HomeAll NewsCombat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!
120307-F-JO436-385 Members of Air Force Special Operations weather teams participate in a training scenario on a CH-47 Chinook during Emerald Warrior at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on March 7, 2012. The primary purpose of Emerald Warrior is to exercise special operations components in urban and irregular warfare settings to support combatant commanders in theater campaigns. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster, U.S. Air Force. (Released)
Combat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!
Weather forecasting and scientifically studying the atmosphere can be tricky. Meteorologists on television get paid $100 grand per year and they don’t even have to be right! However, combat meteorology is far different.
Accurate weather observations in hostile, unknown enemy territory are critical to mission strategy and success and the United States military has the world’s best combat meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Weather Team!
Combat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!
SOWT (sow-tee) are an elite unit who gather, assess and interpret environmental & terrain data and forecast the operational impacts.
These Air Commando Weathermen undergo 8-months of grueling training and only a few make the final cut.
Five U.S. Airmen assigned to the 107th Special Operations Weather Team (SWOT) perform a parachute jump from a C-130 Hercules aircraft, not pictured, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Sept. 17, 2012. The purpose of the jump was for SWOT Airmen to maintain proficiency in the skills needed for special operations missions. (DoD photo by Brittani Baisden, U.S. Air Force/Released)
From new recruit to SOWT:
Basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. 30 weeks Air Force Weather Course at Keesler AFB in Missouri. Jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Survival school & hand-to-hand combat at Fairchild AFB, Washington. The intense Journeyman Apprentice Course at Pope Field, NC, then you’re finally assigned to a Squadron.
Look out for the pewter grey berets and SOWT beret flash. Military lives often depend on knowing the weather.
U.S. Air Force Special Operations Weather Team! (SOWT)
120307-F-JO436-385 Members of Air Force Special Operations weather teams participate in a training scenario on a CH-47 Chinook during Emerald Warrior at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on March 7, 2012. The primary purpose of Emerald Warrior is to exercise special operations components in urban and irregular warfare settings to support combatant commanders in theater campaigns. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster, U.S. Air Force. (Released)Combat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!Combat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!Staff Sgt. Jody Ball, 10th Combat Weather Squadron, scans the surrounding area for threats while Tech Sgt. Rick Rohde, 10th CWS, collects weather data during a training exercise held near Hurlburt Field, Fla.Combat Meteorologists: the U.S. Air Force’s elite Special Operations Weather Team!
