News Stories

Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) departs Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 27, 2016. Obama visited MCAS Iwakuni and spoke with service members and their families after the Ise-Shima Group of Seven Summit meeting. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released) - Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) departs Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 27, 2016. Obama visited MCAS Iwakuni and spoke with service members and their families after the Ise-Shima Group of Seven Summit meeting. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released)

Sarah Cronin, goalkeeper and center midfielder from the Panthers girls’ soccer team from Yokota High School, blocks a shot at the goal during the last part of the championship game in the Far East Soccer Tournament hosted by Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 19, 2016. The Far East Soccer Tournament is the largest soccer event that Department of Defense Education Activity Schools Pacific in Japan, Korea and International Schools have to look forward to compete in all season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - Sarah Cronin, goalkeeper and center midfielder from the Panthers girls’ soccer team from Yokota High School, blocks a shot at the goal during the last part of the championship game in the Far East Soccer Tournament hosted by Matthew C. Perry High School at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 19, 2016. The Far East Soccer Tournament is the largest soccer event that Department of Defense Education Activity Schools Pacific in Japan, Korea and International Schools have to look forward to compete in all season. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Rachelle Ugone, a military spouse, greets Sgt. Maj. Darnell Richardson, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, during the 2016 Spouse Family Day, also known as Jayne Wayne Day, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 14, 2016. Designed to build unit and family cohesion, this event gives insight as to what military sponsors experience daily and showcases how Marines operate and train here. Participants learned about various aspects of the Marine Corps lifestyle from strict hair regulations, fitness standards and military bearing, to how Marines operate weapons, utilize specific equipment for their jobs and different professions within the organization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin Fisher/Released) - Rachelle Ugone, a military spouse, greets Sgt. Maj. Darnell Richardson, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, during the 2016 Spouse Family Day, also known as Jayne Wayne Day, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 14, 2016. Designed to build unit and family cohesion, this event gives insight as to what military sponsors experience daily and showcases how Marines operate and train here. Participants learned about various aspects of the Marine Corps lifestyle from strict hair regulations, fitness standards and military bearing, to how Marines operate weapons, utilize specific equipment for their jobs and different professions within the organization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin Fisher/Released)

A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 conducts table three rifle qualifications 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - A Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 conducts table three rifle qualifications 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Lance Cpl. Coty Shuke, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, engineer company, combat engineer platoon, provides security during a simulated aircraft salvage and recovery operation as part of exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. Motor transportation operators, combat engineers, heavy equipment operators and aircraft rescue and firefighters worked together to recover the simulated downed aircraft. The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Lance Cpl. Coty Shuke, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, engineer company, combat engineer platoon, provides security during a simulated aircraft salvage and recovery operation as part of exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 11, 2016. Motor transportation operators, combat engineers, heavy equipment operators and aircraft rescue and firefighters worked together to recover the simulated downed aircraft. The exercise focuses on reinforcing skills that Marines learned during Marine Combat Training and throughout their military occupational specialty schooling in order to maintain situational readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa (left) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, participate in the welcome aboard brief during their visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about and Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released) - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Cmdr. Hiroko Takigawa (left) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Nakadai, instructors from the Japanese Joint Staff College, participate in the welcome aboard brief during their visit to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The Japanese Joint Staff College instructors visited MCAS Iwakuni to learn about and Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin/Released)

Sgt. Jesus Alvarado with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 briefs his Marines in preparation for exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 9, 2016. The squadron plans to conduct various drills pertaining to aviation ground support forces, aircraft salvage and recovery, convoys, direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations, establishing a tactical motor pool, providing air operations and planning expeditionary fire rescue services. MWSS-171 conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - Sgt. Jesus Alvarado with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 briefs his Marines in preparation for exercise Thunder Horse 16.2 at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Haramura Maneuver Area in Hiroshima, Japan, May 9, 2016. The squadron plans to conduct various drills pertaining to aviation ground support forces, aircraft salvage and recovery, convoys, direct refueling, recovery and general engineering operations, establishing a tactical motor pool, providing air operations and planning expeditionary fire rescue services. MWSS-171 conducts exercises such as this several times a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Solla, postal officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives his opening remarks during the grand opening ceremony for the new south side post office on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The new post office will start delivering and sending mail on opening day. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released) - Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Solla, postal officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, gives his opening remarks during the grand opening ceremony for the new south side post office on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 9, 2016. The new post office will start delivering and sending mail on opening day. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released)

Pemberton Aerosports executed a flag jump during the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, Japan, May 5, 2016. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has conducted a single-day air show and open house specifically designed to foster positive relationships between the air station and our Japanese hosts, and the event traditionally draws more than 200,000 visitors and participants. This year is the 40th Friendship Day, offering a culturally enriching experience that displays the mutual support that the U.S. and Japan share. This annual event showcases a variety of static displays, aviation performances and demonstrations, and provides food and entertainment for guests of the largest single-day event in Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released) - Pemberton Aerosports executed a flag jump during the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day 2016 Air Show, Japan, May 5, 2016. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has conducted a single-day air show and open house specifically designed to foster positive relationships between the air station and our Japanese hosts, and the event traditionally draws more than 200,000 visitors and participants. This year is the 40th Friendship Day, offering a culturally enriching experience that displays the mutual support that the U.S. and Japan share. This annual event showcases a variety of static displays, aviation performances and demonstrations, and provides food and entertainment for guests of the largest single-day event in Iwakuni. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released)

Flight line fuel operations with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron receive the American Petroleum Institute Award on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2016. The award –presented by Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, on behalf of the Naval Systems Supply Command- recognizes the most outstanding fuel facility in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released) - Flight line fuel operations with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron receive the American Petroleum Institute Award on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2016. The award –presented by Col. Robert V. Boucher, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, on behalf of the Naval Systems Supply Command- recognizes the most outstanding fuel facility in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nathan Wicks/Released)