News Stories

Lt. Col. James Hurd, executive officer for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, gives a command brief to Chugoku Shikoku Defense Bureau officials, Okinawa Defense Bureau officials, Iwakuni City assembly members and Ginowan City Council members during a visit to the station to conduct a study tour, July 16, 2015. The purpose was to help deepen the distinguished guests’ understanding on national security here, and the mission of MCAS Futenma in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force’s aviation warfighting capabilities. - Lt. Col. James Hurd, executive officer for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, gives a command brief to Chugoku Shikoku Defense Bureau officials, Okinawa Defense Bureau officials, Iwakuni City assembly members and Ginowan City Council members during a visit to the station to conduct a study tour, July 16, 2015. The purpose was to help deepen the distinguished guests’ understanding on national security here, and the mission of MCAS Futenma in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force’s aviation warfighting capabilities.

Station residents and retirees gathered inside Club Iwakuni aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for a retirement ceremony June 25, 2014. At the ceremony, only 15 retirees attended to receive certificates of appreciation, but in total the ceremony honored 39 retirees coming from a variety of departments within the station. This ceremony is held annually to honor all of the Japanese contractors retiring within the year and to show the station’s appreciation for their faithful service. - Station residents and retirees gathered inside Club Iwakuni aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, for a retirement ceremony June 25, 2014. At the ceremony, only 15 retirees attended to receive certificates of appreciation, but in total the ceremony honored 39 retirees coming from a variety of departments within the station. This ceremony is held annually to honor all of the Japanese contractors retiring within the year and to show the station’s appreciation for their faithful service.

Sgt. Maj. Keith Massi relinquished control of his post as the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sergeant major during his relief ceremony May 22, 2015. Massi served as the station sergeant major from the summer of 2013 until the spring of 2015 and will now travel to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he will serve as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s new sergeant major. - Sgt. Maj. Keith Massi relinquished control of his post as the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sergeant major during his relief ceremony May 22, 2015. Massi served as the station sergeant major from the summer of 2013 until the spring of 2015 and will now travel to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he will serve as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s new sergeant major.

Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron hosted the 2015 Jane Wayne Day, May 16, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Jane Wayne Day provides spouses and family members of Marines and sailors with the opportunity to get a taste of Marine Corps training and experience a day in the life of a Marine. - Marine Aircraft Group 12 and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron hosted the 2015 Jane Wayne Day, May 16, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Jane Wayne Day provides spouses and family members of Marines and sailors with the opportunity to get a taste of Marine Corps training and experience a day in the life of a Marine.

Local Japanese press interview Navy Lt. Nathan Hemerly, a family medicine doctor at the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic, during Hemerly’s certificate of appreciation ceremony at the City Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 12, 2015. After participating in the 9th annual Kintaikyo Road Race in Iwakuni City, Hemerly performed CPR, with the help of a local Japanese nurse, on another run participant who fell and became unconscious during the race. “I was just doing what I thought was the right thing to do, I wasn’t looking for any attention,” said Hemerly. - Local Japanese press interview Navy Lt. Nathan Hemerly, a family medicine doctor at the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic, during Hemerly’s certificate of appreciation ceremony at the City Hall in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 12, 2015. After participating in the 9th annual Kintaikyo Road Race in Iwakuni City, Hemerly performed CPR, with the help of a local Japanese nurse, on another run participant who fell and became unconscious during the race. “I was just doing what I thought was the right thing to do, I wasn’t looking for any attention,” said Hemerly.

Akio Shiraishi and Katsumi Okada, pest controllers with Facilities, inspect gutters where black widow spiders are usually found aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 8, 2015. Throughout a two-month span, pest controllers examine everywhere from the outside of homes to the gutters in the streets aboard station. While searching for black widows the pest controllers also inspect for roaches, ants, bees and moths; of all the pests, cockroaches are the ones encountered most, but black widow spiders are the most dangerous. - Akio Shiraishi and Katsumi Okada, pest controllers with Facilities, inspect gutters where black widow spiders are usually found aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 8, 2015. Throughout a two-month span, pest controllers examine everywhere from the outside of homes to the gutters in the streets aboard station. While searching for black widows the pest controllers also inspect for roaches, ants, bees and moths; of all the pests, cockroaches are the ones encountered most, but black widow spiders are the most dangerous.

Visitors wait in line to enter a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the Fleet Air Wing 31 annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allowed visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying performances from the Breitling Wingwalkers, Blue Impulse and much more. - Visitors wait in line to enter a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the Fleet Air Wing 31 annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allowed visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying performances from the Breitling Wingwalkers, Blue Impulse and much more.

Two Boeing Stearman aircraft with the Breitling Wingwalkers sit at the flightline aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 1, 2015. The Breitling Wingwalkers are slated to perform during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the JMSDF’s Fleet Air Wing 31’s annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first-ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allows visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying aerial performances and static displays. - Two Boeing Stearman aircraft with the Breitling Wingwalkers sit at the flightline aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 1, 2015. The Breitling Wingwalkers are slated to perform during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show, May 3, 2015. This year the event expanded to combine both the JMSDF’s Fleet Air Wing 31’s annual Open House and the traditional MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day, resulting in the first-ever joint Friendship Day air show. The event allows visitors a chance to see the military installation and interact with Japanese and American service members while enjoying aerial performances and static displays.