Vicksburg National Military Park

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- A tour guide from the Vicksburg National Military Park here discusses the Illinois state memorial with members of the 26th Operational Weather Squadron April 29. The monument has 60 unique bronze tablets and lining its interior are the names of the Illinois soldiers that participated in the battle. Officers and senior non-commissioned officers from the squadron toured the battlefield to build camaraderie and a stronger working relationship. (Photo by Senior Airman Alexandra M. Sandoval)

Vicksburg National Military Park

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- During a tour of the Vicksburg National Military Park here April 29, Master Sgt. Anthony Morence, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, reads the names of the 36,325 Illinois soldiers that participated in the battle. Officers and senior non-commissioned officers from the squadron toured the battlefield to build camaraderie and a stronger working relationship. (Photo by Senior Airman Alexandra M. Sandoval)

Academy weather

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Richard Kalber, an observer with the 306th Operational Support Squadron weather flight here, performs quality control on an Air Force Form 3813 recently. (Photo by Ryan Hansen)

Academy weather

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Jeff Rosbach, a forecaster with the 306th Operational Support Squadron weather flight here, prepares a mission execution forecast recently. (Photo by Ryan Hansen)

African American History Month

GODMAN FIELD, Ky. -- Lt. John Willis briefs a B-25 aircrew before a mission in the summer of 1945. More than 50 African-American's served as weather forecasters and observers while more than 10 served as meteorological aviation officers during World War II. This ground breaking group served with both the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bomb Group during World War II.

African American History Month

More than 50 African-American's served as weather forecasters and observers while more than 10 served as meteorological aviation officers during World War II. This ground breaking group served with both the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bomb Group.

Rocking for a good cause

SEMBACK AIR BASE, Germany -- Members of the Griswold's, from left to right, Tech. Sgt. Steve McConnell, Staff Sgt. Russell Beye, Staff Sgt. Mike Daniels and Airman 1st Class Paul Weathersby, perform at a local pub to support the Landstuhl Medical Center’s Fisher House. The four Airmen are members of the 21st Operational Weather Squadron here and together with Staff Sgt. Ben Comer, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, raised $1,500 for the nonprofit organization. (Courtesy photo)

Kunsan Weather Flight

Staff Sgt. Adrian Jackson, 8th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Weather Flight, makes a a visual observation of the air field at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 22, 2009. Sergeant Jackson provides the pilots with the visibility for that day so they can plan their missions accordingly.(US Air Force Photo By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz)

Weather flight forecasts ensure mission efficiency

Staff Sgt. Kevin Fedon, a weather forecaster assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at an air base in Southwest Asia, checks weather readouts, including temperature, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation, at a remote weather sensor. The weather readings are put into a weather model to help predict weather patterns and are used for daily reports to aircrews preparing for missions. Sergeant Fedon is a native of Lincoln, Neb., and is an Air National Guardsman deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Boquette)

Weather flight forecasts ensure mission efficiency

Staff Sgt. Kevin Fedon, a weather forecaster assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at an air base in Southwest Asia, checks weather readouts, including temperature, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation, at a remote weather sensor. The weather readings are put into a weather model to help predict weather patterns and are used for daily reports to aircrews preparing for missions. Sergeant Fedon is a native of Lincoln, Neb., and is an Air National Guardsman deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Boquette)

Honor Air Flight

Washington D.C. -- Former Kansas Senator and World War II veteran Bob Dole poses for a picture with Tech. Sgt. Lois Ellingson, Phillip Organ Jr. and Travis Robinson during their Honor Air flight to the World War II Memorial Sept. 27. Sergeant Ellingson served as an Honor Air guardian for Mr. Organ and Mr. Robinson who were Soldiers during World War II. (Courtesy photo)

Weather plays a vital role

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Tech. Sgt. Michael Mazucci-Mambala, Operations Support Group weather forecaster, explains how the Tactical Meteorological Observing System (TMQ53) works Sept.9. Even with today’s modern equipment, Langley pilots are still subject to weather observers giving the go-ahead before aerial sorties can be accomplished. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. April Wickes)

25th OWS Participates in 5K Run

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Members of the 25th Operational Weather Squadron run in formation during the Air Force Association 5K run Sept. 20 at the Pima Air and Space Museum. The event was part of the Air Force's 61st birthday celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smith)

Weather flight support

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bill Smith (left) practices aligning a satellite with the help of Air Force Staff Sgt. Scott Roach. They are members of the Arkansas Air Guard's 154th Weather Flight, which provided weather support to the Arkansas Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support, during recent annual training. National Guard members from various states are preparing for Tropical Storm Gustav, expected to make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 2, 2008. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Theresa L. Walker)

Weather forecasts protect Air Force, Americans

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. John McMillen from the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and Maj. Kimberly Pacheco, 601st Air Operations Center weather team chief, monitor the track of Hurricane Ike as they prepare for a briefing at the AOC here Sept. 11. Weather forecasters with America’s AOC continue to work around the clock as the hurricane plows across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Captain McMillen is one of dozens of active duty members, Guardsmen and Reservists temporary assigned to the AOC and Air Forces Northern in support of hurricane relief operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban)

Weather forecasts protect Air Force, Americans

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Capt. John McMillen from the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and Maj. Kimberly Pacheco, 601st Air Operations Center weather team chief, monitor the track of Hurricane Ike as they prepare for a briefing at the AOC here Sept. 11. Weather forecasters with America’s AOC continue to work around the clock as the hurricane plows across the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Captain McMillen is one of dozens of active duty members, Guardsmen and Reservists temporary assigned to the AOC and Air Forces Northern in support of hurricane relief operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban)

Col. John D. Murphy

Col. John D. Murphy, Commander Air Force Weather Agency.

Deployed Airmen recording weather data

Tech. Sgt. David Ivey records weather data from the roof of the Task Force XII tactical operations center at Camp Taji, Iraq. Sergeant Ivey is one of a team of eight U.S. Air Force weather experts that support the aviation task force led by U.S. Army Europe's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Seaton)

AFWA Building Dedication

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Mr. Ken Hahn, president of Kenneth Hahn Architects, Army Col. David Press, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District, Mr. Dean Mathisen, from Representative Lee Terry's office, U.S. Senator Ben Nelson, Retired Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr., Mr. Robert Moorman, Col. John Murphy, Air Force Weather Agency commander, Dr. Fred P. Lewis, director of Air Force Weather, Mr. Michael Backes, from U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel's office, and Mr. Joseph Lempka, Kiewit Building Group, cut the ribbon officially dedicating AFWA's new $30-million headquarters building here Aug. 22. The new building was dedicated to Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman and is one of Air Combat Command’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green rated facilities. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Kevin Schwandt)

AFWA Building Dedication

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Retired Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr. addresses attendees and members of the Air Force Weather Agency as they officially dedicated their new $30-million headquarters building during a ribbon cutting ceremony here Aug. 22. The new building was dedicated to Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman and is one of Air Combat Command’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green rated facilities. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Kevin Schwandt)

Air Force Going Green

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – Staff Sgt. Janet Robinson, Air Force Weather Agency, gives a tour of the new AFWA headquarters building to attendees of the “The Air Force Goes Green and Clean” environmental symposium held here Aug. 14. The new headquarters building is a green rated facility designated by the U.S. Green Building Council. (Photo by Kendra Williams)

Forecasters afloat support multinational training exercise

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Manning demonstrates how to manipulate satellite pictures on the SMQ-11 satellite receiver to Tech. Sgt. Philip Mohr, weather forecaster. A joint Navy and Air Force weather team worked together at sea aboard the USS Bataan in support of JTFEX 08-4, a multinational exercise that included Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Nicholas J. Sabula)

AFWA supports local hockey team

Left to right: Senior Airman Ben Smeland, Staff Sgt. Janet Robinson, Staff Sgt. Heather Bellar, Senior Airman Kyle Lawrence, and Tech. Sgt. Megan King of the Air Force Weather Agency here, support the Omaha Lancers pregame show March 15 at the Mid-America Center. Members of the AFWA team provided the honor guard detail and national anthem, sung by Sergeant King. The Lancers lost the hockey game 2-1 in a shootout to the Sioux Falls Stampede (Photo by G. A. Volb)

Southwest Asia Cell

Tech. Sgt. Jason Miller, from Irving, Texas, analyzes cloud bases for Southwest Asia. Miller is a 16-year Air Force veteran and has spent the last four years at the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The 35 year old is NCO in charge of the 2nd Weather Squadron's Southwest Asia Obscurant Forecast and Analysis Cell, a new program developed to provide regional specific data. (Photo by G. A. Volb)