APPLICATION OF THE METEOROLOGY MAJOR IN THE AIR FORCE (15WX)
Meteorologists are specialists in the medium in which the
Air Force operates. All USAF combat commands perform missions within the
earth's atmosphere or in space. Meteorologists directly support these
combat missions, as well as the research, development, and technical
support missions of other USAF commands. Junior ranking meteorologists (AFSC
15W3) typically work as forecasters supporting the air combat mission of
the Air Force or the ground combat mission of the Army. Some
meteorologists can get involved in combat weather, and perform special
operations missions like forecasting and observing the weather from
behind enemy lines. Senior ranking meteorologists and those with
graduate degrees (AFSC 15W4) often become unit commanders and leaders in
combat control and planning cadres, technical support teams, and DOD
research programs.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Air
Force meteorologists can expect to work as weather forecasters worldwide
for all USAF commands having a flying mission, including Air Combat
Command(ACC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Special Operations Command
(SOC), Air Education Training Command (AETC), Alaskan Air Command (AAC),
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), or US Air Forces Europe (USAFE). In
addition, Air Force meteorologists provide weather support to all Army
units worldwide, including Airborne support.
Technical weather support, usually requiring personnel with graduate
degrees, is provided to Air Material Command in the test and evaluation
of new weapon systems, and at various DOD, Department of Energy (DOE),
NASA, and USAF Laboratories in a wide variety of government research
efforts.
Cadres
of specialized combat weather support teams exist at the Pentagon,
Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM),
NORAD, and Central Command (USCENTCOM).
Space weather support is
provided to USSTRATCOM and Air Force Space Command (AFSPACECOM) and
their subordinate units worldwide. This includes monitoring and
forecasting solar-terrestrial interactions and assessing their impact on
space based systems, as well as providing launch forecast support
services at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vandenberg AFB, California.
Overall DOD and USAF weather/space support is provided by Air Weather
Service (AWS) Officers, usually with advanced degrees, from AWS
Headquarters and the USAF Environmental Technical Applications Center (USAFETAC)
at Scott AFB, Illinois; and Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) at Offutt
AFB, Nebraska.
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