MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 held its first Jane Wayne Day here June 25 to give Marine spouses and dependents a hands-on experience of Marine training.
More than 20 MALS-13 spouses and their families spent the day learning and doing what Marines do, from sparring with Marine Corps martial arts to shooting weapons on an indoor simulator.
Units here host Jane Wayne Days to promote camaraderie between the spouses and to help them better understand the Corps lifestyle their Marines are a part of.
“The purpose is to let the spouses come and experience what their active duty Marines go through,” said Gunnery Sgt. Larry Leaver, MALS-13 family readiness officer. “We want them to come out and have fun and enjoy themselves.”
Transported via 7-ton trucks, the spouses began the day learning about the various weapons Marines use, such as the M16-A2 service rifle and the AT-4 rocket launcher.
After firing virtual rounds down screen, the families were transported to a remote airfield to witness vertical landing and take-off demonstrations from two AV-8B Harriers.
Unfortunately, the Harriers were called away to fly a mission, but that didn’t lessen the enjoyment of the spouses chowing down on Meals, Ready-To-Eat.
Spouses also felt the stress of Marine Corps training when they ran part of the combat fitness test and attempted the obstacle course. With the encouragement of their Marines, the spouses tested themselves against Corps standards.
“The CFT tested my endurance,” said Kaitlyn Clarke, MALS-13 daughter. “I also realized my dad can do it better than me. The things we watched them do we take for granted. We learn to appreciate it because we couldn’t do it alone.”
Toward the end of the afternoon, families were able to fly, and sometimes crash, a Harrier using the Harrier flight simulator. The day ended at the MALS-13 Headquarters building, where spouses parted ways and left for home wiser to what commonly occurs to their Marines.
“It gave me perspective on what my husband is talking about,” said Patricia Yokomizo, MALS-13 spouse. “Sometimes I don’t know what he’s referring to, so Jane Wayne Day was a great learning experience for me and the other girls.”