The challenge Christian Ball confronts daily is to perform the ordinary under far from ordinary conditions. 

His life is measured by having the strength and willpower to keep moving forward despite adversity.

That said, his goal is to become a pilot.

"All he said is that he just wanted to walk on a C-17," Bill Britt, a retired civil service employee, said as we stood just inside the front door of Coinforce.com.

"That's all he asked for."

That's not too much to ask for a guy who has faced, and continues to face, some of life's toughest challenges.

Suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), Ball was born at 23 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces.

Individuals with FAS might have abnormal facial features, growth problems and central nervous system problems.  Learning problems, memory, attention span, communication, vision or hearing problems.

"He had four surgeries on his eyes this last year," Cathy Ball, his grandmother and parent, said.  

"He's had eye issues since birth."

Ball paused for a moment and then added, "He's wanted to be a pilot for as far back as I can remember."

Through Britt's efforts, the 4th Airlift Squadron - which has for several years hosted the "Pilot For A Day" Program - invited Ball to spend last Thursday with them. The Pilot for a Day program was created by the McChord Chapter of the Air Force Association.

The night before, the flight crew had taken Ball and his grandmother out to dinner.

"I volunteered to do this," explained Capt. Marc Meier, a pilot with the squadron.

"We want to give back to this community, and we pride ourselves on this here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord."

While serving as a pilot for the day, Ball toured the airfield, visited the control tower, the fire department, worked with airmen assigned to an explosive ordinance disposal detail and flew a C-17 in a simulator.

Nearby, Ball looked at the hundreds of coins lining the walls at Coinforce.com.  Owners Donna and Jordan Haines made him feel welcome.

"I'm different," Ball, who will be a junior at Bethel High School, quietly told me as we looked over the coins.  

"I'm small and skinny."

He said that he likes history, doesn't like math and has a good vocabulary but doesn't talk a lot.

"I'm a bit introverted," he added.

That was about to change, and SSgt. Joshua Sowells, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, was the reason for it.

"We're going to make him ‘Army,'" he said with a smile as he and his fellow soldiers stood outside their Stryker.

After Sowells presented Ball with a regimental pin, Pfc. Kenneth Stubb took Ball for a tour through the vehicle.

The driver's seat of the Stryker fascinated Ball, and he clearly enjoyed controlling the .50 caliber machine gun.

The soldiers clearly enjoyed talking with Ball, and he began to loosen up.

After a short trip across McChord Field, Ball met Senior Airman Christopher Benefield, 627th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and took the controls of a F6 Robot.

Like any teenager, Ball quickly caught on to the technology and soon guided the robot to pick up a simulated grenade.

His smile at controlling the robot was infectious.

His grandmother beamed with pride.

"Today is overwhelming; it is a blessing," she said as she wiped away tears."

"He is a fighter; he has never given up."

Christian Ball is also a hero - he performs the ordinary under far from ordinary conditions every day.