MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.- --
Families braved challenges their Marines face during Warrior
Day at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Oct. 30.
Marines with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 hosted a
family day, where families participated in training their Marines partake in daily.
Family members had the opportunity to fire on a simulated assault rifle and
pistol range, use night vision equipment, compete in a combat fitness test,
receive a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program class and brave the obstacle
course.
“A lot of families do not understand the role that their
Marine plays in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and the level of support they supply
to the rest of the Marine Corps,” explained Alesha Burkeen, the family
readiness officer with the squadron. “The idea is to bring all of the families
together and show them what their Marine does at work each day. It gives them a
greater appreciation for what they do and it allows them to better support
their Marines by understanding what challenges they face.”
MWHS-2 is made up of a vast diversity of Marines, explained
Burkeen. The squadron is comprised of band members, administration specialist,
communications specialist, intelligence specialist and many more. Each Marine
plays a key role in the squadrons support capabilities to 2nd MAW.
“The event gave Marines a new appreciation for how important
the work they do really is,” said Sgt. Nathan Johnson, a trumpet player with
the 2nd MAW band. “We always look at
each other and tend to forget how far we have come because of the training we
go through. Having people come out and try to do things we refer to as routine
shows us that what we have grown accustomed to is actually more challenging
than we may think.”
As family members tested their endurance through the
physical challenges, they learned how every event was tied to their Marines
contribution and readiness. They were shown and handled gear Marines use and
learned how using it helps keep them safe while ensuring they have the tools to
accomplish their mission.
According to Burkeen, Warrior Day gives families the
opportunity to build stronger bonds with both the squadron and families within
it. Families can rely on one another while their service members are away and
allow their Marines to focus on their mission while resting assured that their
loved ones have an understanding of their role in their squadron.