News Stories

A detachment of KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, conduct low altitude training during exercise Kodiak Mace, May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace, which is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an unfamiliar environment to enhance their technical skills and operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - A detachment of KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, conduct low altitude training during exercise Kodiak Mace, May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace, which is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an unfamiliar environment to enhance their technical skills and operational capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

A KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, flies through the Chugach Mountains valley May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an environment outside of what their used to, to enhance their technical skills in a foreign environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - A KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, homestationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, flies through the Chugach Mountains valley May 28, 2016. The squadron trained at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of exercise Kodiak Mace. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marine pilots of VMGR-152 an opportunity to conduct low altitude training in an environment outside of what their used to, to enhance their technical skills in a foreign environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 23, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force through bilateral combat training. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 23, 2016, in support of Exercise Kodiak Mace. Exercise Kodiak Mace is an annual exercise designed to enhance cohesion between the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force through bilateral combat training. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

A U.S. Army soldier jumps from the cargo bay of a Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 KC-130J Super Hercules during exercise Kodiak Mace at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 25, 2016. The squadron traveled from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to train with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Alaska to support the exercise. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army training time to enhance cohesion and mission readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released) - A U.S. Army soldier jumps from the cargo bay of a Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 KC-130J Super Hercules during exercise Kodiak Mace at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 25, 2016. The squadron traveled from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to train with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Alaska to support the exercise. Kodiak Mace is an annual joint exercise designed to give the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army training time to enhance cohesion and mission readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cory Schubert/Released)

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participate in a hike during exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 12, 2016. The week-long exercise focused on reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and during Marine Combat Training in order to maintain situational readiness. Motor transportation operators, bulk fuels specialists, and field radio operators trained in various areas including direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations and established a tactical motor pool. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Students from Noda Gakuen High School in Yamaguchi City and Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, participate in a drama class at MCAS Iwakuni April 21, 2016. Events like these help secure the two nations’ relationship with positive activities that educate students about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Children from the Josho Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City say goodbye to Noriko Yamada, an administrative specialist with the Marine Memorial Chapel, and service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2016. Visiting the school provided service members the chance to teach children how to speak and count in English, fostering the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The chapel coordinated this community event as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Children from the Josho Hoikuen School in Iwakuni City say goodbye to Noriko Yamada, an administrative specialist with the Marine Memorial Chapel, and service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2016. Visiting the school provided service members the chance to teach children how to speak and count in English, fostering the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The chapel coordinated this community event as an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, give back to the local community and strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose with Japanese civilians and volunteers for a group photo during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. The event offered residents the opportunity to interact with Japanese civilians and experience a different part of their culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni pose with Japanese civilians and volunteers for a group photo during a Mochitsuki – rice pounding – event at Tenno Elementary School in Tenno, Japan, April 16, 2016. The event offered residents the opportunity to interact with Japanese civilians and experience a different part of their culture. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released) - Station residents and Japanese participants begin a half marathon during the 49th Kintai Marathon on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan April 17, 2016. With more than 500 athletes, the marathon is one of the few events that invites Japanese citizens on the air station and provides a great opportunity for MCAS Iwakuni personnel to show support of their host nation through running, said Mai Tajima, SemperFit recreation specialist. The full marathon first place for the men was Yoshihisa Nagashita, 34, completing at 2 hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and for the women was Hitomi Matsubara, 45, completing at 3:27:25. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan D. Wicks /Released)

Chandler Pigge, a seventh-grader at Matthew C. Perry High School, shoots the basketball as Amin Mice, a ninth-grader at M.C. Perry High School, attempts to block during the 2016 Mainland Basketball Association Spring Basketball Camp at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 13, 2016. Student athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 attended the camp seeking to improve their knowledge of skills and basketball such as shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and defending. Point Guard College attended the camp to teach competitors to play smart basketball and become good leaders during practice, games and everyday life. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Chandler Pigge, a seventh-grader at Matthew C. Perry High School, shoots the basketball as Amin Mice, a ninth-grader at M.C. Perry High School, attempts to block during the 2016 Mainland Basketball Association Spring Basketball Camp at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 13, 2016. Student athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 attended the camp seeking to improve their knowledge of skills and basketball such as shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and defending. Point Guard College attended the camp to teach competitors to play smart basketball and become good leaders during practice, games and everyday life. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)