Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Christopher Melling, the pilot training officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., enters and F/A-18C Hornet while wearing Joint Protective Aircrew Ensemble (JPACE) and Respirator equipment at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 29, 2017. VMFA-251 has intensified training on familiarizing aircrew members with the JPACE, a pilot’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defense equipment, while still maintaining focus on the squadron’s mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 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)

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)

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)

Lance Cpl. Lestat Lanier, an airframer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, scrapes letters off an F/A-18C at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. VMFA-122, also known as the “Werewolves,” arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 14 from MCAS Beaufort, S. C., for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program. The Werewolves squadron will conduct contingency, bilateral and multilateral training with their Japanese counterparts and services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Lance Cpl. Lestat Lanier, an airframer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, scrapes letters off an F/A-18C at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 22, 2016. VMFA-122, also known as the “Werewolves,” arrived at MCAS Iwakuni March 14 from MCAS Beaufort, S. C., for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program. The Werewolves squadron will conduct contingency, bilateral and multilateral training with their Japanese counterparts and services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/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.

Col. William Lieblein, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31, and Lance Cpl. Dakota Cassell, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, inspect an F/A-18C aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 25, 2014. Lieblein, who visited VMFA-122 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., participated in the first flight of the squadron’s unit level training in Alaska. VMFA-122 arrived to Alaska from Hawaii and is scheduled to train with squadrons from the United States Air Force to enhance interoperability between services. - Col. William Lieblein, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31, and Lance Cpl. Dakota Cassell, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, inspect an F/A-18C aboard Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 25, 2014. Lieblein, who visited VMFA-122 from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., participated in the first flight of the squadron’s unit level training in Alaska. VMFA-122 arrived to Alaska from Hawaii and is scheduled to train with squadrons from the United States Air Force to enhance interoperability between services.