News Stories

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, throws an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focuses on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA)122, conduct air operations during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 ata Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 25, 2016. Pitch Black 16 is a biennial, three week, multinational, large-force training exercise hosted by RAAF Tindal. The allied nation squadrons will execute day and night flights from Tindal to Darwin, while performing large force offensive counter-air and offensive air support operations throughout the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo) - F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA)122, conduct air operations during Exercise Pitch Black 2016 ata Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 25, 2016. Pitch Black 16 is a biennial, three week, multinational, large-force training exercise hosted by RAAF Tindal. The allied nation squadrons will execute day and night flights from Tindal to Darwin, while performing large force offensive counter-air and offensive air support operations throughout the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo)

An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg) - An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Tisby, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, treats a simulated victim during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 21, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, renders a salute during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, renders a salute during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Simon Gomezramirez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, provides security after constructing a defensive position during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji on July 14, 2016. The squadron plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focus on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebecca Hurst, a corpsman with the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni treats simulated victims during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, July 8, 2016. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 plans to complete their unit annual training requirements throughout three stages, which focuses on air base ground defense and Marine Corps common skills that Marines are unable to train for locally. To wrap up exercise Eagle Wrath 2016, ‘America’s squadron’ will conquer Mount Fuji before packing up gear and washing down equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, right, and the Honorable Yoshihiko Fukuda, mayor of Iwakuni, wait to cross an intersection during the seventh Joint Leadership Walk down the streets of Iwakuni on July 6, 2016. The last walk took place in December 2015 and continues to be a firm demonstration of the bond and unity between both communities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)