News Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jorge Lares, left, and Kendal Kleinhenz, right, combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, use a walk behind concrete saw to simulate repairs to a damaged runway during unit level training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 17, 2016. The training focused on base recovery exercises to better prepare the Marines for scenarios that could arise while on station or during deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Jorge Lares, left, and Kendal Kleinhenz, right, combat engineers with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, use a walk behind concrete saw to simulate repairs to a damaged runway during unit level training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 17, 2016. The training focused on base recovery exercises to better prepare the Marines for scenarios that could arise while on station or during deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, Japan, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. J. T. Bardo, commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, observe an F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 24, 2016. The demonstration of the F-35B gave Fukuda a better understanding of the aircraft and its capabilities. This event helped Fukuda better understand the capabilities of VMFA 121.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks) - Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni City, Japan, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. J. T. Bardo, commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, observe an F-35B Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona, Oct. 24, 2016. The demonstration of the F-35B gave Fukuda a better understanding of the aircraft and its capabilities. This event helped Fukuda better understand the capabilities of VMFA 121.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Allison Jenkins, firefighter specialist with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, watches U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Johnson, firefighter specialist with ARFF, while he ensures the safety of a Girl Scout from Iwakuni Brownies Troop 92 while operating a fire hose during a fire prevention and safety seminar at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 22, 2016. The Marines used methods the girls wouldn’t forget in their teaching such as interacting with Sparky, the fire dog for MCAS Iwakuni; trying on the gear used for fighting fire and operating the fire hose. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Allison Jenkins, firefighter specialist with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, watches U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Johnson, firefighter specialist with ARFF, while he ensures the safety of a Girl Scout from Iwakuni Brownies Troop 92 while operating a fire hose during a fire prevention and safety seminar at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 22, 2016. The Marines used methods the girls wouldn’t forget in their teaching such as interacting with Sparky, the fire dog for MCAS Iwakuni; trying on the gear used for fighting fire and operating the fire hose. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Japanese locals make their way toward the Kumano Brush festival in Kumano, Japan, Sept. 22, 2016. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents traveled to Kumano with the Cultural Adaptation Program to experience calligraphy, tradition, history and entertainment the festival offered. After attending the festival the residents visited the Fudenosato Kobo Museum where they learned how calligraphy equipment is made. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Japanese locals make their way toward the Kumano Brush festival in Kumano, Japan, Sept. 22, 2016. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents traveled to Kumano with the Cultural Adaptation Program to experience calligraphy, tradition, history and entertainment the festival offered. After attending the festival the residents visited the Fudenosato Kobo Museum where they learned how calligraphy equipment is made. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

Volunteers prepare hot dogs during the Boys and Girls Club Day for Kids Celebration 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 17, 2016. The celebration offered snacks for the guests who attended such as hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and shaved ice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - Volunteers prepare hot dogs during the Boys and Girls Club Day for Kids Celebration 2016 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 17, 2016. The celebration offered snacks for the guests who attended such as hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and shaved ice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Navy Sailors pose for a group photo during a promotion ceremony in the Marine Memorial Chapel at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 16, 2016. The newly promoted chief petty officers were joined by their peers as a sign of becoming something bigger than themselves. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Navy Sailors pose for a group photo during a promotion ceremony in the Marine Memorial Chapel at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 16, 2016. The newly promoted chief petty officers were joined by their peers as a sign of becoming something bigger than themselves. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher) - U.S. Aviation Ordnance Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron12 prepare ordnance for aviation squadrons participating in Valiant Shield 16 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, September 12, 2016. The ordnance constructed, provided the Marines of MALS-12 valuable experience assembling live ordnance to be used during VS16 for a ship sinking exercise. VS16 is a biennial U.S. only, field training exercise that focuses on joint training with U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase interoperability and working relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Justin A. Fisher)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Johnathan M. Cobb, left, patrol supervisor for the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Major Christopher J. Garza, station sergeant major, pose for a photo at the USO Japan Ninth Annual Service Salute Gala in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. Cobb exceeded all criteria and represented MCAS Iwakuni at the Service Salute Gala as the air station’s Marine of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Johnathan M. Cobb, left, patrol supervisor for the Provost Marshal’s Office at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Major Christopher J. Garza, station sergeant major, pose for a photo at the USO Japan Ninth Annual Service Salute Gala in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. Cobb exceeded all criteria and represented MCAS Iwakuni at the Service Salute Gala as the air station’s Marine of the year. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo)

U.S. Navy Sailors of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose for a photo after volunteering at Ekimae Hoikuen preschool in Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 8, 2016. The Sailors volunteered with the Marine Memorial Chapel in a project to assist the school in completing required maintenance during an ongoing community relations project. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Navy Sailors of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose for a photo after volunteering at Ekimae Hoikuen preschool in Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 8, 2016. The Sailors volunteered with the Marine Memorial Chapel in a project to assist the school in completing required maintenance during an ongoing community relations project. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody Braunscheidel, an aviation logistics information management systems specialist assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, explains multiplication to students at MacFarlane Primary School in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 1, 2016. Marines are invited to mentor and teach students every iteration of Southern Frontier, a three week unit level training conducted by U.S. Marines at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal. The primary school’s student population is 92 percent indigenous and is very transient. Classes are designed to provide students structure and a consolidated education in literacy, numeracy, respect and behavior management. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cody Braunscheidel, an aviation logistics information management systems specialist assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, explains multiplication to students at MacFarlane Primary School in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Sept. 1, 2016. Marines are invited to mentor and teach students every iteration of Southern Frontier, a three week unit level training conducted by U.S. Marines at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal. The primary school’s student population is 92 percent indigenous and is very transient. Classes are designed to provide students structure and a consolidated education in literacy, numeracy, respect and behavior management. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)