1st Weather Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 1st Weather Group | |
 1st Weather Group Patch |
|
| Location: | Offutt AFB, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Current Command: | Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Nebraska |
| Area of Responsibility: | CONUS |
| Assets Protected: | >$400 Billion |
| Personnel Protected: | >400,000 |
| Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, yearly: | n/a |
| Flight Weather Briefs, yearly: | n/a |
| Total Locations | 348 |
| Members in organization | 610 |
The 1st Weather Group aligns stateside weather operations with the Air Force warfighting initiative overseeing operational weather squadrons; the 9th OWS at Shaw AFB, S.C., the 15th OWS at Scott AFB, Ill.; the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; and the 26th OWS at Barksdale AFB, La. The 1st Weather Group is under the Air Force Weather Agency or commonly referred to as AFWA.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The 1st Weather Groups mission statement is as follows:
”Provide accurate, timely, and relevant weather analyses, forecasts, warnings and briefings to Air Force, Army, Guard, Reserve, and Combatant Command forces operating in the continental United States"
”Provide initial qualification and up-grade training for weather forecaster apprentices and new weather officers.”
[edit] Vision
”Providing America’s combat forces decision-quality weather information … like never before.”
”Preparing today’s forecasters to be tomorrow’s leaders … like there’s no tomorrow.”
”Lead-turning Air Force weather transformational processes … like we know we should.”
[edit] Personnel and resources
The newly reactivated group increases the Agency's worldwide organizational force to more than 1,400 professionals. 1st Weather Groups manning consists of active duty, reserve, civilian and contract personnel and is headquartered on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. under AFWA.
[edit] Organization
1st Weather Group is organized into four continental United States squadrons. Each of the four squadrons produces forecasts for a specified area of the United States. The squadrons also serve as training hubs for new weather professionals - both enlisted and officers. The 1 WXG arms our weather professionals with the training and skills necessary to deliver environmental intelligence for commanders and military decision makers.
By aligning stateside weather operations with the Air Force warfighting initiative, Air Force weather is creating a more efficient and effective organizational structure to support the mission and the warfighter.
[edit] Subordinate units
9th Operational Weather Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC. – more than 66 installations/sites in a 4-state region of the southeastern United States.
15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, IL. – more than 130 military installations and sites across a 24-state region of the northeastern United States.
25th Operational Weather Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. – more than 68 installations/sites in a 11-state region of the western United States.
26th Operational Weather Squadron Barksdale AFB, LA. – more than 84 installations/sites in a 9-state region of the south central United States.
[edit] History
The 1st Weather Group has a long and proud heritage starting as the Far East Air Forces Weather Group in October 1944. In September 1945, the 1st WXG was assigned to the 43rd Weather Wing and later that year to the Headquarters Army Air Forces Weather Service. They were deactivated in 1948, and reactivated and assigned to the Air Weather Service at Offutt AFB through the Military Air Transport Service from 1952 to 1956, after which they were again deactivated. The group reactivated once again under the 1st Weather Wing from 1966 to 1972 at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. The most recent period of activation was at Fort McPherson, Ga., from 1992 to 1994 under the Air Combat Command.
The Group was distinguished with service and campaign streamers from World War II and Vietnam. They also earned four outstanding unit award's and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
The realignment began with the reactivation of the 1st Weather Group, at Offutt AFB, Neb., May 25. The 1st WXG continues its long and decorated history of providing weather products and service to Air Force and Army units, and is now part of the Air Force Weather Agency.
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill., was the first of the four OWSs to re-align under the newly formed 1st WXG during a ceremony May 25, 2006. The 26th OWS was realigned at Barksdale AFB, Jun. 22, 2006. Next, was the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan on July 6, 2006, and the last addition to the team was the 9th OWS which was re-activated on Jul. 20, 2006 at Shaw AFB.
[edit] Quotes
“The organizational change is seamless to the warfighter and to all military units requiring weather information - they will continue to receive complete environmental situational awareness. The real improvement is achieved by aligning stateside weather operations consistent with the Air Force's Warfighting Headquarters initiative and creating a more efficient and effective organizational structure. We are not changing what we do - we are changing how we do it," said Colonel Frooninckx.
"It will be our job to arm our weather professionals with the training and skills necessary to deliver environmental intelligence for commanders and military decision makers." Chief Fries said. "With all the stateside OWSs under the 1st Weather Group, we can take that first step down the road to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of weather operations for the total force."
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Official factsheet
- Informational Article
- 9OWS Factsheet
- 15OWS Factsheet
- 25OWS Factsheet
- 26OWS Factsheet
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
