Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. -- Family members of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment got a chance to experience a day in the life of their loved ones during the battalaion’s Jayne Wayne Day event June 29, 2012.
The guests were shipped out to Range 101 on 7-tons for a day in the desert, learning the ins-and outs of Marine Corps weapons and vehicles.
“We wanted the family members to see a little bit of what their Marines do,” said 1st Lt. Alexander Navia, platoon commander, 2nd platoon, and officer in charge for Jayne Wayne Day. “We don't have these kinds of events that often, so when we do, we want the families to have a good time."
A highlight of the event was when the families got the chance to shoot one of the Marine Corps’ newest weapons, the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, a rifle 2/7 is integrating into their training to use during their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
“We’re one of the only units with the new IAR. It’ll be interesting to see what the families think of it,” Navia said.
The participants also competed in shooting the M4 rifle, a rifle some Marines conduct their annual rifle qualification with.
“This is a really good event for the families to network,” said Jennifer Woods, wife of Sgt. Maj. Michael Woods, battalion sergeant major, 2/7. “It really gives them a chance to get to know one another in the community.”
Guests also got to check out the different weapons systems that the battalion uses on a daily basis and get a feel for the Tube-launched Optically-Tracked Wire command data link guided missile launcher.
The families checked out Humvees and climbed inside a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle.
“All of this stuff gets the families together for a fun day,” Navia said. “It’s an opportunity to know the rest of the people in the 2/7 community before their Marines have to deploy again.”