MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Wearing a pink skirt, flip flops and a T-shirt, Yukie Salinas, wife of Cpl. Michael Salinas, held up a 9 mm pistol, aimed in with almost perfect form and somehow landed almost every shot in the black.
Wives, girlfriends, mothers and children were given the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Marine during Combat Logistics Company 36’s Jane/Johnny Wayne Day here Aug. 27.
Jane/Johnny Wayne Days are used throughout the Marine Corps to give family members a chance to experience what Marines go through during training and on a daily basis.
Family members started by going through Non-combatant Evacuation Operations stations to learn about what they would have to do in case they had to evacuate on their own.
The rest of the day consisted of military working dogs, the obstacle course, eating Meals, Ready to Eat, shooting at the indoor simulated marksmanship trainer, riding in a 7-ton truck simulator and climbing a rock wall.
At first, many of the spouses were apprehensive about the day’s events, but once they got started their self-conscious thoughts were thrown out the door. They soon realized it wasn’t as easy as the Marines made it look.
“I didn’t think that I was going to be able to make it through the obstacle course,” said Mandy Apple, wife of Gunnery Sgt. Bryan Apple. “But I made it through, and I was really proud of myself.”
Mandy Apple said in the 15 years of being married to a Marine she had never been to a Jane/Johnny Wayne Day and it was a really great experience.
“I think it turned out so well because we have such a tight-knit unit and we’re all so close,” said Mandy Apple.
Some spouses and children raced through the obstacle course with ease while others struggled with some of the events.
“I’ll stick to getting the medical degree, and you can be the Marine,” said Robbi Dixon to her husband, Sgt. James Dixon. “Getting up that rope is a lot harder than it looks.”
Many of the spouses said the day gave them a better appreciation and understanding for what their husbands do.
“It really gave us all some insight that we’ve never had before,” said Mandy Apple. “It’s good for us to be able to see what they actually do at their job to train and stay in shape.”
Not only did the spouses learn something from the event, but the kids also had a good time.
“I got to shoot a gun like my dad,” said Anthony McKinnon, a 5-year old participant in the Jane/Johnny Wayne Day. “The gun was kind of heavy, but it was fun.”
Bryan Apple said the event went very well and they hope to have similar events in the future.