News Stories

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 conduct routine inspections and maintenance on the AV-8B Harriers during the Aviation Training Relocation Program at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 7, 2016. VMA-542 is conducting training with their harriers at Chitose Air Base in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory) - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 conduct routine inspections and maintenance on the AV-8B Harriers during the Aviation Training Relocation Program at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 7, 2016. VMA-542 is conducting training with their harriers at Chitose Air Base in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. John D. Ferguson, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542, speaks during a press conference after the arrival of the squadrons AV-8B Harriers to Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 5, 2016. The press conference informed the local community about the significance and missions of the Aviation Training Relocation Program for the U.S. and Japan governments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. John D. Ferguson, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542, speaks during a press conference after the arrival of the squadrons AV-8B Harriers to Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 5, 2016. The press conference informed the local community about the significance and missions of the Aviation Training Relocation Program for the U.S. and Japan governments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James A. Guillory)

U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA) 542, exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J upon their arrival at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 2, 2016. VMA-542 journeyed to Chitose to partake in the Aviation Relocation Training program in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan. - U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA) 542, exit a U.S. Air Force C-130J upon their arrival at Chitose Air Base, Japan, Dec. 2, 2016. VMA-542 journeyed to Chitose to partake in the Aviation Relocation Training program in an effort to increase operational readiness between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Air Self Defense Force, improve interoperability and reduce noise concerns of aviation training on local communities by disseminating training locations throughout Japan.

Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released) - Capt. Robert Ahern, a F/A-18 pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, shows an F/A- 18AA++ aircraft to Japan Air Self-Defense Force members during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 17, 2016. VMFA-314, home based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, temporarily deployed to MCAS Iwakuni for a six month rotation with the unit deployment program, is forward deployed to Komatsu, Japan for the ATR. Komatsu ATR is a dissimilar air combat training exercise allowing pilots with diverse aircraft to simulate aerial warfare and execute basic fighter maneuvers, aircraft tactical intercepts and offensive-defensive counter air missions in preparation for real wartime situations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicole Zurbrugg/Released)

Sgt. Leonard Archuleta, an avionics collateral duty quality assurance representative, right, and Lance Cpl. Sean Stiles, an avionics technician, left, with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 work on an F/A-18D Hornet at Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - Sgt. Leonard Archuleta, an avionics collateral duty quality assurance representative, right, and Lance Cpl. Sean Stiles, an avionics technician, left, with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 work on an F/A-18D Hornet at Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.

A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation. - A Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 F/A-18D Hornet parks at the Chitose Air Base apron in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 13, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, homebased at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.