Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco). - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco).

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 load ordnance on an F-35B Lightning II aircraft during hot-reload training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 6, 2017. This signified the first time the squadron loaded ordnance onto a running F-35B Lightning II aircraft at the air station in order to prepare for real-world scenarios. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 load ordnance on an F-35B Lightning II aircraft during hot-reload training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 6, 2017. This signified the first time the squadron loaded ordnance onto a running F-35B Lightning II aircraft at the air station in order to prepare for real-world scenarios. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

Cpl. Taylor Walter, an ordnanceman with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, conducts a maintenance check on a BBR-41 Multiple Ejector Rack during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 6, 2014, on Osan Air Force Base, Korea. Walter is apart of the rack shop, which has special mounting systems that hold each kind of ordnance or equipment in place under the wings or fuselage of an aircraft. The squadron’s participation in KMEP 14-13 will help to increase Marine Aircraft Group 12’s combat readiness, operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhance joint and combined integration with the United Sates Air Force and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. - Cpl. Taylor Walter, an ordnanceman with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, conducts a maintenance check on a BBR-41 Multiple Ejector Rack during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 6, 2014, on Osan Air Force Base, Korea. Walter is apart of the rack shop, which has special mounting systems that hold each kind of ordnance or equipment in place under the wings or fuselage of an aircraft. The squadron’s participation in KMEP 14-13 will help to increase Marine Aircraft Group 12’s combat readiness, operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhance joint and combined integration with the United Sates Air Force and Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 3, 2014. The Hornet was loaded with ordnance for a bombing mission as part of the squadron’s unit level training, named Distant Frontier. - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 3, 2014. The Hornet was loaded with ordnance for a bombing mission as part of the squadron’s unit level training, named Distant Frontier.

Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 152 ordnance Marines watch a GTR-18 missile, better known as a "Smokey SAM," launch toward a KC-130J Super Hercules on an island outside of Okinawa, Japan, during a threat reaction evolution, Aug. 26, 2014. The threat reaction evolution is a chance for pilots to stay up to date on their qualifications while keeping an alert and aware mindset for any arising combat scenario. - Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 152 ordnance Marines watch a GTR-18 missile, better known as a "Smokey SAM," launch toward a KC-130J Super Hercules on an island outside of Okinawa, Japan, during a threat reaction evolution, Aug. 26, 2014. The threat reaction evolution is a chance for pilots to stay up to date on their qualifications while keeping an alert and aware mindset for any arising combat scenario.

Cpl. Phillip Louie, right, assists Lance Cpl. Joshua Jensen, in placing the fin on a Mark-83 general purpose bomb as part of Exercise Southern Frontier 2014 aboard Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, June 9. Louie and Jensen are aviation ordnance technicians with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12. Southern Frontier is an annual bilateral training exercise between the RAAF and the United States Marine Corps with a primary focus on offensive air support and enhanced military interoperability. Ordnance Marines with MALS-12 prepared the ordnance slated to be used by Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 pilots during SF14. - Cpl. Phillip Louie, right, assists Lance Cpl. Joshua Jensen, in placing the fin on a Mark-83 general purpose bomb as part of Exercise Southern Frontier 2014 aboard Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, June 9. Louie and Jensen are aviation ordnance technicians with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12. Southern Frontier is an annual bilateral training exercise between the RAAF and the United States Marine Corps with a primary focus on offensive air support and enhanced military interoperability. Ordnance Marines with MALS-12 prepared the ordnance slated to be used by Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 pilots during SF14.

Lance Cpl. Casey Boatman performs a safety check on an MK-82 general purpose bomb after attaching it to an FA-18D Hornet aboard Wing One Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kingdom of Thailand, for a combined arms live fire training exercise Feb. 20 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. CG 14 is a joint, multinational exercise conducted annually in the Kingdom of Thailand aimed at enhancing and increasing multinational interoperability. Boatman is an ordnance technician with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The FA-18D Hornet is with VMFA(AW)-242. - Lance Cpl. Casey Boatman performs a safety check on an MK-82 general purpose bomb after attaching it to an FA-18D Hornet aboard Wing One Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kingdom of Thailand, for a combined arms live fire training exercise Feb. 20 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. CG 14 is a joint, multinational exercise conducted annually in the Kingdom of Thailand aimed at enhancing and increasing multinational interoperability. Boatman is an ordnance technician with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The FA-18D Hornet is with VMFA(AW)-242.

Marines will use the ordnance in this case to help with training as part of Southern Frontier 2012. Southern Frontier is an annual, unilateral training exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force allowing Marine Aircraft Group 12 F/A-18 squadrons the opportunity to focus on offensive air support training in order to improve squadron readiness. - Marines will use the ordnance in this case to help with training as part of Southern Frontier 2012. Southern Frontier is an annual, unilateral training exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force allowing Marine Aircraft Group 12 F/A-18 squadrons the opportunity to focus on offensive air support training in order to improve squadron readiness.

Sgt. Ian S. Wheeler (foreground), Pfc. Greg T. Morris (center) and Lance Cpl. Pawel Jamiolkowski (right), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 aviation ordnance technicians, work to maneuver a bomb onto the wing of a F/A-18 Hornet on the flightline here, Oct. 20, during an air-to-ground ordnance exercise. Approximately 43,000 pounds of ordnance was dropped over the week. - Sgt. Ian S. Wheeler (foreground), Pfc. Greg T. Morris (center) and Lance Cpl. Pawel Jamiolkowski (right), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 aviation ordnance technicians, work to maneuver a bomb onto the wing of a F/A-18 Hornet on the flightline here, Oct. 20, during an air-to-ground ordnance exercise. Approximately 43,000 pounds of ordnance was dropped over the week.