News Stories Archive

U.S. Marines and JMSDF Soldiers conduct MWD detection training exercises - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam Cook, left, the kennel master for the Provost Marshal Office with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, conducts military working dog detection training at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Nov. 20, 2019. The training was part of a joint force detection exercise with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) soldiers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

History in the making: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band visits Japan for first time - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Sara Sheffield, left, a mezzo soprano vocalist, and Col. Jason Fettig, the 28th Director, both with "The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, perform at the Yamaguchi Prefectural Culture Hall Sinfonia Iwakuni in Iwakuni City, Japan, May 19, 2019. Nearly 1,200 Japanese locals and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents attended the concert. The centuries-old musical group rarely travels outside of the United States and has never before visited Japan. The last time the band performed internationally was 2001 in Switzerland, making this trip truly historic and unique. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Americans, Japanese compete in softball tournament - U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Japanese nationals play a softball game in Iwakuni City, Japan, April 28, 2018. The softball game was part of a tournament hosted by Marine Corps Community Services intramural sports division as a way for service members and air station residents to bond over a sport that people from both cultures play. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)

Coordinating together guarantees mission success - A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 sits idle before MK-82 High Explosive General Purpose bombs are loaded onto the aircraft during hot-pit refueling and hot-load training at Naval Air Station Pohang, Republic of Korea, Dec. 12, 2017. The purpose of the exercise was to show that the Marines could effectively establish a forward arming and refueling point with supporting entities and conduct the training evolutions on foreign soil. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell)

Explosive ordnance disposal Marines conducted emergency destruct training at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The island is located near the air station and is used as a training site for EOD Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez) - Explosive ordnance disposal Marines conducted emergency destruct training at Target Island, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 14, 2017. The island is located near the air station and is used as a training site for EOD Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Carlos Jimenez)

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 takes off at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 12, 2017. VMFA-232 has been conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation program, which is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and reduce local noise impacts by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan. - A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 takes off at Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, July 12, 2017. VMFA-232 has been conducting exercises with the JASDF as part of the Aviation Training Relocation program, which is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese forces, and reduce local noise impacts by dispersing unilateral jet-fighter training of U.S. forces in Japan.

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 conducts a level III flight demonstration during the 41st Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2017. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an elevating experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show also encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static aircraft displays, aerial performances and demonstrations, food and entertainment. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 conducts a level III flight demonstration during the 41st Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2017. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an elevating experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show also encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static aircraft displays, aerial performances and demonstrations, food and entertainment.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jeffrey Aceti, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, maintains equipment used during airfield damage and repair training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2017. The ADR training required Marines to utilize their skill set to tactically and proficiently fix any anomalies to a simulated damaged airfield. The training focused on becoming more efficient in situations that may require Marines to act in real-world scenarios to maintain the tempo of aircraft operations. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jeffrey Aceti, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, maintains equipment used during airfield damage and repair training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 19, 2017. The ADR training required Marines to utilize their skill set to tactically and proficiently fix any anomalies to a simulated damaged airfield. The training focused on becoming more efficient in situations that may require Marines to act in real-world scenarios to maintain the tempo of aircraft operations.

A Japanese MCH-101 airborne mine countermeasures helicopter lands on a heliport designated by Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B during a cross-training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 30, 2017. The purpose of the exercise was to simulate a forward arming and refueling points operation, where Marines communicated with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter pilots to perform austere landings on a heliport that acted as an expeditionary runway. - A Japanese MCH-101 airborne mine countermeasures helicopter lands on a heliport designated by Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B during a cross-training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 30, 2017. The purpose of the exercise was to simulate a forward arming and refueling points operation, where Marines communicated with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter pilots to perform austere landings on a heliport that acted as an expeditionary runway.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. George Price, an Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team instructor with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment Bravo, directs a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 during a landing as part of aircraft landing zone training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 21, 2016. The training allows the Marines to gain experience, practice constructing an expeditionary airfield, and complete training and readiness requirements. The MMT Marines conduct this training every three to six months to refine the Marines’ skills, keeping them ready for expeditionary operations while in a garrison environment. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. George Price, an Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team instructor with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment Bravo, directs a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 during a landing as part of aircraft landing zone training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 21, 2016. The training allows the Marines to gain experience, practice constructing an expeditionary airfield, and complete training and readiness requirements. The MMT Marines conduct this training every three to six months to refine the Marines’ skills, keeping them ready for expeditionary operations while in a garrison environment.