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Military families and children encompass an integral support
system for Marines and sailors. Children of service member's
assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 participated in Junior Recruit
Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2016.
Junior Recruit Day allowed the children to get a first-hand look
at what their military parents' experience on a daily basis.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Miguel Rivera, communication navigation technician
with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, instructs children of
service member's assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 to do push-ups
during Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,
Japan, April 8, 2016. Junior Recruit Day allowed the children to get
a first-hand look at what their military parent's experiences on a
daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio)
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“It allows the children an opportunity to see what their parents
went through and be a part of it,” said Col. Daniel L.Shipley,
MAG-12 commanding officer. “It makes them proud of the Marine Corps.
What you see here is a chance for them to bond with their friends
and do something fun and exciting that they'll be proud of for the
rest of their lives.”
The children began the day at the squad bay
inside Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 where they were greeted by
former drill instructors. The drill instructors ordered participants
to create a formation symbolizing the first day at recruit training.
For one Marine, this was an opportunity to help enlighten the
children about some their parents' hardships.
“The reason why I volunteered as a drill instructor is because I
think it's important for the children to understand the scarifies
their parents had to make to be where they are today,” said Cpl.
Miguel Rivera, communication navigation technician with Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 12. “This gives them that exposure to
help appreciate what their parents do every day.”
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Marine Corps Sgt. Isaac Ross, aircraft rescue firefighter with
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, helps a child with the fire
hose during Junior Recruit Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,
Japan, April 8, 2016. Junior Recruit Day allowed the children of
service member's assigned Marine Aircraft Group 12 to get a
first-hand look at what their military parent's experiences on a
daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio)
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To help enhance their experience, children witnessed a Marine
Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration, ran through an inflatable
obstacle course, saw a Provost Marshal's Office K-9 demonstration,
witnessed Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Aircraft Rescue
Firefighting capabilities, fired simulated weapons inside the Indoor
Small-Arms Range, and flew in a flight simulator.
Although the children went through one day of recruit training,
Rivera said he saw a change in the children. “There was a
small transformation from when they got here to when they left,”
said Rivera. “When the kids got here, they didn't know what it was
like to get in a formation. When you put in the work for someone,
whether it's a recruit, a Marine or a child, and give them that
mentorship that they need to progress, they will progress.”
After their first-hand look into the military lifestyle, children
received graduation certificates from their drill instructors.
Without the support from the various units and Marines, the children
could have not had such a rich experience, according to Shipley.
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Marine Corps Cpl. Miguel Rivera, communication navigation technician
with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, poses with Hayden Carr
and Andrew Carr during their graduation of Junior Recruit Day at
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2016. Junior
Recruit Day allowed children of service member's assigned to Marine
Aircraft Group 12 to get a first-hand look at what their military
parents' experiences on a daily basis. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by
Sgt. Antonio J. Rubio)
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“I'm impressed with how much the Marines are involved,
from the drill instructors to the martial arts instructors,
it makes me very proud that they're taking this seriously
and taking time to be with these kids and teach them. It
just says a lot about the Marines and the spirit we have
here,” said Shipley.
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Antonio Rubio
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
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