Jonathan Snyder

Jonathan Snyder is a reporter at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Most of his career was spent as an aerial combat photojournalist with the 3rd Combat Camera Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He is also a Syracuse Military Photojournalism Program and Eddie Adams Workshop alumnus.

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Col. Lance Lewis, outgoing commander of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, accompanies his wife, Wendy Lewis, to their seats during the ceremony on June 16, 2022.

Iwakuni commander says farewell as COVID-19 duty ends

Marine Col. Lance Lewis relinquished command of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima to Col. Richard Rusnok during a ceremony on the parade deck.

Free service aims to reduce stress from military families’ PCS moves

Gator’s Cajun Kitchen in Hiroshima, Japan, for a limited time offers an alligator claw dinner for 2,100 yen.

Gumbo and gator: Get a taste of the Big Easy in Hiroshima, Japan

The Air Force mistakenly posted this year’s master sergeant promotion list on its official MyPers website, Monday, May 23, 2022, more than a week before the scheduled release date.

Air Force publishes master sergeant promotion list a week early by mistake

Senior Airman Autumn Rosado works on a tattoo at Sacred Art tattoo shop in Abilene, Texas, Sept. 19, 2019.

Leaked Air Force and Space Force policies ease tattoo restrictions for some recruits

The Space Force will permit small neck tattoos, and the Air Force is waiving some size limits on hand tattoos, according to an Air Force Recruiting Service memo leaked recently on the popular Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page.

This new program allows active duty, Reserve and retired service members, Defense Department civilians, contractors and their families to renew their passports at any time without having to mail their applications and supporting documents.

US troops can now renew their passports online, but not while serving overseas

A new program allows active-duty, Reserve and retired service members, Defense Department civilians, contractors and their families living in the US to renew passports without having to mail applications and supporting documents.

At Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, the commissary shelves were almost fully stocked with baby formula on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, but shoppers were limited to three per customer.

Baby formula supply is ‘adequate’ at US military commissaries, Pentagon says

Defense Department commissaries are short of baby formula, just as civilian retailers are, but for now have an adequate supply for military families, the Pentagon’s press secretary said.

Andrew Neuville, a Marine Corps Community Services employee at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, is an avid hunter who helps expats and service members navigate the system of gun ownership in Japan.

Gun ownership, an American tradition, has its own spin in Japan

Gun ownership is tightly controlled in Japan, but it’s possible for hunters and target shooters with the U.S. military to own a firearm after a lengthy, expensive process.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 prepares to land during field carrier landing practice in May 2014 on Iwo Jima, Japan.

Navy pilots are returning to Iwo Jima for carrier landing practice as Japan preps alternate site

Navy pilots from Carrier Air Wing 5 will fly to Iwo Jima on Friday to sharpen their carrier landing skills before their next patrol aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, Naval Forces Japan announced Wednesday.

Sgt. Liliana Camennino, (standing), finance sergeant, 230th Finance Management Support Unit, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, helps an in-processing Soldier with his travel voucher during a finance brief 21 Aug. at McMahon Theater on Fort Carson, Colorado. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Geelen, 4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division)

Army’s new travel claim system affects soldiers in Japan but not in South Korea

Soldiers assigned a permanent change of station to Japan are expected to complete their travel voucher themselves through the online SmartVoucher system.

The Air Force has updated its requirements to permit transgender airmen to skip their annual physical fitness test while they undergo gender-confirmation surgery.

Air Force updates physical fitness testing guidelines for transgender airmen

The Air Force updated its requirements to permit transgender airmen to skip the annual physical fitness test while they undergo gender-confirmation surgery.

More Air Force, Space Force jobs are eligible for re-enlistment bonuses this year

The Air Force announced 63 specialties are eligible for bonuses for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, up from the 40 qualifying positions in the previous year.

Airmen have a discussion during a mentorship session at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Oct. 22, 2021.

Top Air Force leaders issue open-ended call for ‘airmen’s time’ and ‘honest dialogue’

An initiative launched by the top uniformed leaders in the Air Force aims to create a ‘safe space’ where airmen may speak their minds.

The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., are changing their WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to a paint scheme that will last longer and save money.

Glossy paint on Super Hercules storm chasers saves money for Hurricane Hunters

The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are getting a new look. Here’s why.

Exchange managers at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are working to remedy merchandise shortages by shipping more inventory by air rather than ocean carrier.

Marine Corps Exchange turns to air cargo to solve shortages for shoppers in Japan

Exchange managers at MCAS Iwakuni are taking several steps, in addition to air cargo shipment, to give shoppers some relief, said Marine Corps Community Services.

It's a cat's life on Aoshima, off the coast of Shikoku, one of Japan's four main islands.

Spend a day on the Japanese island kingdom of cats

The island of Aoshima is ruled by approximately 200 semi-feral feline friends.

Rob Schaffer, a general manager with USAA, thanks Marines and local volunteers for helping with a community service project in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sept. 12, 2015.

USAA eases membership requirements to include general discharge holders

USAA, the financial services company with a military clientele, has loosened its eligibility requirements to include veterans with a general discharge under honorable conditions.

The Living Pattern Survey happens every three years. It asks U.S. service members how and where they buy goods and services and helps set the rates for their overseas cost-of-living allowances.

Cost-of-living allowance surveys are underway for service members in Japan

Cost-of-living surveys are available for all U.S. military bases in Japan, the results of which will determine future monetary allowances for service members stationed in the country.

The Dream Chaser, developed by Sierra Space Corp. of Broomfield, Colo., is designed to carry up to six tons of cargo and crew to destinations in low-Earth orbit, including the International Space Station.

Airport in Japan may become landing site for Dream Chaser commercial space plane

A U.S. space plane operator with a NASA contract to resupply the International Space Station is considering an airport in southwestern Japan as an alternate landing site.

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