March 25, 2011 at 12:34pm
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- When the newest member of Team McChord was asked what was the best part of his Pilot for a Day experience, his response was "the explosion."
The 4th Airlift Squadron hosted Pilot for a Day, 14-year-old, Josh Loux, March 18.
"These types of events are fun," said Capt. Raegan McDowell, 4th AS pilot and Pilot for a Day coordinator. "We strive to make this a special day for Josh and his family, and look forward to showing him 'Airlift Excellence' first hand."
Pilot for a Day is an Air Force program that enables challenged youth a chance to visit an Air Force squadron, becoming part of the team in the process. The participants are usually selected through a partnership with a community hospital or foster program.
Josh was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults.
Joined by his mother, father, brother, sister and two friends, the group started the day with an explosive ordnance disposal demonstration.
"You want me to yell loud? Really loud? Really, really loud?" said Josh. "Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole!"
The group also got a chance to tour the fire station, sit in the pilot seat of a C-17 Globemaster III and "fly" in an aircraft simulator.
The Gig Harbor, Wash., teen is home schooled and his family is part of the Harper Christian Home School Co-op.
"We are very grateful to the kids and families of the Co-op," said Mrs. Deedee Loux, Josh's mother. "Everyone has treated him like any other kid."
Josh's friends, Mac and Cole, also had a good time touring McChord Field, playing foosball in the 4th AS Heritage room and laughing together.
"Josh was very appreciative, he had lots of fun," said Captain McDowell.
22nd Special Tactics Squadron, 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron, 361st Recruiting Squadron, 446th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, 62nd Maintenance Group, 62nd Medical Squadron, 62nd Mission Support Group, 62nd Operations Group, 728th Airlift Squadron, Afghanistan, Air Mobility Command, Air Rodeo, Awards, Ceremony, Contest, Defense News, Dependent, Deployment, Education, Environment, Family Readiness, Food and Drink, Furlough, Health, History, Holidays, Honors, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lacey, Lakewood, Madigan, McChord Air Museum, McChord Base Exchange, McChord Commissary, Memorial, Military Discount, Military Policy, News To Us, Olympia, Space-A Travel, Sports, Tacoma, Training, U.S. Air Force, USO, Veterans, Web/Tech, Weekly Volcano, Western Air Defense Sector
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