special operations weather
DESCRIPTION
Special Operations Weather. Maj Charles Cunningham Chief, Ops & Training, Weather Division, AFSOC HQ. Overview. Air Force Weather Architecture History Atmospheric & Environmental Operations Special Operations Weather Capabilities. Air Force Weather Agency Organization Structure. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDAir Commandos – Quiet Professionals
Special Operations Weather
Maj Charles Cunningham
Chief, Ops & Training, Weather Division,
AFSOC HQ
2
Overview
Air Force Weather Architecture
History Atmospheric &
Environmental Operations Special Operations
Weather Capabilities
3
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
4
Operational Weather Squadron Geographic Alignment
5
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)
6
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
7
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
8
Forward Weather Observing
Environmental Reconnaissance (Terrain)
Avalanche / Snow Pack
Limited Data Weather Forecasting
Aviation Weather (FSB/FAARP)
Riverine / Surf Zone
SUAS
9
Atmospheric Operations
Weather Observing
Weather Forecasting
Operational Planning
10
Environmental Operations
Avalanche Forecasting
Riverine Operations
Environmental Reconnaissance
Terrain Reporting
Terrain Reports
11
12
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
13
Summary
Air Force Weather Architecture
History Atmospheric &
Environmental Operations Special Operations
Weather Capabilities
14
Questions?