MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron along with Marine Aircraft Group 12 and subordinate squadrons hosted the 2015 Jane Wayne Day, May 16, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
Jane Wayne Day provides spouses and family of service members the opportunity to get a taste of Marine Corps training and experience a day in the life of a Marine.
Before the start of the event, spouses arrived at the Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 supply warehouse where they met drill instructors that would accompany and mold them into Marines.
“This event is a very unique opportunity for the spouses,” said Gunnery Sgt. Kelly Anderson, the squadron gunnery sergeant for H&HS and a drill instructor for Jane Wayne Day. “This is a side of Marine training that they don’t see and through events like this one they get to experience a more interesting part of Marine Corps culture.”
With the event kicked-off, spouses with MAG-12 arrived at Penny Lake Fields to begin their training by conducting a Combat Fitness Test consisting of an 880 yard sprint, ammo can lifts and the maneuver-under-fire course to test their physical fitness; followed by Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training where they learned techniques from the tan belt syllabus.
“The CFT is very physically demanding, especially when doing the maneuver-under-fire course,” said Tiffany Hill, a Jane Wayne Day participant. “I can see why Marines take their physical training so serious.”
Following lunch at the Flightline Mess Hall, spouses with Mag-12 arrived at the Indoor Small-Arms Range where they received a brief on the M4 carbine rifle before receiving the chance to fire them.
After putting rounds down range, spouses geared up in Mission-Oriented Protective Posture gear and walked down to the gas chamber to expose themselves to 0-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile gas, better known to Marines as CS Gas.
“Participating in Jayne Wayne Day isn’t just physically but also mentally challenging,” said Hill. “It allowed me an in-depth view of what my Marine, and all Marines, went through to earn their title.”
According to Noelle Jewell, the MAG-12 Family Readiness Officer, Jane Wayne Day is an event more spouses should take part in, because it gives spouses a closer look and feel of what it’s like to be a Marine; if only for a day.