3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Family readiness officers with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16 host Junior Jarhead Day aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, June 6.

Children of service members learn what it’s like to be a Marine.

The children were split into platoons and participated in multiple activities. They were introduced to drill instructors, conducted physical training, learned about weapons, watched a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program presentation, met military working dogs, and toured an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting fire truck and sprayed the hose.

“It’s a great opportunity for kids to really experience what their parents do within MAG-16,” said Randall Cobb, a family readiness officer for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 465.

The children moved to different stations throughout the day. The children began by playing “Sergeant Says,” also known as “Simons Says,” racing through a small obstacle course consisting of jumping jacks, pushups, jumping over hurdles, crawling across bubble wrap under tarps and throwing bean bags into a target area simulating a combat fitness test.
Children toured an MV-22B Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion. Marines also showed them Meals, Ready-to-Eat and let children sample the food. More than 100 Marines volunteered to lead the children, work different stations and present the demonstrations.

“[The kids] make you appreciate why you joined the military,” said Cpl. Reginald McRae, an aviation supply specialist with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 16 and a volunteer at the event. “You know you’re protecting them from danger and to see them happy and running around, this is what we do, we protect the kids. I can’t even explain it, it’s a good feeling.”

The event also included parenting resources to help parents deal with deployments and everyday life in the military.

This is the fourth summer MAG-16 has held the event. The event took four months to plan. The event was a success because the hard work of the FROs and Marines who volunteered.