A job for the mentally tough and physically strong, these elite heroes go where others wont because theyre trained to do. The training is held by the battlefield airmen training group, 37th training wing, aetc. Us air force special operations weather team officer sowto. Building and maintaining the most complete and sophisticated reference on the world wide web for the u. Air force special operations weather teams the balance careers.
Air force 1w0x2 special operations weather journeymen. The special ops weathermen no women are allowed in the combatintensive job undertake the same intense survival, tactical and weapons training as other air force special operations personnel. Weather training for army personnel assigned to take limited surface weather observations in support of air force forecasting operations, or in support of army atc operations. Special operations weather team officer training sought to attract determined, highlymotivated, intelligent, reliable and physically fit individuals to serve with the us air force s sof community. Learn about great opportunities for enlisted airmen, officers and health care professionals. A special operations weather technician or sowt is much more than looking up the weather forecast. The airmen supporting the air guards special operations mission are among the most highly trained soldiers in the world. Air force transforms existing program office into its new.
The airmen who make up air force special warfare are the most specialized warriors on the planet. Us air force special operations weather team enlisted sowte. Special operations weather team airmen are air force meteorologists with unique training to operate in hostile or denied territory. It was also a core reason why the service decided to cancel the air operations center 10. Weather support for army operations chapter 3 air weather service support to army units. They gathered, assessed, and interpreted weather and environmental intelligence from forward deployed locations, working primarily with air force and army special operations forces.
This 12month program for newly assigned special operations weathermen produces. Thirty weeks are spent on learning the breadth of knowledge required to assess terrain and weather. Background to us air force special operations weather teams. Sowts can establish weather networks in austere combat locations, giving. But if development succeeds and the military chooses to acquire visar, any warplane with a sensor gimbal including drones, special operations forces transports, f35 stealth fighters and. Air force special operations weather teams sowt participate in a training scenario on a ch47 chinook during emerald warrior. Special operations weather team air force special operations. Air force special operations command is perhaps the least wellknown of all the militarys special ops units. Elite members of the air force special warfare program, special operations weathermen receive specialized training far beyond that of other meteorologists. Not your average weather guys in special operations stripes. Special operations weather team airmen are air force meteorologists with unique. Air force jobs special operations weather technician. Special operations weather, commonly referred to in the air force as combat weather, used to be a special duty assignment available only to trained and certified air force weathermen. They gather, assess, interpret environmental data and forecast operational impacts from forward deployed locations, working primarily with air force and army special operations forces.
Their job requires them to be at peak physical and mental fitness. Special operations weather technicians sowt collect, analyze, and predict. Special reconnaissance srformerly special operations weather technician or team. In a major development, the air force special operations command afsoc changed the special operations weather technician sowt career field to special. The air force weather agency, referred to as the 557th weather wing, provides forecasting support for air force and army operations around the globe. Recent special operations on this day, green beret gary beikirch awarded the medal of honor prior to the war in afghanistan, the conflict in vietnam was the longest in united states history. Usaf combat controller and combat weather candidates conduct training at joint base san antonio medina. United states air force special reconnaissance wikipedia. In fulfilment of this role weather personnel characterise and enable exploitation of the environment through collection, processing, analysis and prediction, tailoring, and. Special operations weather special warfare training wing.
However, the changes in the pipeline will include adding reconnaissancespecific training, military freefall and combat diver course. In january 2009, the air force decided to make this duty a separate afsc. This article provides an overview of the recruitment, selection and training process for the us air forces special operations weather team officer sowto. Special operations weathermen candidates training youtube. More than 2 years of training goes into honing skills, using both computer systems as well as. Special ops weatherman special operations weathermen conduct the same technical training as all air force weathermen. Us air force special operations weather team officer sowt. The role of a us air force special operations weather team enlisted is to perform weather operations for us air force and us army support organisations activities. They are the ones other special forces look to when the mission calls for their unique skills and fearless commitment. Air force meteorologists with unique training to operate in hostile or denied territory. Theyre the ones you see jumping out of airplanes and conducting nighttime search and rescue operations. However, the special operations training pipeline is rigorous. Defense meteorological satellite program dmsp satellites, data obtained by weather aircraft. Unlike other special operations forces, special operations weather only.
Outline of special operations weather team enlisted selection and training. The special operations weather team officer branch was open to all appropriately qualified male officers of the us air force. Meet special reconnaissance, a new career field in air force. Buy special operations weather training on free shipping on qualified orders special operations weather training.