A shake-up of two Marine Corps squadrons will give Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni a brand new unit this week.

The Marine Corps’ All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 began a permanent move to Japan on Tuesday from its long-time home base in Miramar, Calif., officials announced.

Meanwhile, most of the Iwakuni-based Marines in the Lancers squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, will transfer under the command of Squadron 242, according to a news release.

“I will take some of my air crew, a few maintainers and all of my aircraft to Japan, while the majority of the Marines currently in the squadron will remain here at Miramar,” commanding officer Lt. Col. Douglas S. Mayer is quoted saying in the release.

The squadron, which flies F/A-18D Hornets, has been to Iraq twice in the past three years, and the move to the Pacific region is meant to alleviate the stress of deployment, Mayer said.

“Also, it enables a permanent two-seat Hornet presence in the Western Pacific,” he said.

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