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Special child participates in first 'Missileer for a Day' tour

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lisa Meiman
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
Two special local children got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to launch ICBM missiles from Warren June 11. 

Or they would have, had their key-turn sequence not been simulated. 

Ariana Ruskey-Moffett, her younger brother, Avery, and their parents visited Warren to participate in the base's first Missileer for a Day program where sick or disabled children learn about what it's like to be a missileer and in the Air Force. 

"I've learned a little about being a missileer," said Ariana, a 9-year-old cancer survivor. "I've enjoyed myself a lot." 

The children receive a personalized tour of the base and its primary mission from a missileer that acts as their tour guide. 

"More or less, it lets them experience Warren," said 1st Lt. Shaen Gutzman, 320th Missile Squadron, who served as tour guide for the Ruskey-Moffett family. 

The tour began in the operations building where the children were given their own flight suits complete with patches and name badges, a short brief about the missileer mission and a personal welcome from the former 320th MS commander, Lt. Col. Jeff Smith. 

Afterwards, the children toured the missile procedure trainer where they were able to complete a countdown checklist to a launch, including an actual key-turn. 

"We pretended to launch rockets," Ariana said. 

Then the family traveled to the 37th Helicopter Squadron and climbed into the seats of the UH-1N Iroquois helicopter. After a quick stop for lunch at the Chadwell Dining Facility, the family experienced a military working dogs demonstration and a tour of the uniform-01 missile maintenance training facility. At U-01, security forces also parked a Humvee nearby for the children to explore. 

"My favorite part was the helicopter. I turned some knobs and pretended to fly," said Avery, Ariana's 6-year-old brother. 

"It's fun to see them get excited," said Lieutenant Gutzman. 

Ariana, Avery and their parents departed the base with a little more knowledge about Warren and the Air Force and unforgettable memories of their day as a missileer. 

"Hopefully, there will be more in the future," Lieutenant Gutzman said. 

Warren began the program in late 2006 by sending information about the Missileer for a Day program to agencies like the Make-a-Wish foundation. Those agencies then passed on the information to families in the local area. Interested families contacted the agency and were connected to the 90th Space Wing public affairs office for details and an itinerary.