MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Electricians, electrician mechanics and water technicians with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 conducted their quarterly Readiness Training Program at the Iwakuni Harbor aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9-11, 2015.
The mission of this the training was to purify 6,000 gallons of water. The three-day long training began with the moving of the equipment to the harbor, then executing the mission and ended with the tearing down of their setup and reviewing their work.
"The intention of this training is to allow the Marines to gain some more experience using their equipment because that’s the only way they’ll get better,” said Staff Sgt. Gerald V. Locker, maintenance chief with MWSS-171. “This allows them to build confidence with the use of the equipment and also brings everyone from our (Military Occupational Specialty) field together which builds camaraderie.”
The equipment used for water purification, including the light weight purification system and the tactical water purification system, are not used on a daily basis. The quarterly RTP keeps the Marines familiar with the equipment and is especially helpful for Marines who just got out of MOS school and have no familiarity using them.
“Most of the Marines here right now are new here, so they don’t have experience using the equipment,” said Lance Cpl. Brashea Aiken, a water support technician with MWSS-171. “You’re not going to learn how to work a lot of the gear we have here just by reading the technical manuals at MOS school, you have to actually use them. The new Marines are inexperienced but they’re always learning and getting better.”
Lance Cpl. Emily C. Egan, a water support technician with MWSS-171, said being new to the job made her a little nervous during the training but she knew she had other Marines there to guide her.
“The RTP gives new marines like me the chance to gain confidence doing our job and experience working with our peers,” said Egan. “We have to be familiar with our equipment and make sure they’re working properly so that we know we are prepared in case anyone needs us.”
The Marines ran into few minor problems throughout the training but they worked through them and because the RTP is quarterly, they have room to improve for next time.