and operations officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Sanford, Combat Logistics Company 36’s new commanding officer, addresses Marines during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 20, 2016. Capt. Roderick Singleton Jr. relinquished his authority of CLC-36’s commanding officer to Sanford. Sanford will be assuming his first position of commanding officer after serving as the Marine Corps Installations Pacific installation motor transport officer for two years before becoming the plans and operations officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Malcolm Cappelle, a quality assurance safety observer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, inspects a CATM 9X training missile during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 16, 2016. Cappelle is inspecting the ordnance to make sure it’s secured properly on the squadron’s F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet in support of exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Malcolm Cappelle, a quality assurance safety observer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, and forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, inspects a CATM 9X training missile during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 16, 2016. Cappelle is inspecting the ordnance to make sure it’s secured properly on the squadron’s F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet in support of exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

From left to right, Buddie Kolath, store director, Kim Shipley, a station resident, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, Marine Aircraft Group 12 commanding officer, Joseph H. Jeu, director and CEO of the Defense Commissary Agency, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, station commanding officer, Marcela Londono and Carla Bates, station residents, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher Garza, station sergeant major, conduct the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening of the new commissary at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2016. Designed to anticipate and meet the needs of shoppers, the new grocery store is approximately 50 percent larger, with 52,710 total square feet and is located between the Kintai Inn and Kawashimo housing area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - From left to right, Buddie Kolath, store director, Kim Shipley, a station resident, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, Marine Aircraft Group 12 commanding officer, Joseph H. Jeu, director and CEO of the Defense Commissary Agency, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, station commanding officer, Marcela Londono and Carla Bates, station residents, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher Garza, station sergeant major, conduct the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening of the new commissary at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2016. Designed to anticipate and meet the needs of shoppers, the new grocery store is approximately 50 percent larger, with 52,710 total square feet and is located between the Kintai Inn and Kawashimo housing area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Japan Air Self-Defense Force aviation officer cadets from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ozuki Aviation Training Squadron observe an F/A-18C static display during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program tour at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 17, 2016. Hosted by Marine Aircraft Group 12, the exchange program aims to better the understanding and working relationships between U.S. and Japanese pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Japan Air Self-Defense Force aviation officer cadets from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Ozuki Aviation Training Squadron observe an F/A-18C static display during a Japanese Officer Exchange Program tour at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 17, 2016. Hosted by Marine Aircraft Group 12, the exchange program aims to better the understanding and working relationships between U.S. and Japanese pilots. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Maintainers from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 perform after-flight inspections and repairs to the squadron’s F/A-18A++ aircraft in preparation for exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 4, 2016. Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 provides VMFA-314 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, based out of Marine Corps Station Iwakuni, Japan, the opportunity to train with joint and international units, increasing their combat skills by participating simulated combat situations in a realistic threat environment. (U.S. Marine photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - Maintainers from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 perform after-flight inspections and repairs to the squadron’s F/A-18A++ aircraft in preparation for exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 4, 2016. Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 provides VMFA-314 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, based out of Marine Corps Station Iwakuni, Japan, the opportunity to train with joint and international units, increasing their combat skills by participating simulated combat situations in a realistic threat environment. (U.S. Marine photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

A detachment of KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, conduct low altitude training during exercise Kodiak Mace, May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace, which is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an unfamiliar environment to enhance their technical skills and operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - A detachment of KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, conduct low altitude training during exercise Kodiak Mace, May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace, which is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an unfamiliar environment to enhance their technical skills and operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

A KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, flies through the Chugach Mountains valley May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an environment outside of what their used to, to enhance their technical skills in a foreign environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - A KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, flies through the Chugach Mountains valley May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an environment outside of what their used to, to enhance their technical skills in a foreign environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 23, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, 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, arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 23, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force through bilateral combat training. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)