Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Active Shield tests mission readiness between American, Japanese forces - Firefighters from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni respond to a simulated casualty during a chemical exposure drill as part of exercise Active Shield at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 17, 2017. Active Shield is an annual exercise designed to test the abilities of U.S. and Japanese forces to work alongside each other to protect and defend the air station and other U.S. assets in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps illustration by Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

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)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA) 542, exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J upon their arrival at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 2, 2016. VMA-542 journeyed to Chitose to partake in the Aviation Relocation Training program in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA) 542, exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J upon their arrival at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 2, 2016. VMA-542 journeyed to Chitose to partake in the Aviation Relocation Training program in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan.

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)