Youngstown swears in newest Pilot for a Day Published June 26, 2015 By Eric M. White 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Twelve-year-old Ethan Hoffman of Howland was sworn in as an honorary second lieutenant June 24, joining 61 other children who participated in the 910th Airlift Wing’s Pilot for a Day Program. Children with life-threatening or chronic illnesses have come to Youngstown Air Reserve Station since 2000 for a day of star treatment under the Pilot for a Day Program. When Ethan was four years old, he was diagnosed with Bartter Syndrome, a rare and incurable kidney disorder. As a newborn, Ethan struggled to eat, refusing feedings or spitting up what he ingested. Yet Ethan passed several tests, indicating healthy infant progression. It wasn’t until age four that doctors were able to diagnose Ethan’s condition. “I didn’t care what the test results showed. I knew it wasn’t normal reflux, diaper changes or feeding problems,” said Lilia Hoffman, Ethan’s mom. “He was suffering from something, but no one could figure it out.” According to an Akron Children’s Hospital article on Ethan’s condition, “a person with Bartter syndrome loses excess amounts of salt in their urine, which leads to dehydration, constipation and increased urine production.” Since his diagnosis, Ethan has been on several medications, a special diet and frequent therapy sessions. Despite Bartter Syndrome, Ethan is an active, curious and energetic person, his parents said. He brought his enthusiasm to Youngstown and let everyone know he was ready for the day as he stepped out of the changing room in his Air Force flight suit, complete with a custom name badge and unit patches. After donning his uniform, Ethan was escorted in a Marine Corps Humvee to the 910th AW headquarters by Gunnery Sgt. Michael Hendricks, maintenance chief with the Marine Corps Reserve Center here. Once there, Col. Bill Phillips, 910th Operations Group commander, administered the oath of enlistment to swear Ethan in as an honorary second lieutenant. Marty Campa, a representative from the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council, which funds the Pilot for a Day program, presented Ethan with a 1/100th scale C-130H Hercules aircraft model, complete with a Youngstown tail emblem and Ethan’s name inscribed above the aircrew door. Capt. Shannon Baker, a navigator with the 757th Airlift Squadron and Ethan’s official escort for the day, took Ethan and his entourage to the life support equipment maintenance facility. Accompanying Ethan were his parents, Lilia and Daniel Hoffman, and his grandfather Tom Hoffman, a former Airmen and retired member of the 910th AW. Parachute riggers from the 910th AW and the 179th AW visiting for training from Mansfield, Ohio, showed Ethan how to pack parachutes for aircrew members. Ethan said the highlight of his day was sitting in the crew chief’s seat of a C-130 as the aircrew taxied down the runway. During his taxi, with his parents sitting just behind him, Ethan wore a headset to listen in on radio calls between the aircrew and the FAA tower. Later in the afternoon, Ethan visited the 910th Airlift Wing Civil Engineer Fire Department, which presented him with a large remote controlled fire truck and unit patch. 910th firefighters gave a tour of their facility and equipment and took Ethan and his mom on a ride in one of their crash rescue trucks. Ethan took control of the water turret, spraying a mock aircraft in the firefighter training area. The last part of Ethan’s day was a ride in a security forces patrol car with Staff Sgt. Michael Prince, a fire team member here. Prince demonstrated security forces equipment and let Ethan conduct a traffic stop, pulling over the van carrying his father. As Ethan’s day concluded outside the visitor center and recruiting facility here, his 757th navigator escort presented a parting gift. Baker shook Ethan’s hand, slipping him a 757th Airlift Squadron challenge coin before rendering a final salute and farewell hug. During lunch at the Community Activity Center here, while hearing about the afternoon’s activities, Ethan said, “this is the best day ever.” Mission accomplished for the 910th AW.