Base forecasters storm AF honors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  It should now be no surprise that the 19th Operations Support Squadron's weather flight is the best in the Air Force.

Airmen from the 19th OSS weather flight recently earned the Air Force Weather Flight of the Year award.

The forecasters were notified of the service's top honor March 31, but last week's tornado showed they aren't resting on their laurels.

As the weather flight moves forward during the base's post-tornado days and with an Air Force level award under their belt, it's business as usual for flight members.

"I don't think [earning the award] has changed anything that we're going to do around here," said Staff Sgt. Alfred Brooks, 19th OSS NCO-in-charge of airfield services. "None of us are going to sit back and relax and say, 'Okay, we're the best this year so we're going to be on cruise control.' We're still leaning forward because we want to maintain [our high standards]."

Prior to tracking the April 25, 2011, tornado and alerting base residents, the weather flight forecasted 10 severe weather events in 2010, briefed wing leaders and coordinated with local emergency units, ensuring the safety of Little Rock Airmen, families, aircraft and assets. The flight also issued 1,844 briefs, forecasts and weather watches across the base.

The weather flight created approximately 600 drop zone weather forecasts, enabling C-130 airdrops vital to sustaining operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

In addition to their local mission, the flight's Airmen deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and OEF.

Earning the award came as a surprise for some members of the flight.

"The biggest thing that surprised us when we got [the award] is the fact that we were so low manned," said Staff Sgt. Michael Winders, a 19th OSS weather flight technician. He said two flight members were deployed in 2010, leaving three or four members to continue the mission here.

Weather flight members found a way to make the mission happen despite their limited manning.

"We basically went back and 'reinvented' how we do our job with the way technology has changed," said Sergeant Brooks. "The good thing about it is that it gave everybody on the flight ownership. And because we have pride in ownership, when [inspectors] came down and they inspect us, and if there was a problem ... we had a fix action right then and there for it."

Teamwork also plays a critical role in the weather flight's daily operations.

"A lot of us come up here whenever there is bad weather going on just to help out not because we have to but because we enjoy doing it," said Sergeant Brooks. "I think that makes us better forecasters and it also makes us closer as a flight."