Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.

Capt. George Ivascu, motor transport company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, talks to Capt. Yushi Nakamura, officer in charge of the English program with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, while looking through a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain vehicle, Feb. 27, 2014, during an English clinic aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The English clinic is an annual event hosted by the station Public Affairs Office as part of a weeklong English seminar held for members of the JGSDF. - Capt. George Ivascu, motor transport company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, talks to Capt. Yushi Nakamura, officer in charge of the English program with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, while looking through a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain vehicle, Feb. 27, 2014, during an English clinic aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The English clinic is an annual event hosted by the station Public Affairs Office as part of a weeklong English seminar held for members of the JGSDF.

Cpl. Alex Messina, an aircraft mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, tightens a bolt on an F/A-18D Hornet during a pre-flight check while participating in Exercise Harbion Tempest 2014 aboard Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines Feb. 20. HT 14 is a small-scale bilateral exercise between the United Sates Marine Corps and the Philippine Air Force training in close-air support, section engaged maneuvering training and combined combat capabilities. - Cpl. Alex Messina, an aircraft mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, tightens a bolt on an F/A-18D Hornet during a pre-flight check while participating in Exercise Harbion Tempest 2014 aboard Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines Feb. 20. HT 14 is a small-scale bilateral exercise between the United Sates Marine Corps and the Philippine Air Force training in close-air support, section engaged maneuvering training and combined combat capabilities.

Lt. Col. Peter L. McArdle, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 commanding officer, records his 237th birthday message for family members of the "Fighting Bengals" in Beaufort, S.C. The Bengals are currently taking part in a Unit Deployment Program, which will require the squadron to spend six months in Iwakuni, Japan, and participate in various exercises in Guam and Thailand. - Lt. Col. Peter L. McArdle, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 commanding officer, records his 237th birthday message for family members of the "Fighting Bengals" in Beaufort, S.C. The Bengals are currently taking part in a Unit Deployment Program, which will require the squadron to spend six months in Iwakuni, Japan, and participate in various exercises in Guam and Thailand.

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 F/A-18 Hornet number 02 goes through a shower of water after the last III Marine Expeditionary Force flight of Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling here Dec. 28. - Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 F/A-18 Hornet number 02 goes through a shower of water after the last III Marine Expeditionary Force flight of Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling here Dec. 28.

Cpl. William Higgins, fixed-wing airframes aircraft mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, overlooks flight surfaces on an F/A-18 Hornet jet during a phase Bravo inspection here Oct. 5. A Bravo inspection requires multiple electrical and mechanical components to be taken apart, undone and then re-installed. Inspections must be done on an aircraft every time it accumulates 200 flying hours. - Cpl. William Higgins, fixed-wing airframes aircraft mechanic with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, overlooks flight surfaces on an F/A-18 Hornet jet during a phase Bravo inspection here Oct. 5. A Bravo inspection requires multiple electrical and mechanical components to be taken apart, undone and then re-installed. Inspections must be done on an aircraft every time it accumulates 200 flying hours.

Cpl. Roger Easterly, fixed-wing aircraft airframes mechanic with VMFA(AW)-224, and Pfc. Paul Estrada, aircraft electriccal systems technician with VMFA(AW)-224, torque a jet onto a tripod during Exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Bast Tindal, Australia, Sept. 23. The RAAF provided the squadron with the tripods to mount their jets as well as hangers, workspace and an abundance of logistical support in order to assist the squadron with the exercise. - Cpl. Roger Easterly, fixed-wing aircraft airframes mechanic with VMFA(AW)-224, and Pfc. Paul Estrada, aircraft electriccal systems technician with VMFA(AW)-224, torque a jet onto a tripod during Exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Bast Tindal, Australia, Sept. 23. The RAAF provided the squadron with the tripods to mount their jets as well as hangers, workspace and an abundance of logistical support in order to assist the squadron with the exercise.

An 81mm mortar explodes on the deck here during exercise Southern Frontier Sept. 14. The training allowed Marines with VMFA(AW)-224 and supporting squadrons to improve their multilateral interoperability and procedures during missions requiring air power. - An 81mm mortar explodes on the deck here during exercise Southern Frontier Sept. 14. The training allowed Marines with VMFA(AW)-224 and supporting squadrons to improve their multilateral interoperability and procedures during missions requiring air power.