Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan -- Lifestyle Insight Networking Knowledge and Skills hosted a Meet and Greet at Yujo Hall to help spouses get acquainted with one another Jan. 22, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
Lifestyle Insight Networking Knowledge and Skills is an interactive experience where spouses teach spouses about Marine Corps history, benefits, military career paths and more.
“We wanted to invite the community out, bring spouses together and talk about the L.I.N.K.S program as a whole and what we can do to make it better here at Iwakuni,” said Jennifer Carr, L.I.N.K.S trainer.
Carr said L.I.N.K.S pinpoints certain items to help improve spouses’ lifestyles partners may not be entirely aware of.
“L.I.N.K.S for spouses helps not only new spouses, but the seasoned spouses as well,” said Carr. “They learn about the Iwakuni area, moving while in the military, reading a LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) and coming together with other spouses that are going through the same things that they’re going through.”
Jessica Miller is a spouse who has been traveling with her husband for 13 years and has not attended any L.I.N.K.S classes until this station. Miller said these classes changed her views on the Marine Corps and helped her increase her military knowledge, such as Marine terminology.
“L.I.N.K.S is going to improve my military lifestyle,” said Miller. “This is the first time I’m actually getting involved with the Marine Corps and the instructors have experience under their belts. I can easily learn from them.”
Carr attended her first L.I.N.K.S class six years ago where she learned about the Marine Corps, what her husband did and about being a military spouse in general. From that moment, she said she felt enlightened, and her four years prior would have been different.
“I’ve been a military spouse for 10 years and I’ve grown a lot and helping other military spouses get to the point I’m at is what it’s all about,” said Carr.
Lifestyle Insight Networking Knowledge and Skills classes are held monthly with different time schedules to accommodate a variety of wives, or husbands, aboard station.