News Stories

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)

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 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 13, 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 maintain AV-8B Harriers during Exercise MAX THUNDER 17, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 13, 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 Cpl. Jeffery Aceti, left, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, assists Cosme Rosete, a Junior Recruit Day participant, with the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer’s M2 .50 caliber heavy-machine gun during 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 Pfc. Mason Roy) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jeffery Aceti, left, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, assists Cosme Rosete, a Junior Recruit Day participant, with the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer’s M2 .50 caliber heavy-machine gun during 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 Pfc. Mason Roy)

Volunteers attend a barbeque picnic to celebrate their hard work and volunteer service after the 3rd Annual Single Marine Program’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Each day of the week volunteer service members spent time supporting the community by visiting a local Iwakuni nursing home, cutting and sorting coupons, teaching and playing chess with local Japanese students, and cleaning and walking dogs at the base kennel. Clean-up day was the finale dedicated to bringing all the volunteers together to recognize and celebrate their contribution to the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Stephen Campbell) - Volunteers attend a barbeque picnic to celebrate their hard work and volunteer service after the 3rd Annual Single Marine Program’s Days of Service Clean-Up Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 21, 2017. Each day of the week volunteer service members spent time supporting the community by visiting a local Iwakuni nursing home, cutting and sorting coupons, teaching and playing chess with local Japanese students, and cleaning and walking dogs at the base kennel. Clean-up day was the finale dedicated to bringing all the volunteers together to recognize and celebrate their contribution 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)