News Stories

Photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen - U.S. Marine Corps chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN) specialists assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 6, 2024. As CBRN Defense Specialists, Marines are trained to respond to and clear areas with possible CBRN hazards in addition to training units in general CBRN information, identification, and response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Phuchung Nguyen)

VMFA-121 trains to fuel airpower in contaminated environments - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Tristan Aber, a motor transport operator with Logistics Department Fuels Division, helps fuel an F-35B Lightning II during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 15, 2017. A hot refuel is a fast-paced fueling method that allows aircraft to take in fuel while powered up, which gets them back to the fight quicker. Executing missions on time and being faster than the enemy is a vital aspect to the Marine Corps, and exercises like these assure that Marines can keep working quickly no matter what environment they’re forced to work in. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

U.S. Marines and U.S. Airmen work together during a simulated contamination control area in preparation of Vigilant Ace 17-1 at Osan Air Base, Korea, Nov. 17, 2016. Vigilant Ace is a biannual, bilateral training event that exercises U.S. military and Republic of Korea Air Force interoperability through simulated wartime tasking. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo) - U.S. Marines and U.S. Airmen work together during a simulated contamination control area in preparation of Vigilant Ace 17-1 at Osan Air Base, Korea, Nov. 17, 2016. Vigilant Ace is a biannual, bilateral training event that exercises U.S. military and Republic of Korea Air Force interoperability through simulated wartime tasking. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lamarcus Williams, motor transportation mechanic and quality control chief with Combat Logistics Company 36, drains the transmission fluid from a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 10, 2016. Marines, already in mission oriented protective posture gear, were evaluated on their ability to effectively detect, report, respond and operate in a simulated CBRN environment. When given the signal “gas, gas, gas,” Marines scrambled to don their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Masks before returning to work as if everything was normal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Abrego)

U.S. Navy Sailors from the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic remove clothing from a simulated victim during first-receiver operations training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2016. Provided by the Decontamination, Education and Consulting on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Limited Liability Company, the course educates first receivers in conducting decontamination, field treatment and saving victims from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Conducting this training helps refresh Sailors on their tactical skills sets specific to CBRN response, maintain situational readiness and ensures the safety of personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Navy Sailors from the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic remove clothing from a simulated victim during first-receiver operations training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2016. Provided by the Decontamination, Education and Consulting on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Limited Liability Company, the course educates first receivers in conducting decontamination, field treatment and saving victims from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Conducting this training helps refresh Sailors on their tactical skills sets specific to CBRN response, maintain situational readiness and ensures the safety of personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Shipley, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan B. Davis, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer in charge with MAG-12, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, CBRN defense officer with 3rd Marine Division, CBRN defense platoon, Headquarters Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, discuss mission objectives during exercise Habu Sentinel 16, at Disaster Village, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 7, 2016. Third Marine Division CBRN Marines traveled to MCAS Iwakuni for this event and worked with MAG-12 personnel in developing technical skills critical to their profession. As the annual capstone exercise for the division’s response element, this event encompasses multiple objectives specific to CBRN response and validates unit standard operating procedures in an unfamiliar training environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released)

Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment. - Pfc. Raymond Ramirez, an embarkation Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, poses after successfully completing an operational decontamination exercise at the MWSS-171 motor transportation wash rack at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2015. Ramirez was one of the multiple Marines to finish the five-phase exercise aimed to increase combat proactivity and readiness in a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environment.

Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident. - Service members and firefighters practice decontaminating each other during the Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations course at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 19, 2015. This weeklong course gives participants the necessary knowledge and experience they need to be recognized as first responders in a HazMat incident.

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.