Category: Aviation

Source: United States Air Force

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) —  

U.S. Air Force and Space Force professionals need agile and innovative solutions to solve the technical problems of today and tomorrow — and the Project Arc team delivers just that.

The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing hosted the first Project Arc team October 2023 to April 2024 at Ramstein Air Base. The team integrated with 435th AGOW units and conducted a broad range of technological support and advancements to improve mission accomplishment and solve problems encountered by warfighters in the field.

“Airmen are our most valuable asset; if they are empowered with support and resources, we can bring their ideas and solutions to fruition. That is why Project Arc was brought to Germany. Our Airmen recognized a need for growth, and together they are paving the way for agile and innovative ways to meet warfighters’ needs.”  Col. Matthew Bartlett, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing Commander

Project Arc, a diverse group of scientists and engineers equipped with skill sets geared towards technical solutions, leverages the STEM talents of uniformed members by embedding them with operational units in the field to identify and solve emergent problems for the warfighter.

The team’s primary project while embedded with 435th AGOW units centered on advancements to the Global Command and Control System, which is designed to provide U.S. armed forces with a near real-time picture of air and ground obstacles that might affect ground troops in the battlespace.

“Through the collaboration with the Project Arc team, we have successfully defined processes and technical requirements for integrating spectrum data into the wing’s core operational processes,” said Tech. Sgt. Blake Golledge, electromagnetic support innovation cell noncommissioned officer in charge. “As a result, our wing is on its way to be equipped to deliver real-time spectrum alerts that can create a blueprint for ground troops when providing crucial insight and situational awareness, ultimately providing mission assurance and force protection.”

Additional projects included the creation of a Space-A travel mobile app designed for service members and their families to search available flights in a user-friendly platform; updating myFSS capabilities where users can upload and share documents in need of signatures while tracking where it is currently at in the routing process; and implementing a new system to aid in tracking expenditures accumulated by aircraft personnel.

What is Project Arc?
Project Arc was established in July 2020 as a grassroots effort under AFWERX to forge ahead in the U.S. Air Force 2030 Science and Technology Strategy.

The current team consists of four U.S. Air Force military personnel from Air Force specialty codes including cyber defense operations, special operations combat systems and cyberspace effects operations — a diverse group of forward thinkers.

“Four Airmen from different backgrounds and career fields, each with their own experiences, came together to make a measurable difference in how forward commanders effectively execute command and control authority,” said Master Sgt. Vincent Olshove, Air Force Research Laboratory Center for Rapid Innovation program manager, and Project Arc coach.

“Being part of Project Arc has allowed me to work side-by-side with a diverse team of individuals who bring different skill sets to the table,” added Senior Airman Brandon Freeman, Project Arc computer scientist. “It allows people with special skills and abilities to bring much needed capabilities to wings and units around the globe.”

Whether they are working to modernize how Airmen schedule travel through military passenger terminals, or expanding the types of real-time data that strategic decision makers have on hand for the next fight, the Project Arc team works countless hours together to tackle operationally relevant problem sets — making a significant impact not only on the 435th AGOW mission, but on operational missions and process improvements across the Department of Defense.

“Each mission reinforced our bond and our commitment to the cause, deepening my appreciation for the teamwork and the collective effort involved in what we do,” said Capt. Isaiah Nicolai, Project Arc software developer. “I’ve heard firsthand from colleagues how our efforts to streamline processes and introduce efficiencies are not just appreciated but seen as critical interventions that ‘buy back time’ for personnel, directly influencing real-world operations and, ultimately, the future of combat readiness and strategic advantage.”

Currently, Project Arc works within a six-month rotational program, embedding Airmen and Guardians at operational wings. Its ultimate goal, Olshove said, is to reduce the barriers between problem solvers and warfighters, greatly streamlining requirements assessment, prototyping and solution refinement with the potential to impact any Airmen or Guardian’s day-to-day operations.

Qualifications to volunteer as a Project Arc member include being a DoD employee; being current on all deployment requirements; and having a background in science, technology, or engineering. Most importantly, the Project Arc team seeks tinkerers with a passion in figuring out why things work, skilled in transitioning solutions to operators.

“If you have a mindset geared towards innovation and the tenacity to see complex problems through, then your contributions to Project Arc would be both professionally and personally rewarding,” said Senior Airman Frankarlo Monterrosa, Project Arc U.S. European Command computer scientist and engineer. “It is more than a project; it is an opportunity to be at the forefront of change and innovation — rethinking processes and fostering innovation to advance the U.S. Air Force in science, technology, engineering and other critical disciplines that best serve the force and the Department of Defense.”

To learn more about Project Arc, its past and current projects, and how to apply, visit here.

Source: United States Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —  

The Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes echoed with applause April 8, as four Airmen received the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.

Maj. Kristen Ober, Capt. Marc D. Esposito, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Amos Kim were honored for their exceptional leadership qualities, embodying the fundamental values of the U.S. Air Force.

• Maj. Kristin A. Ober led a team overseeing and training thousands of engineers across Europe and Africa, ensuring the sustainment of billions of dollars in facilities.

• Capt. Marc D. Esposito commanded the most diverse flight in Air Education and Training Command, managing a multi-million-dollar budget and ensuring the successful training of hundreds of personnel.

• Master Sgt. Thomas R. Johnson led a team of explosive ordnance disposal specialists, ensuring the safe and effective execution of range operations and deployments.

• Staff Sgt. Amos D. Kim played a key role in coordinating the first-ever KC-46 air combat flights and championed critical data collection efforts.

“Thank you all for being here, especially to the recipients and their families,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “You should all be very proud of your accomplishments.”

The award is annually conferred upon Airmen who best exemplify Sijan’s leadership qualities such as courage, integrity, perseverance and self-sacrifice.

“Capt. Sijan was the epitome of what we look for in our leaders,” Kendall said. “For 46 days, he survived in the jungle before the North Vietnamese found him. After his capture, it is reported that he spent every moment consumed with escaping and living up to the code of conduct, living up to the highest standards of what is expected of those who serve and become captured.”

During remarks, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin commended the awardees for their exceptional leadership qualities.

“This is not about just doing the job,” Allvin said. “There is a difference between doing the job and committing to the mission. Captain Sijan’s mission was to uphold all the values in the code of conduct.”

Following the addresses of Kendall and Allvin, the award citation for each recipient was read and they were each presented a plaque. Ober, unable to attend the ceremony, was presented her award by Allvin a few days earlier during his visit to Kadena Air Base, Japan.

“Today is a recognition, not only of what you’ve done, but what we know you can achieve for our Air Force,” Allvin said during the Pentagon ceremony. “I could not be prouder to be able to stand here with you today and share in the moment as you receive this award named for one of our most honored Airmen.”

Source: United States Air Force

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) —  

Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Sean Choquette released the recipients for the fiscal year 2023 Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Safety Awards, as well as the Air and Space Forces Chief of Safety Awards.

“Safety is about increasing combat power,” Choquette said. “Our safety enterprise goal is to build an operational force maximizing readiness in air, space, and cyberspace. These awardees led our efforts to preserve the combat capability our personnel and systems provide by mitigating those risks.”

The FY23 Department of the Air Force Safety Awards Program provides organizations, teams and individuals the opportunity to be recognized for their hard work, enhanced performance, accomplishments and feats in safety.

“Congratulations to all the winners — this year was extremely competitive,” Choquette said. “Through your hard work, you ensure our Airmen and Guardians are safe and effective every day as they train, fight and win.”

The DAF Safety Award winners are:

Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award

United States Air Forces in Europe-United States Air Forces Africa

This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective overall safety program.

Major General Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award

Air Combat Command

This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective flight safety program.

Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy

Capt. Harry G. McMahon, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

This award recognizes outstanding airmanship by a Total Force individual aircrew member in the U.S. Air Force. The crewmember must show extraordinary skill, alertness, ingenuity, or proficiency in averting or minimizing the seriousness of an aviation mishap during flight or intent for flight.

Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for Occupational Safety

Air Education and Training Command

This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective ground safety program.

DAF Safety Civilian Professional of the Year Award

Mr. Takashi Koki, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan – Pacific Air Forces

DAF Safety Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award

Tech. Sgt Anthony W. Shults, 352nd Special Operations Wing, Mildenhall AB, United Kingdom – Air Force Special Operations Command

DAF Safety Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award

Senior Master Sgt. Randy Christian, 48th Wing – Air Forces Europe Africa Command

DAF Safety Officer of the Year Award

Maj. Richard R. LaGrua II, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida – Air Force Special Operations Command

Chief of Safety Special Achievement Award

B-21 Envelope Expansion Safety Planning Team, Edwards AFB, California – Air Force Materiel Command

Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award

Crew of Scout 94, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana – Air Force Reserve Command and Air Force Global Strike Command

Chief of Safety Aviation Individual Maintenance Safety Award

Master Sgt. Katherine D. Owens, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan – PACAF

Chief of Safety Aviation Team Maintenance Safety Award

31st Maintenance Squadron Safety Team, Aviano AB, Italy – Air Forces Europe

Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category I

Space Base Delta 1, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado – Space Operations Command

Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category II

51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, South Korea – PACAF

Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category III

100th Air Refueling Wing, Mildenhall AB, United Kingdom – Air Forces Europe

Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category IV

36th Wing, Anderson AB, Guam – PACAF

Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category V

Detachment VII, Air Force Research Lab, Edwards AFB, California – AFMC

Occupational Safety Career Professional of the Year

Tech. Sgt. Joseph D. Marsden, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing – Air Forces Central Command

Occupational Safety Civilian Professional of the Year

Ms. Alexis B. Lynn, 512th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Delaware – Air Force Reserve Command

Chief of Safety Outstanding Space Safety Program Award

Assured Access to Space Safety Team, Los Angeles AFB, California – Space Systems Command

Chief of Safety Team Space Safety Award

Assured Access to Space Safety Team, Los Angeles AFB, California – SSC

Chief of Safety Individual Space Safety Award

Cathrine A. Mott, Air Force Research Lab Det III, Kirtland AFB – AFMC

Chief of Safety Individual Weapons Safety Award

Master Sgt. Joel D. Schaarschmidt, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, South Korea – PACAF

Chief of Safety Team Weapons Safety Award

377th Air Base Wing Weapons Safety Office, Kirtland AFB – AFGSC

Chief of Safety Individual Nuclear Surety Award

Tech. Sgt. Ethan J. Stroschein, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany – Air Forces Europe

Chief of Safety Team Nuclear Surety Award

90th Missile Wing Safety, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming – AFGSC

Aero Club Safety Certificates

Eglin AFB, Florida – AFMC

Yakota AB, Japan – PACAF

Source: United States Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —  

The Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes echoed with applause April 8, as four Airmen received the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.

Maj. Kristen Ober, Capt. Marc D. Esposito, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Amos Kim were honored for their exceptional leadership qualities, embodying the fundamental values of the U.S. Air Force.

• Maj. Kristin A. Ober led a team overseeing and training thousands of engineers across Europe and Africa, ensuring the sustainment of billions of dollars in facilities.

• Capt. Marc D. Esposito commanded the most diverse flight in Air Education and Training Command, managing a multi-million-dollar budget and ensuring the successful training of hundreds of personnel.

• Master Sgt. Thomas R. Johnson led a team of explosive ordnance disposal specialists, ensuring the safe and effective execution of range operations and deployments.

• Staff Sgt. Amos D. Kim played a key role in coordinating the first-ever KC-46 air combat flights and championed critical data collection efforts.

“Thank you all for being here, especially to the recipients and their families,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “You should all be very proud of your accomplishments.”

The award is annually conferred upon Airmen who best exemplify Sijan’s leadership qualities such as courage, integrity, perseverance and self-sacrifice.

“Capt. Sijan was the epitome of what we look for in our leaders,” Kendall said. “For 46 days, he survived in the jungle before the North Vietnamese found him. After his capture, it is reported that he spent every moment consumed with escaping and living up to the code of conduct, living up to the highest standards of what is expected of those who serve and become captured.”

During remarks, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin commended the awardees for their exceptional leadership qualities.

“This is not about just doing the job,” Allvin said. “There is a difference between doing the job and committing to the mission. Captain Sijan’s mission was to uphold all the values in the code of conduct.”

Following the addresses of Kendall and Allvin, the award citation for each recipient was read and they were each presented a plaque. Ober, unable to attend the ceremony, was presented her award by Allvin a few days earlier during his visit to Kadena Air Base, Japan.

“Today is a recognition, not only of what you’ve done, but what we know you can achieve for our Air Force,” Allvin said during the Pentagon ceremony. “I could not be prouder to be able to stand here with you today and share in the moment as you receive this award named for one of our most honored Airmen.”

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

Eleven Department of the Air Force service members were recognized for their achievements during the 48th Joint Culinary Training Exercise held at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, Feb. 29 – March 8.

The JCTE, the largest military culinary event in North America, is sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation.

During JCTE 2024, teams of service members from across the Department of Defense competed against each other, showcasing their skills in food preparation, nutrition and presentation of culinary dishes. The DAF-sponsored team consisted of enlisted aides, flight attendants and other Airmen within the Air Force Services career field. One participant, Senior Master Sgt. Jacquelyn Gausemel, currently serves as the senior enlisted aide for Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.

“This competition is very challenging because it’s a complete mystery basket; they do not provide any equipment,” Gausemel said. “You have to think of every tool, pan, appliance, etc., that you could possibly use.”

Gausemel described the competition as consisting of various events with staggered start times. Competitors walk in and set up their stations with a 15-minute time limit. Then they are allowed to open the refrigerator, discover a “mystery basket” of ingredients, and start crafting dishes. The members who are judged to have crafted the best dishes for each event are the winners. At the end of the competition, the DAF team took home a total of 21 medals.

The Air Force Services career field is comprised of Airmen who work in food services, hospitality, and fitness management. These Airmen are stationed at nearly every Department of the Air Force installation, including Space Force bases. They also deploy to forward operating locations.

Source: United States Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —  

The Department of Defense announced the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards winners for 2024, April 22. 

The awards recognize installations, teams and individuals for their exceptional achievements in effective environmental management strategies that enhance installation resilience and mission readiness.

“Understanding that installations built, and natural environments strongly impact service members’ quality of life, DoD is committed to ensuring that its installations are healthy, safe, functional and resilient,” said Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment.

Each year since 1962, the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards have formally recognized members and civilians across DOD who have made significant strides to conserve the nation’s natural and cultural resources; protect human health and the environment; prevent or eliminate pollution at the source; clean up hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, and munitions; and incorporate environment, safety and occupational health requirements into weapon systems acquisition. DOD’s emphasis on protection of environment quality ultimately improves Department personnel’s quality of life and protects natural environments vital for mission success.

A diverse panel of 47 judges from federal and state agencies, academia and the private sector evaluated nominations from DOD Components to determine the 2024 winners.

In 2024, DOD selected the following nine winners from a total of 31 nominees. Information about the winners and brief descriptions of their achievements are included below:

Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota — Implemented a raptor translocation program to decrease the lethal take of 14 raptor species on base due to wildlife-aircraft collisions. The program translocated 55 juveniles, from six raptor species, 50 miles to be released on federal lands. These efforts reduced bird-aircraft strike risk, promoted natural raptor populations and contributed to scientific knowledge on raptor ecology, including movement and longevity.

Natural Resources Conservation, Individual/Team: Mr. Hugo Cobos, Kadena Air Base, Japan — Developed monitoring procedures and projects to protect species at Bellows Air Force Station. These efforts identified two endangered species at the station: the Hawaiian stilt and the Hawaiian moorhen. After identifying two Hawaiian stilt nests, Mr. Cobos worked with Bellows AFS staff and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop conservation measures, including maintaining a safe distance from the endangered waterbird breeding sites during the early incubation period.

Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Eglin AFB, Florida — Demonstrated a commitment to stewardship and sustainability through enhancing habitat and fostering the protection of threatened and endangered species, including the Okaloosa darter. Eglin’s expansive conservation efforts across 385,000 acres and 2,150 miles of range roads led to the Endangered Species Act de-listing of the rare fish species.

Environmental Quality, Individual/Team: Guam Environmental Quality Team, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Guam — Published a new Environmental Policy Statement for the base, directing environmental compliance, preventing pollution and improving toward a robust environmental management system. The team obtained funding for projects such as inventorying air emissions, sampling drinking water, controlling and preventing spills, and composing hazardous waste management plans.

Sustainability, Industrial Installation: Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania — Maintained an annual water usage consumption reduction of 63-percent and 66-percent in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Measures contributing to the reduction were a 90-percent reuse rate through water recycling in the Industrial Operations Facility, groundwater monitoring equipment on drinking water wells and a water utility valve maintenance trailer for more efficient and timely water valve repairs.

Environmental Restoration, Installation: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine — Prepared the installation’s Final Close Out Report, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report documenting all remedies are in place and all cleanup goals are achieved. EPA signed the FCOR with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s concurrence in June 2023. The FCOR completion resulted in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s de-listing from the National Priorities List in March 2024.

Environmental Restoration, Individual/Team: Environmental Restoration Team, Vieques Naval Installation, Puerto Rico — Collaborated with U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command to integrate active-duty Navy explosive ordnance disposal dive units into the Vieques offshore munitions cleanup program. In 2023, the munitions cleanup program saved nearly $200,000 and doubled its cleanup productivity. The Navy’s EOD dive units also improved their operational readiness associated with locating and handling underwater live ordnance.

Cultural Resources Management, Large Installation: Hill AFB, Utah —Accommodated requests and extended invitations for tribal leadership and youth visits to the Trackway Site, an archaeological site containing over 130 footprints more than 12,000 years old. Tribal leadership contributed perspectives on managing, protecting and sharing this singular archaeological site and other sites to build strong relationships and promote future cooperative efforts.

Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Individual/Team: F-35 Lightning II Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Team, Maryland — Targeted hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen, for elimination on F-35 aircrafts by implementing a non-chrome fuel tank coating and a non-chrome rapid-cure fuel tank touchup kit at U.S. Air Force-owned manufacturing facilities and at F-35 depots.

For more information on the 2024 winners, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2024secdef/. Additional Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards program information, including past winners, can be found at: http://www.denix.osd.mil/awards.

Source: United States Air Force

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (AFNS) —  

The 509th and 131st Bomb Wings capped off the most recent iteration of exercise Spirit Vigilance by performing a mass fly-off of 12 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, April 15 at Whiteman Air Force Base.

Spirit Vigilance is one of a series of routine exercises held by Air Force global strike bases across the enterprise that focus on the training and readiness of Airmen. These exercises are regularly planned and are conducted to continuously evaluate and enhance U.S. deterrence capabilities.

“I’m proud of the dedication shown by our Airmen and civilians in ensuring the success of this exercise,” said Col. Keith Butler, 509th Bomb Wing commander. “Exercises are both critical to our readiness and a powerful tool to demonstrate to the world that the B-2 is a credible and reliable strategic deterrent.”

Visual displays of power can serve as a reminder to potential adversaries of the overwhelming air power that the B-2 can bring to bear.

“As the world’s most strategic aircraft, the B-2 has an outsized effect on Great Power Competition,” said Col. Geoffrey Steeves, 509th Operations Group commander. “The 509th and 131st Bomb Wings are charged with delivering the nation’s most powerful weapons, and the B-2 is the only aircraft on the planet that combines stealth, payload, and long-range strike.”

According to Chief Master Sgt. Frank Espinoza, 509th Maintenance Group wing weapons manager, exercises like this are valuable for Airmen and for the wing’s mission.

“Overall, exercises focused on rapidly generating airpower, play a crucial role in enhancing our readiness, responsiveness, and effectiveness, while also promoting deterrence, reassurance, and interoperability among allied and partner nations,” Espinoza said.

While the B-2 itself is a powerful deterrent, Steeves emphasized that the people behind it are just as important to the mission.

“Our Airmen are responsible for making this platform lethal,” Steeves said. “In addition to the operators charged to fly into combat, our mission requires defenders to protect the aircraft, medics to maintain our health and maintainers to make sure this platform remains combat ready. Our Airmen set us apart from our adversaries. We trust and empower them to creatively solve problems and ensure mission success.”

As the Air Force shifts its focus toward Great Power Competition, the mission at Whiteman AFB plays a vital role in the nation’s defense strategy.

“The B-2 stealth bomber has never been more relevant than it is right now,” Steeves said. “It was conceived at the height of the Cold War but fielded at the same time the Berlin Wall crumbled and Soviet Union collapsed. Now, more than 30 years later, the B-2 is fulfilling the role for which it was created: great power competition.”

The Airmen with the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings validated the B-2’s role in that competition during Spirit Vigilance.

“The American public and our international partners can rest assured that we possess unparalleled air power to support them,” Butler said. “Moreover, we effectively deter our near-peer competitors by consistently showcasing our ability to deliver overwhelming global strike capabilities anytime, anywhere.”

Source: United States Air Force

Hurricane season starts June 1, and to help communities prepare, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters and a team of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20 as part of the annual Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour. 

The CHAT, a joint effort between NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and the 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, promotes hurricane awareness and preparedness throughout the Caribbean region. 

More than 13,000 people attended this year’s event, which stopped at Nassau, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Locals were able to tour the WC-130J aircraft and talk to NHC forecasters, Airmen with the 53rd WRS, and a crew member with NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center.

  “The goal of the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour is to not only showcase the brave men and women who fly directly into these dangerous storms to collect data for us at the NHC, but to promote a culture of preparedness for the 2024 hurricane season,” said Mike Brennan, director of the NHC in Miami. “Now is the time to prepare.” 

Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30. An “extremely active” hurricane season is likely according to forecasters at Colorado State University. They projected 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes. NOAA will release their season forecast in late May, but according to Brennan, “regardless of what any season forecast projects, it only takes one storm to hit your area to make it a bad hurricane season.” 

“This event is a great opportunity for us to educate the public about our mission, how we use the WC-130J to collect data for NHC forecasts, and to stress the importance of heeding forecasts, storm warnings and advisories, and being prepared,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Rickert, 53rd WRS chief aerial reconnaissance weather officer. 

Weather forecasters rely on satellites for information; however, oceans are data-sparse environments, and satellites can’t provide information such as the minimum sea level pressure of a hurricane, wind speed information, or information about the storm structure, which is needed to predict hurricane development and movement, Rickert said. 

During a tropical storm or hurricane, 53rd WRS aircrews fly into these systems with the WC130J aircraft at altitudes that range from 500 to 1,500 feet for low-level investigations and up to 10,000 feet for fix missions. During a fix mission, they can fly through the eye of a storm four to six times. During each pass through the eye, crews release a dropsonde, which collects temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and barometric pressure data. The crew also collects surface wind speed and flight-level data. This information is transmitted to the NHC to assist them with their storm warnings and hurricane forecast models in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. 

Working in conjunction with the 53rd WRS is NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center. They use two types of aircraft for their missions, the WP-3D Orion and the Gulfstream GIV-SP. NOAA uses the WP-3D similarly to how the 53rd WRS uses the WC-130J, and the Gulfstream flies as high as 45,000 feet to collect data in the upper atmosphere surrounding developing hurricanes, said Commander Danielle Varwig, NOAA Corps G-IV pilot and deputy chief of the Aircraft Maintenance Branch. The information they gather is used for track forecasting and research purposes.

“The data collected by these aircraft, makes our forecasts up to 20% better,” Brennan said. “Our forecasters take that information and use it to issue five-day forecasts of where the storm is going and most importantly those hazards…the rainfall, the storm surge, the winds…and where those worst conditions could occur,” he said. “We provide that information to local meteorological service and then they issue forecasts, watches, and warnings for their local populations.” 

This sharing of forecasts and data has been done for many decades. North America, Central America and the Caribbean reside in region four of the World Meteorological Organization. The WMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was created in 1947 to facilitate worldwide cooperation in sharing meteorological information and observations and to standardize the field and encourage research and training. 

The CHAT is one way the NHC builds relationships with the countries in their region, which is why Brennan and NHC and National Weather Service forecasters meet with elected officials, meteorological services, civil protection agencies and media partners at each location. 

With a trend of rapidly intensification in hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma, Maria, Michael, Ida, Ian and Idalia in past years, Brennan advised residents in hurricane-prone areas to be prepared for storms that can develop in a few days. 

Capt. Amaryllis Cotto, 53rd WRS ARWO and a native of Puerto Rico, experienced the wrath of Maria in 2017, and knows firsthand how important it is to be weather ready. 

“For this upcoming tropical cycle season, environmental conditions are setting up to be an active storm season, especially for the Caribbean,” said Cotto, who now works in Houston for the National Weather Service. “Due to the fact that Puerto Rico is very vulnerable to multiple storm threats during the season, it is critical to bring the most accurate information to government authorities and public for preparedness and recovery efforts. This year’s CHAT in Puerto Rico was to advise the public and government agencies to be prepared well before any storm becomes a threat to the island, to have a plan and the safety kits ready to go, and to have multiple methods of receiving the local weather and hurricane forecast updates.” 

There isn’t always time to prepare just before a hurricane strikes, so advance preparation is key. 

“You may not have a week to watch a tropical wave to come off the coast of Africa; a system could develop close by and intensify quickly,” said Brennan. “That is why this outreach mission is so important. Sharing our information with other countries and raising the public’s awareness can save lives and property.” 

For more information on how to prepare for the upcoming season, visit ready.gov. 

Source: United States Air Force

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) —  

In this week’s look around the Air Force, senior leaders testify to a Senate subcommittee about the fiscal year 2025 budget, and a new Mental Health Overview outlines resources for Airmen and Guardians. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Kahdija Slaughter)

Watch on DVIDS | Watch on YouTube
For previous episodes, click here for the Air Force TV page.

Source: United States Air Force

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) —  

Air Force weather officers from the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Germany gathered at the Tradewinds Conference Center to discuss key lines of effort across the Indo-Pacific at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 9–11.

Moreover, the U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force signed a Terms of Reference agreement, solidifying weather interoperability relationships between allied nations. The TOR agreement showcases the collaboration of multidomain weather forecasting between partner nations while directly impacting the National Security Strategy objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Weather influences operations and behavior; it drives decisions,” said Col. Patrick C. Williams, Headquarters Air Force A3W director of weather. “Exploiting this knowledge will determine best windows of opportunity and locations to take decisive action or continue a deterrence posture.”

By strategically planning and executing actions based on this knowledge, individuals and organizations can effectively respond to and prevent potential threats.

“We believe that this will send a message to the international community towards ensuring peace and stability in the region,” said JASDF Col. Hiroko Konno, Air Weather Group Director of Weather. “We also expect that it will contribute to better decision-making by each commander, which leads to stronger joint response capability.”

Konno explained that Japan is a key region in the Northwest Pacific and weather partnership forecasting benefits both long-term strategic planning and short-term tactical operations for force management in the face of ever-evolving weather patterns and near-peer threats.

“Through our allies and partners, we can exploit environmental information to our advantage,” Williams said. “Specifically, we can use that information in deliberate planning and targeting processes and create dilemmas for the adversary while optimizing freedom of action and maneuver for friendly forces.”

This collective effort will help emphasize the importance of upholding international community standards and support the overall stability and security of the region.

“It will capitalize and reinforce like-mindedness and common purpose to maintain rules-based order in the world,” Williams said.” The united front against our National Defense Strategy adversaries is the superpower that will allow us to deter those adversaries and maintain our way of life.”

The TOR agreement not only showcases current multidomain weather forecasting collaboration taking place among nations across the globe, but also provides an opportunity for future data sharing agreements to advance interoperability with Allies and partners, directly enhancing military readiness and response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific.

“The most immediate benefit is interoperability, building partnership capacity and trust to leverage shared capabilities to maximize agility and responsiveness,” Williams said.

Overall, weather impacts the battlefields scheme of maneuver in multiple domains, which drives it to the forefront as a key decision-making tool for senior leaders the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

“Weather capabilities offer so much more than a 5-day forecast, convincing senior leaders that, if used differently, weather capabilities can change the course of any action to our advantage,” Williams said. “We can predict weather events and provide a reasonable prediction on adversary reactions to it. Ultimately, weather capabilities provide commanders with more agility and flexibility to become more effective against near-peer competitors.”