News Stories

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) welcomed enlisted U.S. Marines and Sailors, grades E-5 and below, to celebrate the grand opening of the Hangar E-Club at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 26, 2018. - DJ Yone plays music during the Hangar E-Club’s grand opening at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 26, 2018. The Hangar E-Club is a joint project between the Defense Policy Review Initiative and MCCS intending to provide the enlisted grades, E-5 and below, a place of their own. The two-story building’s features include a VIP lounge, poolroom and food court on the first floor, and four bars and a dance floor, which can accommodate 250 people on the second. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Muriah King)

Dads, daughters saddle up to dance night away - Service members and their daughters attend the Boots ‘n Belles Daddy-Daughter Dance at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 13, 2018. Fathers and daughters danced, took photos, played games and won raffle contests as they shared a night and created memories together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

MCAS Iwakuni residents, Japanese locals bond through calligraphy event - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japanese government officials and participants pose for a photo as part of the U.S.-Japan joint calligraphy event, “Kakizome,” at Waki Town, Japan, Jan. 6, 2018. The purpose of the event was to bring the Japanese and American community together by sharing cultural values through art. “Kakizome” is a tradition the Japanese people participate in at the beginning of each year, and it resembles what is known in the Western Hemisphere as a New Year’s resolution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

Air transportation division conducts ribbon cutting for air freight facility - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, senior-ranking leadership and guests pose for a picture during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 8, 2018. The ceremony was held by the air transportation division (ATD) to celebrate the full operability of a nearly 50,000-square-foot air freight facility that opened October 2017 but wasn’t fully functional until recently. The new facility increases ATD’s capability to conduct cargo and sustainment operations in support of the growing air station. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 hosted a Christmas party for a local orphanage at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 17, 2017. - Children from Yahata Gakuen Orphanage climb into a heavy equipment vehicle during a Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 17, 2017. U.S. Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 welcomed the children to open gifts, play sports, eat lunch and explore U.S. military vehicles such as a Humvee, a heavy equipment vehicle and a tractor, rubber-tired, articulated steering and multi-purpose vehicle. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Muriah King)

Japanese American Society celebrates 60th anniversary in holiday party - Rasetsu ninja performers from Hiroshima take a photo with kids during the Japanese American Society (JAS) Iwakuni Holiday and 60th Anniversary Party at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 2, 2017. The party was a way for Japanese locals and MCAS Iwakuni residents to spend some time getting to know one another by combining their cultures and sharing a night of celebrating the holidays and 60 years of JAS. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Marcus Campbell)

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)

VMFA-121 trains to fuel airpower in contaminated environments - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Tristan Aber, a motor transport operator with Logistics Department Fuels Division, helps fuel an F-35B Lightning II during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 15, 2017. A hot refuel is a fast-paced fueling method that allows aircraft to take in fuel while powered up, which gets them back to the fight quicker. Executing missions on time and being faster than the enemy is a vital aspect to the Marine Corps, and exercises like these assure that Marines can keep working quickly no matter what environment they’re forced to work in. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

MAG-12 runs their battle colors in support of 1st MAW's 242-mile run - U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 take part in the 1st Marine Air Wing’s Marine Corps birthday 242-mile run at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2017. The Marines participated in the event by running in two mile increments to reach their goal of 48.4 miles as part of the total 242 miles collectively run by multiple units with the 1st MAW in honor of the Marine Corps’ 242nd birthday. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Kizuna Stadium brings American, Japanese locals together - The Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni color guard presents colors during the Kizuna stadium grand opening in Iwakuni City, Japan, Nov. 4, 2017. The stadium is seen as more than just a sports complex for teams to train and play in. It is a hallmark of what the U.S.-Japan friendship has accomplished in Iwakuni City. Everything from the dogwood trees planted just outside to the name of the stadium itself – Kizuna, which means bond – represents the prosperous union between the two allies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)