A U.S. Air Force Reserve crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” flies through Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 27, 2025. The video, taken by Lt. Col. Mark Withee, a navigator with the 53rd WRS, shows the crew making multiple passes through the storm to collect critical weather data for the National Hurricane Center. (U.S. Air Force video by Lt. Col. Mark Withee)
The Air Force Reserve’s “Hurricane Hunters” have faced countless storms over the years, but in late August 2005, as the Gulf of Mexico churned beneath them, Lt. Col. Sean Cross sensed that this one would be different. Hurricane Katrina was coming for the Gulf Coast.
Most pilots are trained to avoid storms, but the pilots of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are the only ones in the Department of Defense whose job is to fly through them.
The Air Force Reserve’s 403rd Wing sent 48 Airmen from the 815th Airlift Squadron “Flying Jennies” and 803rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center, Aug. 2–16, for Northern Strike 25-2, the National Guard Bureau’s largest multi-component, multi-national exercise.
For Airmen separating from active duty, the next step isn’t always clear. One in-service recruiter at Keesler Air Force Base is helping members explore a path that keeps them in uniform—but on their own terms.
