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James Bolinger

James Bolinger is a reporter at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

He previously served at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., where he spent nearly seven years as the NCOIC of public affairs covering specialized undergraduate pilot training. He began his career as editor of the Airlifter newspaper at Dover Air Force Base, Del., then headed to the Defense Information School where he served as a journalism instructor from 2009 to 2011.

Email: bolinger.james@stripes.com

U.S. Marina Corps Sgt. Tyler M. Rankin, shown here in a handout photo, disappeared July 2, 2020 off the coast of Hamada Beach in Japan's Shimane prefecture, according to a statement Tuesday from Marine Aircraft Group 12.<br>Rankin family
U.S. Marina Corps Sgt. Tyler M. Rankin, shown here in a handout photo, disappeared July 2, 2020 off the coast of Hamada Beach in Japan's Shimane prefecture, according to a statement Tuesday from Marine Aircraft Group 12.<br>Rankin family

Searchers recover body of Marine missing at sea since Thursday off southern Japan

Sgt. Tyler M. Rankin disappeared Thursday off the coast of Hamada Beach in Shimane prefecture, according to a statement Tuesday from Marine Aircraft Group 12.

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Syphon-style coffee brewers await customers' orders at Kurashiki Coffee in Sasebo, Japan.<br>James Bolinger/Stars and Stripes
Syphon-style coffee brewers await customers' orders at Kurashiki Coffee in Sasebo, Japan.<br>James Bolinger/Stars and Stripes

Wake up with a strong coffee from Kurashiki near Sasebo

My trip to Sasebo Naval Base to welcome the USS America to Japan last December involved a 20-hour day traveling by train more than 700 miles round trip. That kind of travel calls for strong coffee.

Staff Sgt. Dustin Traylor of the 51st Fighter Wing uses a computer to fill out a customs form inside the post office at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020.<br>Matthew Keeler/Stars and Stripes
Staff Sgt. Dustin Traylor of the 51st Fighter Wing uses a computer to fill out a customs form inside the post office at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2020.<br>Matthew Keeler/Stars and Stripes

More base post offices offer workstations to help patrons fill out, print new customs forms

A new rule that takes effect Aug. 13 requires all packages mailed from any overseas military post office to carry a customs form completed and printed from the U.S. Postal Service website.

People stroll and shop in Tokyo's Omotesando district during lunch time. <br>Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes
People stroll and shop in Tokyo's Omotesando district during lunch time. <br>Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes

New Japanese law imposes harsh penalties for aggressive driving and cycling

The revised traffic law passed this month by the Japanese Diet, the country’s bicameral legislature, takes effect June 30, according to the National Police Agency.

New master sergeants may be notified by the third week of July 2020, in time to sew on their rank by Aug. 1, according to the Air Force Personnel Center.<br>U.S. Air Force/Stars and Stripes illustration
New master sergeants may be notified by the third week of July 2020, in time to sew on their rank by Aug. 1, according to the Air Force Personnel Center.<br>U.S. Air Force/Stars and Stripes illustration

Air Force hopes to announce master sergeant promotions by end of July

The master sergeant promotion board began meeting June 1. It was unable to meet March 23 as originally scheduled thanks to movement restrictions imposed by the Defense Department to curb the coronavirus’ spread.

A child plays in a park across from the guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain, left, and USS Russell at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, April 14, 2020.<br>Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes
A child plays in a park across from the guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain, left, and USS Russell at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, April 14, 2020.<br>Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes

US military softens anti-coronavirus measures for many bases in mainland Japan

The change represents a “move toward Health Protection Condition Bravo,” the military’s moderate risk level, Yokosuka base commander Capt. Rich Jarrett said in a video posted to Facebook.

American students visit a classroom at Nishiki Seiryu Elementary School near Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in 2015.<br>Carlos Cruz/U.S. Marine Corps
American students visit a classroom at Nishiki Seiryu Elementary School near Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, in 2015.<br>Carlos Cruz/U.S. Marine Corps

Coronavirus rules relaxed, MCAS Iwakuni lets children return to Japanese schools

Dozens of Iwakuni students have been away from off-base school since March when Col. Lance Lewis ordered all SOFA personnel to keep their children out of local schools.