News Stories

Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake. - Marines and children dance during the Mini-Marine Corps Ball in the Club Iwakuni ballroom at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 23, 2015. Children dressed up, danced, ate and experienced a Marine Corps tradition during the event. The children, ranging from 5 to 12 years old, were afforded the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the Marine Corps Ball including, the cake cutting ceremony where the oldest and youngest Marine present are presented the first slice of cake.

On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team. - On behalf of the recipients, Sakae Hamada, right, translator with criminal investigation at the Provost Marshal’s Office, addresses Takahiro Sugawara, Director General, Chugoku – Shikoku Defense Bureau and Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, at the Club Iwakuni ballroom Oct. 22, 2015. The Length of Service Award Ceremony recognizes the Japanese civilian’s dedication and passion while working on the installation. The ceremony gave attendees a sense of appreciation for their support and recognition as part of the team.

Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community. - Matthew C. Perry Elementary teachers and adult volunteers took part in an official attempt to break a Guinness World Record aimed to raise awareness about literacy by reading to M.C. Perry’s 1st, 4th and 5th graders at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2015. By working across time zones and continents, Points of Light, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Deloitte and hundreds of other organizations hope to read to the most children ever in a 24 hour period. Read Across the Globe is an event during this literacy-awareness week that brings the power of volunteers together to impact literacy in local communities. To help enhance student’s literacy, the official book selection for Read Across the Globe is “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, a story of how a former basketball star transformed an empty lot into a way to feed his community.

Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Volunteers enjoyed the scenery of the forest, river and waterfalls, as they picked up trash and debris along the river. - Station Volunteers look for trash at Futashika Umezu Falls, in Futashika, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, Oct. 16, 2015. The Single Marine Program at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides residents volunteer opportunities to build relations with Japanese locals and experience part of the foreign culture. Volunteers enjoyed the scenery of the forest, river and waterfalls, as they picked up trash and debris along the river.

Students with Matthew C. Perry Elementary School gather around to greet Eiji Aridome, a fire fighter aboard station, and, Sparky, the air station’s fire safety dog, during M.C. Perry Elementary and High School’s 9/11 Remembrance Walk aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 11, 2015. Beginning at 9:11 a.m., this is the third annual walk hosted by the schools and an event that helps students understand the significance of never forgetting, according to Devin Johnston-Lee, fire chief for the air station. - Students with Matthew C. Perry Elementary School gather around to greet Eiji Aridome, a fire fighter aboard station, and, Sparky, the air station’s fire safety dog, during M.C. Perry Elementary and High School’s 9/11 Remembrance Walk aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 11, 2015. Beginning at 9:11 a.m., this is the third annual walk hosted by the schools and an event that helps students understand the significance of never forgetting, according to Devin Johnston-Lee, fire chief for the air station.

Marines and firefighters climbed the training tower during a 9/11 remembrance climb aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 9, 2015, to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11. Participants included Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, the Provost Marshal's Office and the Special Reaction Team Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Fuel Division Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, and Japanese firefighters. Each participant carried with them a photo of a fallen firefighter as they climbed the training towers 18 times for a total of 110 floors, the same amount of floors as the twin towers. - Marines and firefighters climbed the training tower during a 9/11 remembrance climb aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 9, 2015, to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11. Participants included Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, the Provost Marshal's Office and the Special Reaction Team Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Fuel Division Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, and Japanese firefighters. Each participant carried with them a photo of a fallen firefighter as they climbed the training towers 18 times for a total of 110 floors, the same amount of floors as the twin towers.

Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, stationed load onto Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s MK-31 tractor/extended bed during Exercise Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Aibano, Japan, Sept. 8, 2015. MWSS-171 is supporting Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 and 1st Battalion 2nd Marines during this exercise using their communications, motor transport and refueling capabilities. - Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, stationed load onto Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s MK-31 tractor/extended bed during Exercise Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Aibano, Japan, Sept. 8, 2015. MWSS-171 is supporting Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 and 1st Battalion 2nd Marines during this exercise using their communications, motor transport and refueling capabilities.

Sgt. Ryan Cipkar, left, and Lance Cpl. Miguel Avelar, center, dispose of trash as Lance Cpl. Miguel Moto holds the garbage bag open during a community relations event host by the Single Marine Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 4, 2015. Various organizations and tenant units aboard the air station foster the friendship between the U.S. and Japan by conducting these community relations events each year. Cipkar, from Steger, Ill., is a telephone person computer technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3. Avelar, San Bernardino, Calif., and Moto, from Taipei, Taiwan, are expeditionary airfield system technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. - Sgt. Ryan Cipkar, left, and Lance Cpl. Miguel Avelar, center, dispose of trash as Lance Cpl. Miguel Moto holds the garbage bag open during a community relations event host by the Single Marine Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 4, 2015. Various organizations and tenant units aboard the air station foster the friendship between the U.S. and Japan by conducting these community relations events each year. Cipkar, from Steger, Ill., is a telephone person computer technician with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3. Avelar, San Bernardino, Calif., and Moto, from Taipei, Taiwan, are expeditionary airfield system technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron.

Construction continues aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 1, 2015. One of the purposes of these roadway modifications is to eliminate the need for vehicles to cross an aircraft taxiway and to support continued operations during the Defense Policy Review Initiative’s construction efforts, which affects approximately 77 percent of the installation. Station residents can expect permanent road development changes in the upcoming month. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, DPRI redefines roles, missions, and capabilities of alliance forces and outlines key realignment and transformation initiatives, enhancing interoperability and communication between the two countries' respective commands. - Construction continues aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sep. 1, 2015. One of the purposes of these roadway modifications is to eliminate the need for vehicles to cross an aircraft taxiway and to support continued operations during the Defense Policy Review Initiative’s construction efforts, which affects approximately 77 percent of the installation. Station residents can expect permanent road development changes in the upcoming month. According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, DPRI redefines roles, missions, and capabilities of alliance forces and outlines key realignment and transformation initiatives, enhancing interoperability and communication between the two countries' respective commands.

Lt. Col. James Moseley, a Command and Staff Blended Seminar Program instructor, briefs officers of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Marine Aircraft Group 12 on the program at the Sakura Theater aboard station Aug. 5, 2015. BSP is part of the 36th Commandant’s Planning Guidance 2015 to expand resident professional military education. - Lt. Col. James Moseley, a Command and Staff Blended Seminar Program instructor, briefs officers of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Marine Aircraft Group 12 on the program at the Sakura Theater aboard station Aug. 5, 2015. BSP is part of the 36th Commandant’s Planning Guidance 2015 to expand resident professional military education.