Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Lance Cpl. Maria Earll, a food Service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, prepares a portion of the meal slated to be served during the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Memorial Awards Program for Food Service Excellence, inside a temporary field mess aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 9, 2015. The III Marine Expeditionary Force selected food service specialists aboard station to represent them in the W.P.T. Hill Awards in order to earn the title of the best field mess in the Marine Corps. - Lance Cpl. Maria Earll, a food Service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, prepares a portion of the meal slated to be served during the Maj. Gen. William Pendleton Thompson Hill Memorial Awards Program for Food Service Excellence, inside a temporary field mess aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 9, 2015. The III Marine Expeditionary Force selected food service specialists aboard station to represent them in the W.P.T. Hill Awards in order to earn the title of the best field mess in the Marine Corps.

Capt. Kevin Wheeler, the newly appointed Motor Transport Company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, addresses his Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at the Motor-T lot, Jan. 9, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Wheeler is taking the position from Capt. George Ivascu, the squadrons newly appointed assistant operations officer. - Capt. Kevin Wheeler, the newly appointed Motor Transport Company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, addresses his Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at the Motor-T lot, Jan. 9, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Wheeler is taking the position from Capt. George Ivascu, the squadrons newly appointed assistant operations officer.

Left to right, Cpl. Jessica Quezada, a combat correspondent, Lance Cpl. Mark Adams, a combat photographer, and Cpl. Mitchell Flowers, a combat camera production specialist, participate in the Jingle Bell Jog, Dec. 19, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Marines are with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. Marine Corps Community Services hosted the event to help raise morale during the holiday season. The 1.5km event had more than 1,400 participants from various units aboard station. - Left to right, Cpl. Jessica Quezada, a combat correspondent, Lance Cpl. Mark Adams, a combat photographer, and Cpl. Mitchell Flowers, a combat camera production specialist, participate in the Jingle Bell Jog, Dec. 19, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The Marines are with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. Marine Corps Community Services hosted the event to help raise morale during the holiday season. The 1.5km event had more than 1,400 participants from various units aboard station.

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 completed the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 25 2014, when their F/A-18 Hornets flew out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The program increased combat readiness of Marine Aircraft Group 12, improved its operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhanced joint and combined integration with the U.S. Air Force and ROK Marine Corps. KMEP 14-13 is a multinational exercise that focused on the integration of aviation and ground assets within the construct of a traditional Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. Supporting assets included, but weren’t limited to, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 171. - Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 completed the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 25 2014, when their F/A-18 Hornets flew out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The program increased combat readiness of Marine Aircraft Group 12, improved its operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhanced joint and combined integration with the U.S. Air Force and ROK Marine Corps. KMEP 14-13 is a multinational exercise that focused on the integration of aviation and ground assets within the construct of a traditional Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. Supporting assets included, but weren’t limited to, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 171.

Cpl. Eduardo Bahena, a semitrailer refueler operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, retracts a hose after refueling an HH-60 Pave Hawk during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 20, 2014, on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The program’s goals are to increase the combat readiness of Marine Aircraft Group 12, improve its operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhance joint and combined integration with the U.S. Air Force and ROK Marine Corps. KMEP 14-13 is a multinational exercise that focuses on the integration of aviation and ground assets within the construct of a traditional Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. Supporting assets include, but are not limited to, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and MWSS-171. - Cpl. Eduardo Bahena, a semitrailer refueler operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, retracts a hose after refueling an HH-60 Pave Hawk during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13, Oct. 20, 2014, on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The program’s goals are to increase the combat readiness of Marine Aircraft Group 12, improve its operating skills as a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and enhance joint and combined integration with the U.S. Air Force and ROK Marine Corps. KMEP 14-13 is a multinational exercise that focuses on the integration of aviation and ground assets within the construct of a traditional Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise. Supporting assets include, but are not limited to, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and MWSS-171.

A heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 utilizes an All-Terrain Crane to lift a Humvee on to the deck of a barge at the harbor aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 16, 2014. In preparation for Exercise Forager Fury III, Marines with MWSS-171 loaded nearly 300 pieces of heavy equipment slated to be used for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat flight training, as well as combat support training. - A heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 utilizes an All-Terrain Crane to lift a Humvee on to the deck of a barge at the harbor aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 16, 2014. In preparation for Exercise Forager Fury III, Marines with MWSS-171 loaded nearly 300 pieces of heavy equipment slated to be used for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat flight training, as well as combat support training.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Dakotah Williams, a religious program specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, grinds down a door for a recreational center in the Beswick Community in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 21, 2014. Marines and sailors volunteered their time to assist in the building of the recreational center and help clean a local primary school. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Dakotah Williams, a religious program specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, grinds down a door for a recreational center in the Beswick Community in the Northern Territory of Australia, June 21, 2014. Marines and sailors volunteered their time to assist in the building of the recreational center and help clean a local primary school.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Damien Farinha, left, a hospital corpsman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, performs the counter to a bear hug during an integrated Marine Corps Martial Arts Program course as part Exercise Southern Frontier 2014 aboard Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, June 18. Farinha is one of approximately 40 service members taking part in the course during SF14. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Damien Farinha, left, a hospital corpsman with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, performs the counter to a bear hug during an integrated Marine Corps Martial Arts Program course as part Exercise Southern Frontier 2014 aboard Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, June 18. Farinha is one of approximately 40 service members taking part in the course during SF14.

A Sikorsky S-76 search-and-rescue helicopter lowers medical personnel during a SAR training exercise onto Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, during Exercise Southern Frontier 2014, June 11. 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 enhancing military interoperability. - A Sikorsky S-76 search-and-rescue helicopter lowers medical personnel during a SAR training exercise onto Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, during Exercise Southern Frontier 2014, June 11. 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 enhancing military interoperability.

Lt. Col. Howard Eyth, right, passes the Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 colors to Lt. Col. James Whiteker during a change-of-command ceremony, June 9, 2014, at Hangar 6030 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The passing of colors signifies the passing of command from one commanding officer to another. - Lt. Col. Howard Eyth, right, passes the Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 colors to Lt. Col. James Whiteker during a change-of-command ceremony, June 9, 2014, at Hangar 6030 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The passing of colors signifies the passing of command from one commanding officer to another.