News Stories

Members of Seoul American High School’s cheer team perform during the 2014 Far East Cheer Championships, Nov. 7, inside the Mathew C. Perry High School gymnasium aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The annual event is held to crown the best cheer team of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. - Members of Seoul American High School’s cheer team perform during the 2014 Far East Cheer Championships, Nov. 7, inside the Mathew C. Perry High School gymnasium aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. The annual event is held to crown the best cheer team of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools.

A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 102nd Central Nuclear Biological Chemical Weapon Defense Unit makes his way through a smoke filled room inside the fire training tower aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2014. The 102nd Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit, Marine Aircraft Group 12, and the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Station collaborated to conduct interoperability training while executing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Hazardous Material Emergency Response Operations. - A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 102nd Central Nuclear Biological Chemical Weapon Defense Unit makes his way through a smoke filled room inside the fire training tower aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2014. The 102nd Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit, Marine Aircraft Group 12, and the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Station collaborated to conduct interoperability training while executing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Hazardous Material Emergency Response Operations.

Sgt. Benjamin Pryer, press chief with the station Public Affairs Office, rests during his attempt to complete the Marine Corps Birthday Swim in one day, Oct. 10, 2014, at the indoor pool inside IronWorks Gym aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Pryer finished all 239 laps in about 11 hours and 30 minutes, becoming the first one to finish the challenge this year. - Sgt. Benjamin Pryer, press chief with the station Public Affairs Office, rests during his attempt to complete the Marine Corps Birthday Swim in one day, Oct. 10, 2014, at the indoor pool inside IronWorks Gym aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Pryer finished all 239 laps in about 11 hours and 30 minutes, becoming the first one to finish the challenge this year.

Lance Cpl. Linnea Privette, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, sifts through green military trousers at the Marine Thrift Store during Customer Appreciation Day, Sept. 27, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Noel Peppler, Marine Thrift Store manager, said the thrift store gives anything military related free to service members. - Lance Cpl. Linnea Privette, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, sifts through green military trousers at the Marine Thrift Store during Customer Appreciation Day, Sept. 27, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Noel Peppler, Marine Thrift Store manager, said the thrift store gives anything military related free to service members.

Tommy Davidson and Miss Gayle, entertainers with Kenny Hill’s All Star Comedy Slam pose with Gunnery Sgt. Denver Inopiquez and his sons inside the Marine Corps Exchange aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2014. As part of the comedy slam, Davidson and Gayle Davidson are slated to tour the air station, as well as performing a live comedy show inside Club Iwakuni. - Tommy Davidson and Miss Gayle, entertainers with Kenny Hill’s All Star Comedy Slam pose with Gunnery Sgt. Denver Inopiquez and his sons inside the Marine Corps Exchange aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 27, 2014. As part of the comedy slam, Davidson and Gayle Davidson are slated to tour the air station, as well as performing a live comedy show inside Club Iwakuni.

A heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 utilizes an All-Terrain Crane to lift a Humvee on to the deck of a barge at the harbor aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 16, 2014. In preparation for Exercise Forager Fury III, Marines with MWSS-171 loaded nearly 300 pieces of heavy equipment slated to be used for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat flight training, as well as combat support training. - A heavy equipment operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 utilizes an All-Terrain Crane to lift a Humvee on to the deck of a barge at the harbor aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 16, 2014. In preparation for Exercise Forager Fury III, Marines with MWSS-171 loaded nearly 300 pieces of heavy equipment slated to be used for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat flight training, as well as combat support training.

Staff Sgt. Juan Ramirez, a volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and a Japanese local volunteer fill sandbags while cleaning up damage done by Typhoon Halong in Sunayamacho, Iwakuni, August 14, 2014. Typhoon Halong peaked as a Category 5 Super Typhoon, causing landslides, mudslides and heavy flooding, resulting in deaths, injuries, and damage throughout Japan. - Staff Sgt. Juan Ramirez, a volunteer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and a Japanese local volunteer fill sandbags while cleaning up damage done by Typhoon Halong in Sunayamacho, Iwakuni, August 14, 2014. Typhoon Halong peaked as a Category 5 Super Typhoon, causing landslides, mudslides and heavy flooding, resulting in deaths, injuries, and damage throughout Japan.

Ashley Bell, a volunteer dental assistant with the American Red Cross, assists Lt. Phillip Jenkins, a dental officer with 11th Dental Company Detachment, while performing a teeth cleaning inside the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, August 13, 2014. The American Red Cross, in coordination with 11th Dental Company Detachment, offers Status of Forces Agreement civilians the opportunity to participate in the Dental Assisting Training Program aboard station. The program allows personnel to gain 500 hours toward becoming a certified dental assistant. - Ashley Bell, a volunteer dental assistant with the American Red Cross, assists Lt. Phillip Jenkins, a dental officer with 11th Dental Company Detachment, while performing a teeth cleaning inside the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, August 13, 2014. The American Red Cross, in coordination with 11th Dental Company Detachment, offers Status of Forces Agreement civilians the opportunity to participate in the Dental Assisting Training Program aboard station. The program allows personnel to gain 500 hours toward becoming a certified dental assistant.

Col. Robert Boucher, station commanding officer, awards Lt. Col. James Walker, station airfield operations officer, the Meritorious Service Medal during his retirement ceremony, July 25, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan. The Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration presented to service members who distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service. - Col. Robert Boucher, station commanding officer, awards Lt. Col. James Walker, station airfield operations officer, the Meritorious Service Medal during his retirement ceremony, July 25, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Japan. The Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration presented to service members who distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service.