Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Harley Damarputra, an aviation life-support equipment technician and collateral duty inspector with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, checks the communication system in a pilot’s helmet during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 16, 2016. Damarputra supports the squadron as a life-support equipment technician and collateral duty inspector by ensuring the pilots’ safety gear is working properly. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Harley Damarputra, an aviation life-support equipment technician and collateral duty inspector with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, checks the communication system in a pilot’s helmet during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 16, 2016. Damarputra supports the squadron as a life-support equipment technician and collateral duty inspector by ensuring the pilots’ safety gear is working properly. (U.S. Marine Corps photo 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) - 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)

Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, forward based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan; Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12; Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Japan Air Self-Defense Force pile all the trash gathered during Operation Kibagata at Kibagata Park, Komatsu, Japan, March 12, 2016. Operation Kibagata brought participants of the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base together to clean the local community. Community relations events not only lend a hand to the local community, they are an important aspect of strengthening one of the world’s strongest alliances in order to maintain peace and stability in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, forward based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan; Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12; Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Japan Air Self-Defense Force pile all the trash gathered during Operation Kibagata at Kibagata Park, Komatsu, Japan, March 12, 2016. Operation Kibagata brought participants of the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base together to clean the local community. Community relations events not only lend a hand to the local community, they are an important aspect of strengthening one of the world’s strongest alliances in order to maintain peace and stability in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, forward based to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrives at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, for the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise March 7, 2016. The ATR program, established in 2007, is in place as a result of the Defense Policy Review Initiative to increase the operational readiness of U.S. and Japanese forces, enhance bilateral interoperability and reduce local noise pollution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, forward based to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrives at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, for the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise March 7, 2016. The ATR program, established in 2007, is in place as a result of the Defense Policy Review Initiative to increase the operational readiness of U.S. and Japanese forces, enhance bilateral interoperability and reduce local noise pollution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 F/A-18 Hornet takes off from the flightline here during the first part of the surge mission in support of Exercise Southern Frontier 2011 Aug. 2. The scenario tested the Black Knights’ ability to continually provide an aerial assault to a specified area on request. They successfully launched 30 sorties in less than 14 hours. - A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 F/A-18 Hornet takes off from the flightline here during the first part of the surge mission in support of Exercise Southern Frontier 2011 Aug. 2. The scenario tested the Black Knights’ ability to continually provide an aerial assault to a specified area on request. They successfully launched 30 sorties in less than 14 hours.

Three koalas sit on a tree at the Billabong Sanctuary here Aug. 5. More than 15 Japan-based Marines and sailors participated in a clean-up and restoration project at the sanctuary Aug. 5 as part of the community relation projects planned in support of exercise Southern Frontier 2011. The sanctuary is home to a variety of local animals, which include kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles and more. - Three koalas sit on a tree at the Billabong Sanctuary here Aug. 5. More than 15 Japan-based Marines and sailors participated in a clean-up and restoration project at the sanctuary Aug. 5 as part of the community relation projects planned in support of exercise Southern Frontier 2011. The sanctuary is home to a variety of local animals, which include kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles and more.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 pilots pose for a picture with Sucrogen Townsville 400 V-8 Supercars race drivers July 9. This year’s Townsville 400 had 29 V-8 supercars racing through a 400-kilometer circuit course south of the Townsville Central Business District and ran from July 8-10. Four VMFA-314 F/A-18 Hornets flew over the crowd in attendance after the last note of the Australian anthem played before the final race of the Townsville 400 kicked-off. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 pilots pose for a picture with Sucrogen Townsville 400 V-8 Supercars race drivers July 9. This year’s Townsville 400 had 29 V-8 supercars racing through a 400-kilometer circuit course south of the Townsville Central Business District and ran from July 8-10. Four VMFA-314 F/A-18 Hornets flew over the crowd in attendance after the last note of the Australian anthem played before the final race of the Townsville 400 kicked-off.