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    403rd Wing gains additional weather mission

    403rd Wing gains additional weather mission

    Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Senior Airman De Andre Davis, 12th Operational Weather Flight forecaster, works on the...... read more read more

    KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MS, UNITED STATES

    10.24.2017

    Story by Maj. Marnee Losurdo 

    403rd Wing

    KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- In an effort to streamline the weather missions in the Air Force Reserve Command, the 403rd Wing gained the 12th Operational Weather Flight, which is located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

    The unit supports the 15th Operational Weather Squadron at Scott AFB, which monitors weather observations, forecasting and aircrew briefings for the Midwestern and Eastern United States. It also provides presidential support for the East Coast Air Defense System and supports U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Transportation Command.

    AFRC has three weather units, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters here, the 5th Operational Weather Flight at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and the 12th Operational Weather Flight, which was aligned under the 932nd Wing at Scott AFB.

    “In recent years we’ve seen increased demand for reserve weather operators from the Air Force. As a career field we’ve had to take a hard look at how best to optimize our resources to meet the needs of the Air Force,” said Maj. Chris Dyke, 403rd Operations Group Weather Standards and Evaluations officer.

    The 5th OWF supports the 28th Operational Weather Squadron, which provides weather information to all branches of the U.S. military and coalition partners deployed to the United States Central Command area of responsibility.

    In addition to these two flights, the 403rd Wing is also known for its weather mission with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters, which flies through tropical storms and hurricanes to gather weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts.

    “This consolidation will make us more efficient as a weather community, especially since our sister squadron, the 5th OWF is assigned to this wing,” said Master Sgt. Kelly Lawless, 12th OWF weather flight manager.

    Lawless expressed her enthusiasm for the move to further streamline the Air Force Reserve weather mission.

    “We are excited to be part of the 403rd Wing and to be aligned with the other Air Force Reserve Command weather missions,” said Lawless.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.24.2017
    Date Posted: 10.31.2017 14:53
    Story ID: 253611
    Location: KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MS, US

    Web Views: 52
    Downloads: 0

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