News Stories

Local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident children play in a bounce house during the Summer Music Festival hosted by Marine Corps Community Services at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. Service members, families and local Japanese residents were invited to enjoy a night of free music, food and fun at Penny Lake to come together and celebrate the end of summer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - Local Japanese and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni resident children play in a bounce house during the Summer Music Festival hosted by Marine Corps Community Services at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2016. Service members, families and local Japanese residents were invited to enjoy a night of free music, food and fun at Penny Lake to come together and celebrate the end of summer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

A child prays before getting released to eat during Vacation Bible School at the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. VBS consisted of group discussions, feeding the children and volunteers, praying and rotation stations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - A child prays before getting released to eat during Vacation Bible School at the Marine Memorial Chapel on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. VBS consisted of group discussions, feeding the children and volunteers, praying and rotation stations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

A crowd gathers to walk through a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 Open Day at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, Aug. 13, 2016. For over 70 years, VMGR-152, also known as the “Sumos,” has successfully carried out support missions by providing aerial refueling and assault support during expeditionary, joint and combined operations like Exercise Pitch Black 2016. The biennial, multinational exercise involves approximately 10 allied nations and prepares these forces for possible real-world scenarios. The bilateral effort amongst Exercise Pitch Black 2016 furthermore showcases the strength amongst various militaries and solidifies the relationship across the Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - A crowd gathers to walk through a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 Open Day at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, Aug. 13, 2016. For over 70 years, VMGR-152, also known as the “Sumos,” has successfully carried out support missions by providing aerial refueling and assault support during expeditionary, joint and combined operations like Exercise Pitch Black 2016. The biennial, multinational exercise involves approximately 10 allied nations and prepares these forces for possible real-world scenarios. The bilateral effort amongst Exercise Pitch Black 2016 furthermore showcases the strength amongst various militaries and solidifies the relationship across the Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

A U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115, with Carrier Air Wing 5, taxis into hot refueling pits at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. While passing through the air station for aircraft-based training, maintainers inspected and refueled the Hawkeyes before their retrograde back to Naval Air Facility Atusgi. The all-weather, carrier-based, tactical battle management airborne early warning command and control aircraft became operational in 1973 and underwent several upgrades. Variants of this aircraft are also flown by the Egyptian Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Taiwan Air Force, and the French Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - A U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115, with Carrier Air Wing 5, taxis into hot refueling pits at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 17, 2016. While passing through the air station for aircraft-based training, maintainers inspected and refueled the Hawkeyes before their retrograde back to Naval Air Facility Atusgi. The all-weather, carrier-based, tactical battle management airborne early warning command and control aircraft became operational in 1973 and underwent several upgrades. Variants of this aircraft are also flown by the Egyptian Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Taiwan Air Force, and the French Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 performs a vertical landing while using the lights on the mobile Expeditionary Hover Position Indicator to adjust its position at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 9, 2016. VMA-542 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and is forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the unit deployment program. The Harrier pilots used the mobile EHPI in coordination with Aircraft Recovery assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron to recertify on boat-deck landings to prepare for other future operations in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 performs a vertical landing while using the lights on the mobile Expeditionary Hover Position Indicator to adjust its position at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 9, 2016. VMA-542 is home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and is forward deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the unit deployment program. The Harrier pilots used the mobile EHPI in coordination with Aircraft Recovery assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron to recertify on boat-deck landings to prepare for other future operations in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 moves in to catch the basket during an aerial refueling mission with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia during Exercise Pitch Black 2016, Aug. 9, 2016. VMGR-152 provides aerial refueling and assault support during expeditionary and joint or combined operations like Pitch Black. This exercise is a biennial, three week, multinational, large-force training exercise hosted by RAAF Tindal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 moves in to catch the basket during an aerial refueling mission with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia during Exercise Pitch Black 2016, Aug. 9, 2016. VMGR-152 provides aerial refueling and assault support during expeditionary and joint or combined operations like Pitch Black. This exercise is a biennial, three week, multinational, large-force training exercise hosted by RAAF Tindal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Samnang Chang, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Daquille Barzey-Ferguson, Marine security guards with the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, prepare to detonate a set of explosives at Himeko-Jima Island, also known as Target Island, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Aug. 3, 2016. Chang and Barzey-Ferguson visited MCAS Iwakuni for their EOD technician screening process and had the opportunity to conduct a demolitions range, where they practiced basic demolition techniques and procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Samnang Chang, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Daquille Barzey-Ferguson, Marine security guards with the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, prepare to detonate a set of explosives at Himeko-Jima Island, also known as Target Island, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Aug. 3, 2016. Chang and Barzey-Ferguson visited MCAS Iwakuni for their EOD technician screening process and had the opportunity to conduct a demolitions range, where they practiced basic demolition techniques and procedures. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, hiked up Mount Fuji, Japan, as part of a unit activity July 31, 2016. Marines within the squadron first conquered Mount Fuji with a 3,776 meter climb to the peak. Marines bought ‘Kongo-Tsue’ walking sticks and had stamps burned onto them, which signified the location and altitude throughout 10 stations located up the trail. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)