On Saturdays at 8 a.m. most Auburn students are sound asleep, but Saturday, March 30, while many slumbered, a dedicated group of women were just being issued military equipment.
Saturday, March 30, was the first Jane Wayne Day organized by The Mariners, the female auxiliary NROTC program.
Jane Wayne Day's creation at Auburn was almost a challenging one according to Kelly Richardon, Mariners secretary.
Rihardson said Spring semester is a challenging time to reserve space, but this year Mariners were successful, and events took place at the Nichols Center, rugby field and the facilities
Richardson said the group hopes to make Jane Wayne Day an annual event.
Jane Wayne Day is an event that started as a way for military spouses to experience firsthand what a day in the life of their significant others was like.
The event's emphasis was on experiencing the drills and experience of NROTC and ROTC members and making a gesture of solidarity as opposed to increasing understanding between spouses.
"It's a chance to look at what they get to do," Richardson said.
This included being issued military gear and performing standard drills including combat fitness testing, running, a field meet and an obstacle course.
By 7:50 a.m. Marines-for-the-day were outside of the Nichols Center with chipper demeanors and ready for their run to the rugby field and to go through basic formation.
Rachel Suhs, Mariners vice president, said she was surprised by the obvious energy of the participants.
"These are the type of things any Marine Corps regiment would do," Suhs said.
The immersive experience also extended to lunch which was comprised of what the official Jane Wayne Day schedule described as "delicious MRE's," or meals, ready-to-eat.
After lunch and the application of camouflage face paint or cammie paint it was time for the part of the day that inspired the most dread and excitement, the obstacle course.
"It will be a struggle, but it'll be a lot of fun," Richardson said.
Obstacles included Marine Corps staples such as the log wall and up and over bars.
There was also an event unique to Auburn University during Jane Wayne Day, a run through what is affectionately known as the Mundy Trail.
The General Mundy Fitness Trail is a wooded path on the West side of Auburn's campus with pull up bars at its beginning and end with exercise stations along the trail.
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