As a young captain in his first C-17 Globemaster III flying squadron, Lt. Col. Rodney Lewis was exposed to a program that involved both being a pilot and sponsoring children who were fighting for their lives.
He was so touched by what he witnessed that he decided that if he ever had the opportunity to command a flying squadron he wanted to present the program to his fellow airmen to see if they wanted to support such an initiative.
"At the end of the day, this program brings joy to a child that may never have the opportunity to experience spending the day in a C-17 squadron," he said. "As Air Force members we sometimes take for granted how unique and fun our jobs are. Programs such as this allow us to recapture the pure essence of enjoying aviation by loading and flying airplanes."
Lewis, the 4th Airlift Squadron commander at JBLM-McChord Field, is referring to a program called Pilot for a Day. Started in December 1994 by Capt. Rory "Ox" Blackburn - who was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas - the program enables children with serious or chronic illnesses to be a pilot for a day. When Lewis announced that he wanted to start the program, the local Air Force Association chapter immediately embraced the idea.
"We are fortunate here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord because the level of effort is shared among our Air Force Association community partners," Lewis said. "They provide the funding and selection process while the 4th AS provides the execution of the program."
When his squadron decided it wanted to support the program, Lewis' only direction was to make sure it put the children first and make each one feel special, he said.
"We want to build a first-class program with local resources that support local children," Lewis said. "One of our five squadron goals is to support our community partners. By supporting our local community we are better able to tell our Air Force story - that we are your sons, daughters and neighbors, and we care about our community."
The PFAD program is at the grass-roots level of the Air Force mission because you can put a name and face to the child and their parents, he said.
"These are people who live, work and play with my children and your children...because they are a part of our community," Lewis said.
The children will be identified through Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma or the Seattle Children's Hospital. During the event, they will be given a flight suit complete with patches and a nametag so they look just like a pilot, said Tommy Carson, president of the local chapter of the AFA.
The day will include a briefing of the day's events, a tour of the base, lunch with the AFA chapter (during which they will sit next to the president and help run the meeting), an official debrief before going out to the flightline and a chance to sit in the cockpit of a C-17 and have their photograph taken.
The highlight of the day will be when they get to go to the C-17 flight simulator and play around, Carson said.
The day will conclude with a pizza party that includes family and friends and a presentation where the children will receive the photographs, awards, a model of a C-17 and induction as an honorary member of the 4th Airlift Squadron.
"We are going to make this child's every dream come true and do our best to make it the best day of his or her life," Carson said. "My vision - not so much as president of AFA - but as a human being is if we get a large amount of children that want this opportunity, then why not try to do more?"
Currently, Lewis's squadron is coordinating with local and base agencies that want to support the program. The cost is approximately $500 per child.
"Our shared AFA and 4th AS goal is that the Pilot for a Day program will be funded for many years with the 4th AS supporting a first-class program for children," Lewis said.
"This may be the only opportunity for these children to see what we do daily in an Air Force operational flying squadron."
The hope is to host the first Pilot for a Day child and their family on May 11 to coincide with the monthly AFA meeting. Once the program launches, the AFA and 4th AS will sponsor a minimum of one child per month with hopes of expanding the program, Lewis said.
"As this is a shared commitment, at some level the PFAD program will impact the entire squadron," the lieutenant colonel said. "The Pilot for a Day program is important because it allows individuals with compassion and resources the ability to make a positive impact, one child at a time. I have seen the joy this program bringing to child and I want as many people as possible to experience that same joy."
For more information about contributing to the program, e-mail Tommy.Carson@us.army.mil.