News Stories

A Japanese local and a U.S. Marine use ballon swords to duel during the 41st Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2017. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an elevating experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show also encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static aircraft displays, aerial performances and demonstrations, food and entertainment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jesula Jeanlouis) - A Japanese local and a U.S. Marine use ballon swords to duel during the 41st Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2017. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an elevating experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show also encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static aircraft displays, aerial performances and demonstrations, food and entertainment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jesula Jeanlouis)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 and Marine Air Group (MAG) 12 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 14, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 and Marine Air Group (MAG) 12 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 14, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Akeem Mcfarlane, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron teaches Gabriel Keller, a Junior Recruit Day participant, how to use a fire hose during the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter training portion of Marine Aircraft Group 12’s Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. The purpose of Junior Recruit Day is to increase family readiness in the community by showing children and young adults what their parents do on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Akeem Mcfarlane, aircraft rescue firefighter with Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron teaches Gabriel Keller, a Junior Recruit Day participant, how to use a fire hose during the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter training portion of Marine Aircraft Group 12’s Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. The purpose of Junior Recruit Day is to increase family readiness in the community by showing children and young adults what their parents do on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Mason Roy)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, left, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses with Sgt. Kevin Lage, president of the Single Marine Program, during the 3rd Annual SMP’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Lage was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his volunteer work at SMP and to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, left, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses with Sgt. Kevin Lage, president of the Single Marine Program, during the 3rd Annual SMP’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Lage was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his volunteer work at SMP and to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell)

A Republic of Korea F-15K Slam Eagle descends to land on the runway after concluding a defensive counter air mission during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, April 18, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - A Republic of Korea F-15K Slam Eagle descends to land on the runway after concluding a defensive counter air mission during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17 at Kunsan Air Base, ROK, April 18, 2017. Max Thunder serves as an opportunity for U.S. and ROK forces to train together and sharpen tactical skills for the defense of the Asia-Pacific region. It is an annual military-flying exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 board a C-130 Hercules during an exercise to Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 12, 2017. VMA 311 is participating in Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, an operational readiness exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. This annual exercise helps to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 board a C-130 Hercules during an exercise to Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 12, 2017. VMA 311 is participating in Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, an operational readiness exercise built to promote interoperability between U.S. and ROK forces. This annual exercise helps to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Keon Willingham, a powerline mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, detaches a hose from the squadron’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft during aviation delivered ground refueling training with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 11, 2017. The ADGR marked the first evolution of this form of refueling for VMFA-121’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft, and it increases the squadron’s ability to refuel by C-130 aircraft in austere locations when other resources may not be available. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Keon Willingham, a powerline mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, detaches a hose from the squadron’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft during aviation delivered ground refueling training with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 11, 2017. The ADGR marked the first evolution of this form of refueling for VMFA-121’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft, and it increases the squadron’s ability to refuel by C-130 aircraft in austere locations when other resources may not be available. (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) - 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. Marine Corps Cpl. Stephen Wellman, air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, guides Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter pilots onto a designated landing site during a cross-training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 30, 2017. The Marines took part in a simulated forward arming and refueling points operation, where they communicated with JMSDF helicopter pilots to perform austere landings on a heliport that acted as an expeditionary runway. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Stephen Wellman, air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, guides Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter pilots onto a designated landing site during a cross-training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 30, 2017. The Marines took part in a simulated forward arming and refueling points operation, where they communicated with JMSDF helicopter pilots to perform austere landings on a heliport that acted as an expeditionary runway. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)