News Stories

Photo by Lance Cpl. Dugger - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Austin Tomarchio, an air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (HHS), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Nashville, Tennessee, observes radar signatures in the radar room at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, March 31, 2026. Sgt. Austin Tomarchio was the primary subject for a story about air traffic controllers stationed at MCAS Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Dugger)

Sumos take off for El Centro Horizon - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Eric Brown, left, and Capt. Brian Kursawe, KC130-J Hercules pilots with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, conduct tactical navigation during unit-level training detachment El Centro Horizon at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., Dec. 2, 2017. The purpose of VMGR-152’s El Centro Horizon ULT detachment is to increase squadron combat readiness through the diverse training ranges available at the Yuma training complex. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Harris, right, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), explains to Lance Cpl. Dahee Park, an aircraft rescue firefighter with H&HS, how to put out an external fire on an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more efficient in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rodney Harris, right, an aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), explains to Lance Cpl. Dahee Park, an aircraft rescue firefighter with H&HS, how to put out an external fire on an F/A-18C Hornet at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 19, 2017. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines visited the display to familiarize themselves with the aircraft so they can be more efficient in emergency situations. (U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

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) 232 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2017. The squadron left MCAS Miramar, Calif., March 11, 2017, and arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 15. The squadron is part of the Unit Deployment Program and helps provide air support to III Marine Expeditionary Force through training and combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2017. The squadron left MCAS Miramar, Calif., March 11, 2017, and arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 15. The squadron is part of the Unit Deployment Program and helps provide air support to III Marine Expeditionary Force through training and combat operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

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)

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)

Cpl. Michael Martinez, a bulk fuels specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 mans a M240 bravo light-machine while convoying to a simulated aircraft crash site during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. The squadron conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Cpl. Michael Martinez, a bulk fuels specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 mans a M240 bravo light-machine while convoying to a simulated aircraft crash site during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. The squadron conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Marine Attack Squadron 311, the “Tomcats,” arrived aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2015, in support of the unit deployment program. The squadron’s presence at MCAS Iwakuni allows the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Aircraft Group 12 to have amphibious fixed-winged capabilities. - Marine Attack Squadron 311, the “Tomcats,” arrived aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2015, in support of the unit deployment program. The squadron’s presence at MCAS Iwakuni allows the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Aircraft Group 12 to have amphibious fixed-winged capabilities.

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron(VMGR) 152 refuel MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircrafts with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, during air delivery ground refueling training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 20, 2015. The KC-130J aircraft is capable of carrying more than 12,000 gallons of fuel and simultaneously refueling two aircraft at 300 gallons a minute. This ability, along with many others, makes VMGR-152 and their aircraft an important asset to Marine Corps’ aviation. - Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron(VMGR) 152 refuel MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircrafts with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, during air delivery ground refueling training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 20, 2015. The KC-130J aircraft is capable of carrying more than 12,000 gallons of fuel and simultaneously refueling two aircraft at 300 gallons a minute. This ability, along with many others, makes VMGR-152 and their aircraft an important asset to Marine Corps’ aviation.