News Stories

Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more. - Participants pose for a group photo at the end of Cultural Day in Tsuzu, Japan, Dec. 12, 2015. The event provides both the American and Japanese communities an opportunity to interact, learn about each other’s culture, and make new friends through games, food, and arts and crafts. Visitors participated in a variety of activities such as mochi pounding, making wooden flutes, walking on bamboo stilts, and much more.

Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely. - Master Sgt. Charles Garcia, Marine Aircraft Group 12 logistics chief, explains to his Marines the different parts of a ship and what they are used for during a site survey of the USS Bonhomme Richard at U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo, Dec. 4, 2015. Garcia executed the survey to confirm everything was secure and large enough for Marine Attack Squadron 214 AV-8B harriers to land on safely.

Colonel Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, greets Gen Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, during Nakatani’s visit to the air station, Dec. 2, 2015. As part of the growing U.S. – Japan relationship, this visit provided Nakatani an opportunity to connect with station officials and view pertinent installation facilities that aid in the Marine Corps’ mission success. - Colonel Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, greets Gen Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, during Nakatani’s visit to the air station, Dec. 2, 2015. As part of the growing U.S. – Japan relationship, this visit provided Nakatani an opportunity to connect with station officials and view pertinent installation facilities that aid in the Marine Corps’ mission success.

Motorcyclists from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and the local Japanese community rode onto MCAS Iwakuni for the third-annual Toy Drive and Motorcycle Rally, Nov. 22, 2015. Riders decked-out their bikes in holiday decorations and donated toys at the Marine Thrift Store for Japanese orphans. The event concluded with a Thunder Ride around the air station. - Motorcyclists from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and the local Japanese community rode onto MCAS Iwakuni for the third-annual Toy Drive and Motorcycle Rally, Nov. 22, 2015. Riders decked-out their bikes in holiday decorations and donated toys at the Marine Thrift Store for Japanese orphans. The event concluded with a Thunder Ride around the air station.

Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment. - Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment.

Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident. - Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident.

Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds. - Kaede Nursing Home residents painted Christmas ornaments during the National Honor Society’s visit to the home in Iwakuni Yamaguchi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2015. The National Honor Society students visited this home for the first time in 2014 and were invited to come back again. Events like this show the local community that station residents care about them and want to build bonds.

Marines of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron pose for a picture after being awarded first place for the intramural pistol matches at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. Intramural pistol matches are designed to introduce participants to the competition in arms program style of shooting, enabling Marines to compete in a match locally run. This allows more participation and helps identify Marines that may do well at the Far East Division Matches in Okinawa. - Marines of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron pose for a picture after being awarded first place for the intramural pistol matches at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. Intramural pistol matches are designed to introduce participants to the competition in arms program style of shooting, enabling Marines to compete in a match locally run. This allows more participation and helps identify Marines that may do well at the Far East Division Matches in Okinawa.

Kip Winterowd, National Cheerleaders Association director of curriculum, gives cheerleaders a pep talk during cheer week at Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 2, 2015. This is the 3rd year in a row MCAS Iwakuni hosted the Far East Cheerleading tournament and 12 teams from the Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific participated in a week of learning and fun.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Kip Winterowd, National Cheerleaders Association director of curriculum, gives cheerleaders a pep talk during cheer week at Matthew C. Perry High School gymnasium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 2, 2015. This is the 3rd year in a row MCAS Iwakuni hosted the Far East Cheerleading tournament and 12 teams from the Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific participated in a week of learning and fun.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop. - A family races to the finish line during a Superhero Fun Run on the Seawall at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 31, 2015. The 1.5K run allowed station residents to celebrate the Halloween festivities while being physically active. Snacks and beverages waited at the finish line as participants crossed. Once bellies were filled, families had the opportunity to take their photos with an outline of a comic-style city backdrop.