News Stories

Explosive ordnance disposal Marines conducted emergency destruct training at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The island is located near the air station and is used as a training site for EOD Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Explosive ordnance disposal Marines conducted emergency destruct training at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The island is located near the air station and is used as a training site for EOD Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Kinjuen Nursing Home residents eat somen nagashi, or sliding somen noodles, during a nursing home visit with the MCAS Iwakuni Cultural Adaptation Program in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 7, 2017. The nursing home invited tenants of the air station to celebrate a Tanabata, also known as the star festival. It gave tenants of the air station a taste of Japanese culture and friendship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Kinjuen Nursing Home residents eat somen nagashi, or sliding somen noodles, during a nursing home visit with the MCAS Iwakuni Cultural Adaptation Program in Iwakuni City, Japan, July 7, 2017. The nursing home invited tenants of the air station to celebrate a Tanabata, also known as the star festival. It gave tenants of the air station a taste of Japanese culture and friendship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents pose with Japanese locals during a free driving class held for station residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 28, 2017. The station residents learned traffic rules and manners, and drove in a live course with Japanese instructors and translators. Twenty station residents were invited to take part in the short, educational workshop aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents and violations caused by station residents. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Michael M. Rasmussen, assistant operations chief with Marine Air Group (MAG) 12, shows Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation students an F/A-18C Hornet during a Junior Officer Exchange Program visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2017. Students came from Ozuki Air Base to learn about MAG-12 and the F/A-18. They familiarized themselves with the aircraft during the visit by taking part in a flight simulator and by visiting a static display. Hosting the cadets helps them understand the relationship Japan holds with U.S. Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Michael M. Rasmussen, assistant operations chief with Marine Air Group (MAG) 12, shows Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aviation students an F/A-18C Hornet during a Junior Officer Exchange Program visit at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 21, 2017. Students came from Ozuki Air Base to learn about MAG-12 and the F/A-18. They familiarized themselves with the aircraft during the visit by taking part in a flight simulator and by visiting a static display. Hosting the cadets helps them understand the relationship Japan holds with U.S. Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and local Japanese volunteers participate in a Cultural Adaptation Program rice-planting event in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 10, 2017. The event is held annually in June, after the rice seeds that were sown during April and May are grown and ready to be planted. Station residents have been participating in the event for more than 10 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents and local Japanese volunteers participate in a Cultural Adaptation Program rice-planting event in Iwakuni City, Japan, June 10, 2017. The event is held annually in June, after the rice seeds that were sown during April and May are grown and ready to be planted. Station residents have been participating in the event for more than 10 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Service members enjoy breakfast during an awards ceremony for the Active-Duty Fund Drive (ADFD) in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 1, 2017. The ceremony acknowledged Marines and Sailors for their contribution to the NMCRS ADFD. The NMCRS is a non-profit organization that runs solely on donation. It gives financial, educational and other need-based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors and Marines and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) - Service members enjoy breakfast during an awards ceremony for the Active-Duty Fund Drive (ADFD) in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 1, 2017. The ceremony acknowledged Marines and Sailors for their contribution to the NMCRS ADFD. The NMCRS is a non-profit organization that runs solely on donation. It gives financial, educational and other need-based assistance to active-duty and retired Sailors and Marines and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Ryan McNeil, a Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident, picks green tea leaves during a Cultural Adaption Program tea harvesting event in Iwakuni City, May 2, 2017. The Cultural Adaptation Program gave station residents the opportunity to experience the Japanese culture alongside elementary and high school students, nursing home residents and other Japanese locals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

Angela Garrits, a Marine Corps Family Team Building life skills and readiness and deployment trainer, briefs service members, Department of Defense employees and civilians to inform them on the importance of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) at 10th Regional Support Group Ammunition Depot in Kure City, Japan, May 3, 2017. A NEO takes place in the event of natural disasters, industrial accidents and military threats. Reaching out to other military installations provides the opportunity for a smooth operation and increases readiness in the area in case a real NEO occurs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy) - Angela Garrits, a Marine Corps Family Team Building life skills and readiness and deployment trainer, briefs service members, Department of Defense employees and civilians to inform them on the importance of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) at 10th Regional Support Group Ammunition Depot in Kure City, Japan, May 3, 2017. A NEO takes place in the event of natural disasters, industrial accidents and military threats. Reaching out to other military installations provides the opportunity for a smooth operation and increases readiness in the area in case a real NEO occurs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)