Weather flight critical to mission success

Published April 12, 2012
By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Sometimes getting too much of a good thing may create more problems than not getting enough - especially when it comes to the weather.

An often unnoticed Air Force Specialty Code is the weather forecaster however, without a "go" from them no aircraft can fly, which means mission failure for Gunfighters.

The mission of the 366th Fighter Wing is to develop and deploy combat ready Airmen, take care of Gunfighters and protect and enhance our resources.

"The weather flight supports the base mission by providing weather support to all wing assets who need it," said Master Sgt. Brian Fjeld, 366th Operation Support Squadron's weather flight chief. "We do this by taking weather observations, issuing forecasts, advisories, watches and warnings from real-time data. This way our customers can make decisions to ensure the safety of our air operations throughout the local area."

Weather flight personnel issue forecasts which assist aircraft and base personnel equally.

"Most of our forecasts support the flying customers directly by providing a product that ensures safety of flight or information to assist ground during exercise missions and real-world emergencies," said Fjeld. "The weather forecasts and advisories also assist in providing base safety for the child development center, pool and golf course."

Anyone who has had a fitness assessment here has received the green light from the weather flight.

"We work constantly with personnel from the fitness center on weather conditions and specifically wind speeds for physical training testing," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hall, 366th OSS noncommissioned officer-in-charge of mission support. "Our equipment and sensors tell us wind speed, lightning distance, cloud height and temperature."

Forecasters use this equipment both at home and abroad.

"Weather flight personnel can be and are deployed to any location world-wide," said Fjeld. "We support missions anywhere there are aircraft flying or operations going on."

They also get the opportunity to work with forecasters from other countries.

"We have worked with Japanese and German forecasters in the past during exercises and, of course, when we deploy to overseas locations we can work directly with host nation forecasters," said Fjeld. "We are always excited at the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners."

Regardless of where they are stationed, weather flight members use specific systems and toolkits to track severe systems.

"We can send and receive information quickly through the Joint Environmental Toolkit which is our main weather dissemination system," said Fjeld. "We use a hub system where a group of weather forecasters from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., produce our watches, warnings, advisories and forecasts.

"Then we take their forecasts, compare it with our local model data and tailor it to the needs of the local mission," he continued. "In this way our customers have the necessary information to make the best decisions possible for personnel and equipment in the event of severe weather conditions."

That kind of weather tends to occur often throughout Idaho.

"We provide accurate wind forecasts to members of the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron to help combat wildfires during the summer," said Fjeld. "They need to know where the fire is and which way the winds are coming from and where the fire could be pushed.

"As far as snowstorms and blizzards," he continued, "we assist the 366th CES in snowstorm and blizzard preparation, when and from where the snow will come and approximately how much will fall to help keep the roads and streets safe for the base population."

Members in this career field also have a unique opportunity as Airmen.

"A lot of people don't know the Air Force is tasked with providing weather forecasting support to the Army as well," said Hall. "I have deployed directly supporting the Army twice. There is also a good chance an Air Force weather forecaster will be stationed at an Army installation."

Regardless of where they are stationed around the globe, Air Force weather forecasters are ready to face any challenge in order to achieve mission success.

"Without us the aircraft cannot fly," said Hall. "I am proud to be one of many exceptional weather forecasters for the Air Force."

Weather flight critical to mission success

Weather flight critical to mission success

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