36AS Pilot for a Day

Maj. Frank Zientek, 36th Airlift Squadron chief pilot, greets Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, prior to making DeGrella an honorary the Pilot for a Day, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The 36th Airlift Squadron recently rebooted the Pilot for a Day program to inspire the next generation to consider pursuing careers in the world of aviation. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, poses for a photo after changing into a flight suit with his very own name tapes during the 36th Airlift Squadron’s Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, learns how each office contributes to the overall mission of the 36th Airlift Squadron from Master Sgt. Michael McArty, 36 AS C-130J Super Hercules instructor loadmaster, during the Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The day included a full tour of the squadron, a mission brief, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and culminated in a C-130J Super Hercules flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, is given a mission brief by 1st Lt. Christopher Gullo, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, during the Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, 36th Airlift Squadron's pilot for a day program participant, tries on an oxygen mask in the aircrew flight equipment office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 20, 2019. As part of the experience, DeGrella also tried on a pilot’s helmet, night vision goggles and a survival vest used by our very own C-130J Super Hercules aircrew. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, watches from afar as the pre-flight checklist is completed for the C-130J Super Hercules that he will fly on as part of the 36th Airlift Squadron’s Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The day included a full tour of the squadron, a mission brief, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and culminated in a C-130J Super Hercules flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Capt. Sean Boyington, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules instructor pilot, talks to Joey DeGrella, Pilot for a Day participant, while operating a C-130J Super Hercules flight over the Pacific Ocean of the eastern coast of Japan, Sept. 20, 2019. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Aircrew of a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron and Joey DeGrella, Pilot for a Day program participant, fly over the Chubu region, Japan, Sept. 20, 2019. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron flies over the Chubu region, Japan, Sept. 20, 2019. The 36th Airlift Squadron recently rebooted the Pilot for a Day program to inspire the next generation to consider pursuing careers in the world of aviation. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Capt. Sean Boyington, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules instructor pilot, talks to Joey DeGrella, Pilot for a Day participant, while flying over the Pacific Ocean of the eastern coast of Japan, Sept. 20, 2019. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, looks out over the flightline after a C-130J Super Hercules flight during the 36th Airlift Squadron’s Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The day included a full tour of the squadron, a mission brief, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and culminated in a C-130J Super Hercules flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Master Sgt. Michael McArty, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules instructor loadmaster, explains the controls of a C-130J Super Hercules cockpit to Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, who was selected as the Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, poses for a photo in front of a C-130J Super Hercules during the 36th Airlift Squadron’s Pilot for a Day program, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In being selected Pilot for a Day, DeGrella was given the opportunity to experience life as a 36 AS's pilot from mission briefings, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and even a flight in a C-130J Super Hercules, the 36 AS went to great lengths to inspire the next generation of aviators. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)

Joey DeGrella, Yokota High School senior and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. class commander, thanks all the 36th Airlift Squadron’s personnel involved in the Pilot for a Day, Sept. 20, 2019, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The day included a full tour of the squadron, a mission brief, aircrew flight equipment familiarization and culminated in a C-130J Super Hercules flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Machiko Arita)