425th FS hosts pilot-for-a-day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Running his fingers gently over the buttons in the cockpit, the young pilot takes in the view from where some of his new colleagues of the 425th Fighter Squadron may consider their office. 

Rafael "Ratchet" Rivera, 9, who was inducted into the 425th FS as their newest pilot-for-a-day, was accompanied by his father, Rafael; mother, Doris and sister, Gerardina. Maj. Nathan Litz, 425th FS assistant director of operations, was their guide. 

"We are very honored and happy to be here," Mr. Rivera said. "It's probably a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him, unless he becomes a pilot," the native of Hondura joked. "It's even better than we had thought." 

Upon arrival to Luke Air Force Base, the Rivera family was ushered to the squadron and young Rafael was fitted with his own flight suit and given a call sign. With family in tow, Major Litz wheeled Ratchet around to explain the inner workings of each section, such as the briefing room, the operations desk and the many aspects of life support section. 

After a brief break while Gerardina administered her brother's insulin, Major Litz led the procession to the hangar to view the F-16 Fighting Falcon dedicated to Ratchet. 

Awestruck and filled with excitement, he listened intently and ratcheted off questions as Major Litz wheeled him around and explained the various functions of the jet. After the ground tour, Major Litz and Mr. Rivera lifted Ratchet into the aircraft, prompting a paparazzi-like frenzy as family and squadron members jockeyed to take photos of the memorable moment. 

The Rivera family had a feeling the trip to Luke would be nice, but were taken aback by the many things presented by Lt. Col. Jeff Schroeder, 425th FS commander, and other squadron members, to include memorabilia ranging from Singaporean Air Force buttons, pins, a 425th Black Widow hat, 56th Operations Group pilot scarf and a book documenting 40 years of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. 

Born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Ratchet was like any other healthy young boy, running and playing. The family moved to the United States and became citizens in 2005. They returned to Honduras three years ago to make final arrangements before residing in the states permanently. On the trip Rafael contracted a fungal infection in his spine. 

Months later, while visiting family in Arizona, Ratchet contracted meningitis and was taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where he was an inpatient for eight months. Upon discharge from the hospital, he was still walking on his own. 

"He walked out of Phoenix Children's Hospital, but the damages on the spinal cord kept progressing, even though everything was under control," Mr. Rivera said. "The scar tissue kept growing, damaging his spinal cord even more, until he could not walk." 

The infection also created many other health problems for Ratchet. Besides the meningitis, he also had pancreatitis due to his fungal infection medication, causing him to develop diabetes and high blood pressure, Mr. Rivera said. 

While the symptoms are currently under control, his family hopes some of the damages to his spinal cord are reversible. 

"There is some damage that cannot be reversed, but the doctors and therapist are trying," Mr. Rivera said. "He is in a very intense physical therapy program and it may take many months before he can walk again. He's had four surgeries and is doing better and progressing." 

For Major Litz, to show the mixture of the Singapore and American cultures to Ratchet and his family was an honor. 

"For our squadron it's really cool because the Singaporeans are very generous people -- giving is very big in their culture," he said. "They really enjoy doing anything that is community oriented and supports children such as the pilot-for-a-day program. 

Squadron members don't have the opportunity to do the same back home because of security issues and other concerns that are unique to Singapore." 

The Rivera family has had few exposures to the U.S. military, and what they saw from Luke Airmen on the flightline, end-of-runway, radar approach, control tower and all the way up to General Neubauer impressed them, Major Litz noted. 

"I think it was a great opportunity to showcase the base," he said. "The Rivera's got a nice feel for what the U.S. military is about besides what they read in the news." 

Honorary pilot-for-a-day, Ratchet, marked the day as one of the biggest accomplishments in his life. 

"I've really had a great time today; my favorite part was the simulator because I felt like I was in a real plane," he said. "This is fourth best time of my life. First is reserved for when I walk again. Second was when I was discharged from the Phoenix Children's Hospital after being there eight months and third is being born in Honduras."