News Stories

Gunnery Sgt. Victor Velez, left, manpower chief and Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy Ensley, maintenance control chief with Marine Helicopter Squadron One answer questions during an HMX-1 brief at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. The brief afforded HMX-1 Marines the opportunity to provide information and answer questions about the career opportunities available to pilots, crew chiefs, aircraft maintainers and many other Marines at HMX-1. HMX-1 is responsible for direct helicopter support of the White House, which includes supporting the president, vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of the Navy, commandant of the Marine Corps and all visiting heads of state in the Washington, D.C., area. - Gunnery Sgt. Victor Velez, left, manpower chief and Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy Ensley, maintenance control chief with Marine Helicopter Squadron One answer questions during an HMX-1 brief at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. The brief afforded HMX-1 Marines the opportunity to provide information and answer questions about the career opportunities available to pilots, crew chiefs, aircraft maintainers and many other Marines at HMX-1. HMX-1 is responsible for direct helicopter support of the White House, which includes supporting the president, vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of the Navy, commandant of the Marine Corps and all visiting heads of state in the Washington, D.C., area.

A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 assists Sgt. Deedmund Nettles, left, food service specialist with MWSS-171, in removing his personal protective equipment during Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The course covered topics such as the hazards associated with working around chemicals, how to locate information on different chemicals, and the four aspects of planning and organizing a hazardous waste site, which are organizational structure, work plan, safety meetings and inspections. This training provided Marines with the proper knowledge to identify contain and clean up hazardous materials. - A Marine from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 assists Sgt. Deedmund Nettles, left, food service specialist with MWSS-171, in removing his personal protective equipment during Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The course covered topics such as the hazards associated with working around chemicals, how to locate information on different chemicals, and the four aspects of planning and organizing a hazardous waste site, which are organizational structure, work plan, safety meetings and inspections. This training provided Marines with the proper knowledge to identify contain and clean up hazardous materials.

Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, visit the Peace Memorial Park area after visiting the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima, Dec. 5, 2015. The Youth and Teen Center provided station residents the opportunity to explore the Peace Memorial Park area and shop around the area. The dome is the only building that remains and provided students with a visual image of the aftermath of World War II. - Residents from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, visit the Peace Memorial Park area after visiting the atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima, Dec. 5, 2015. The Youth and Teen Center provided station residents the opportunity to explore the Peace Memorial Park area and shop around the area. The dome is the only building that remains and provided students with a visual image of the aftermath of World War II.

Maribell Martinez, left, a station resident, sends packages at Row Home 9148 A, one of the various mobile post office locations being manned by Lance Cpl. Natalie Mullin, middle, and Lance Cpl. Sara Garciamedina, right, postal clerks with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 4, 2015. Throughout the week, one mobile location will be opened daily and manned by postal Marines that can offer assistance if needed. The postal express are mobile locations that offer opportunities for station residents to drop-off holiday mail while also meeting the U.S. postal service mailing deadlines. - Maribell Martinez, left, a station resident, sends packages at Row Home 9148 A, one of the various mobile post office locations being manned by Lance Cpl. Natalie Mullin, middle, and Lance Cpl. Sara Garciamedina, right, postal clerks with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 4, 2015. Throughout the week, one mobile location will be opened daily and manned by postal Marines that can offer assistance if needed. The postal express are mobile locations that offer opportunities for station residents to drop-off holiday mail while also meeting the U.S. postal service mailing deadlines.

1st Lt. Donovan Holloway, air intelligence officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, plays with a Japanese orphan during a Single Marine Program volunteer event at Kaihoku-En Children’s Home in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Nov. 14, 2015. The children interacted and built relationships with the 18 service members during the visit. The visit afforded the children the opportunity to meet new people and have an afternoon filled with interaction. - 1st Lt. Donovan Holloway, air intelligence officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, plays with a Japanese orphan during a Single Marine Program volunteer event at Kaihoku-En Children’s Home in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Nov. 14, 2015. The children interacted and built relationships with the 18 service members during the visit. The visit afforded the children the opportunity to meet new people and have an afternoon filled with interaction.

Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members. - Service members from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron participate in a formation run aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov 10, 2015. The service members ran in celebration of the Marine Corps' 240th birthday. Approximately 80 participants ran three miles each in a 20 hour period to culminate a total of 237 miles before the squadron commanding officer and sergeant major led the final three miles in a celebratory formation run with squadron service members.

Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance. - Paul Halstead, left, receives his certificate of naturalization from Kim Shipley, right, special assistant at International Operations of United States Citizens and Immigration Services at the Building One Auditorium at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 5, 2015. In order to become a U.S. citizen, recipients must speak and know English, have good moral character, have knowledge of the U.S. government and history and take the Oath of Allegiance.

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.

Station volunteers and orphans from Garden of Light Children’s Home in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, trick-or-treat during a Halloween event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Oct. 31, 2015. During their visit, 50 station volunteers escorted 15 orphans to a haunted house operated by Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, enjoyed bonding over dinner and trick-or-treating around the air station. While trick-or-treating, visitors and volunteers could see how station residents celebrate the spooky holiday, from the eccentric costumes to the decorated houses. - Station volunteers and orphans from Garden of Light Children’s Home in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, trick-or-treat during a Halloween event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Oct. 31, 2015. During their visit, 50 station volunteers escorted 15 orphans to a haunted house operated by Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, enjoyed bonding over dinner and trick-or-treating around the air station. While trick-or-treating, visitors and volunteers could see how station residents celebrate the spooky holiday, from the eccentric costumes to the decorated houses.

Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese children from Ekimae Hoikuen Pre-school visited the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni City, Oct. 27, 2015. The community relations event, hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel on the air station, gave service members the opportunity to interact with the Japanese youth and teach them about Halloween. The children also recited the American and Japanese alphabets with the senior citizens at the nursing home. - Service members from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Japanese children from Ekimae Hoikuen Pre-school visited the Vita Nursing Home in Iwakuni City, Oct. 27, 2015. The community relations event, hosted by the Marine Memorial Chapel on the air station, gave service members the opportunity to interact with the Japanese youth and teach them about Halloween. The children also recited the American and Japanese alphabets with the senior citizens at the nursing home.