AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDAir Commandos – Quiet Professionals

Special Operations Weather

Maj Charles Cunningham

Chief, Ops & Training, Weather Division,

AFSOC HQ

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Overview

Air Force Weather Architecture

History Atmospheric &

Environmental Operations Special Operations

Weather Capabilities

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Air Force Weather Agency Organization Structure

14 GSUs

1st Weather Group1st Weather GroupOffutt AFBOffutt AFB

1st Weather Group1st Weather GroupOffutt AFBOffutt AFB

1400 PersonnelAir Force Air Force

Weather AgencyWeather AgencyAir Force Air Force

Weather AgencyWeather Agency

A – StaffA – StaffOffutt AFBOffutt AFBA – StaffA – Staff

Offutt AFBOffutt AFB

25th OWS25th OWSD-M AFB, AZD-M AFB, AZ25th OWS25th OWS

D-M AFB, AZD-M AFB, AZ

26th OWS 26th OWS Barksdale AFB, LABarksdale AFB, LA

26th OWS 26th OWS Barksdale AFB, LABarksdale AFB, LA

15th OWS15th OWSScott AFB, ILScott AFB, IL

15th OWS15th OWSScott AFB, ILScott AFB, IL

2nd WS2nd WSOffutt AFBOffutt AFB2nd WS2nd WS

Offutt AFBOffutt AFB2nd SYOS2nd SYOSOffutt AFBOffutt AFB2nd SYOS2nd SYOSOffutt AFBOffutt AFB

2nd Weather Group2nd Weather GroupOffutt AFBOffutt AFB

2nd Weather Group2nd Weather GroupOffutt AFBOffutt AFB

14th WS14th WSAsheville, NCAsheville, NC

14th WS14th WSAsheville, NCAsheville, NC

AF CombatAF CombatWeather CenterWeather CenterHurlburt Fld, FLHurlburt Fld, FL

AF CombatAF CombatWeather CenterWeather CenterHurlburt Fld, FLHurlburt Fld, FL

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Operational Weather Squadron Geographic Alignment

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AFSOC Weather ForcesOrganization

AD ManpowerAD ManpowerOFF ENL CIV TOTOFF ENL CIV TOT

19 158 3 180

OL-CFt Benning

(1/1/0)

DET 2Ft Campbell

(2/12/0)

OL-BFt Carson

(1/1/0)

OL-AFt Lewis(1/1/0)

OL-DFt Bragg

(1/1/0)

OL-AHunter AAF

(0/2/0)

352 OSS(1/7/0)

353 SOGKadena AB

320 STS (0/4/0)

720 OSS(0/5/0)

10 CWS(2/31/0)

24 STSPope AFB (0/14/0)

352 SOGRAF Mildenhall

352 OSS(1/9/0)

321 STS (0/4/0)

1 SOWHurlburt Field

1 SOSS(3/17/1)

ANG

181 WFFt Worth, TX

(4/14/0)

107 WFSelfridge MI

(4/14/0)

123 STSLouisville, KY

(0/6/0)

125 STSPortland, OR

(0/5/0)

146 WFCorapolis, PA

(3/11/0)

A31/A3W(4/3/1)

623 AOC(0/1/0)

“Slick” Wx

SOWT

27 SOSS(1/12/1)

27 SOWCannon AFB

3 SOSNellis AFB

(0/6/0)

720 STGHurlburt Field

AFSOC

DET 1Cannon AFB

(0/2/0)

OL-ACreech AFB

(0/2/0)

23 WS(2/22/7)

24 SOWHurlburt Field

OL-EDuke FLD

(1/1/0)

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WWII and the Office of Strategic Services OSS trained 36 volunteers from the 19th WS: parachuting, close

quarters combat, escape and evasion, advanced weapons Six 3-man teams parachuted into Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia SOWT predecessors operated with OSS in China-Burma-India

theater Southeast Asia: Capt Keith Grimes

Provided forward air controller training to Laotians at remote outposts; told Ambassador William Sullivan: I can establish wx data network Trained and advised over 1000 Laotians to collect and transmit

weather observations from remote jungle areas Established 29 “Lima” sites across mountainous/jungle terrain

Similar networks established in Thailand, Cambodia, South Vietnam Son Tay Raid

Historical

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Operation Enduring Freedom Collected first in weather and environmental data SOWT and sensors established largest, most robust weather

network since early 1960s Laos Operation Iraqi Freedom

SOWT inside Iraq before open hostilities; some of the first in Iraq Expanded on successes of OEF; even more forward-deployed

SOWT and sensors, helped opened numerous airfields across Iraq 20,000+ forward weather observations in OEF (2009) Tactical environmental reports steered 12 HA/CA projects valued at over

$30M During 2009 10th CWS SOWT conducted ~280 combat recon patrols;

70+ TICs; 55-60x EKIA Since early 2007, SOWT have collected/produced 345 TERREPs

Recent Operations

SOWT Mission Areas

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Forward Weather Observing

Environmental Reconnaissance (Terrain)

Avalanche / Snow Pack

Limited Data Weather Forecasting

Aviation Weather (FSB/FAARP)

Riverine / Surf Zone

SUAS

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Atmospheric Operations

Weather Observing

Weather Forecasting

Operational Planning

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Environmental Operations

Avalanche Forecasting

Riverine Operations

Environmental Reconnaissance

Terrain Reporting

Terrain Reports

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SOWT Tactical Capabilities

Support both time-sensitive and longer-term, sustained ops Critical determination for aviation operations: CAS,

Infiltration, and MedEvac M4, M9, Mk19, Mk47, M249, M2 weapons qualifications Battlefield trauma care Fixed wing low/high altitude parachute insertion Rotary wing insertion (fast rope, helo-cast) Communications (SAT, UHF, VHF, FM) Tactical pilot to metro service Breaching / Demolition Close quarters battle Small boat operations Small UAV systems with RSTA kit

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Summary

Air Force Weather Architecture

History Atmospheric &

Environmental Operations Special Operations

Weather Capabilities

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Questions?