I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Headquarters U.S. Air Force As of:1 Lt Col Ron Dunic AF/XOWR 25 Jul 00 Air Force Weather (AFW) Education and Training

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:2 Overview Background Weather Officer Training Enlisted Training Weather Training for Aircrews and Customers

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:3 Background AFW relies heavily on enlisted personnel, guided by weather officers, to provide operational support Prior to reengineering, AFW qualification and upgrade training conducted at local unit level Units typically consisted of approximately 20 personnel Young airmen trained first as observers then returned to forecaster school at approximately the 4-year point New weather officers trained on the forecast counter before serving as Wing Weather Officers, etc. Downsizing, the divestiture of Air Weather Service, and manning shortages in the 1990’s impacted training

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:4 Background AFW developed a reengineering plan to better provide timely, accurate, and relevant Weather support Regionally-focused hubs responsible for analysis and forecasting; also serve as training ground for apprentices Brings together a “critical mass” of experienced forecasters Training done by experienced forecasters in a team environment Apprentices have time to learn the art of forecasting Revised enlisted career track, improved training key to plan Airmen learn forecasting skills first 1st assignment is to a hub as a forecaster apprentice Return to an advanced school before assignment to a flight/det Experienced personnel assigned to local flights/dets Focus is on weather’s impact to the mission and supporting the decision making process

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:5 Weather Officer Training New weather officers enter AFW after earning met degree or completing the Basic Met Program Attend an Officer Initial Skills Course (ISC) at Keesler AFB before their first assignment Provide practical skills and knowledge to complement his/her academic work in weather concepts and theory 61% of weather officers hold an Advanced Academic Degree (AAD) in weather or science; Selected officers earn an AAD at civilian universities/colleges Work to exploit new technology/techniques in production units Integrate space weather analysis and forecasting into operations Serve as Staff Mets supporting the acquisition process Provide technical oversight and assistance to field units

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:6 Entry Rqmt of B.S. in Met OFFICER CAREERS Average pin-on time Init Skills Crs O-1 O-3 O-4 O-2 OPS Wx SQ OPS Wx SQ, Strat Ctr, Staff Met, or Wx Flt/CC Wx Flt Crs Command Meteorologist Staff Off Wx Flt, AFIT, Staff Met, Strat Ctr Ops Met Instr Met Air & Space Basic Crs AFIT Terrestrial/Space WX

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:7 Enlisted Training Overall Approach/Initial Skills AFW trains using an integrated building block approach of schoolhouse, formal OJT, and correspondence courses Airmen entering AFW attend a 19-week ISC at Keesler AFB ISC teaches most topics to the “principles” level for subject knowledge, “partially proficient” level for task knowledge; topics include: Observing fundamentals to decode and use observations Interpretation of climatological aids Structure and property of the atmosphere Analysis and prognosis skills Forecasting and meteorological watch Basic oceanography Space environment

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:8 Enlisted Training Upgrade and Qualification in Hubs Forecaster apprentices receive 2-3 years of intensive supervised qualification and upgrade training in a hub Training done by a mix of AFW NCOs and contractors Apprentices train on core tasks (e.g., forecasting cloud height) using Qualification Training Packages (QTPs) Each QTP contains a trainee workbook, trainer’s guide, and evaluation package QTPs provide standardized training across the hubs Airmen must complete 15-volume Career Development Course (CDC) prior to upgrade to journeyman Correspondence course administered by Air University Expands knowledge taught in Apprentice Course and through OJT

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:9 Enlisted Training After upgrade to Weather Journeyman, airmen will attend the advanced Weather Flight Operations Course Course scheduled to begin Oct 01 Concentrates on the application of weather in the decision making process and its impact to specific missions Teaches practical observing skills and combat field skills After graduation, airmen assigned to field level units at Air Force Bases and Army Posts providing direct support to the warfighter

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:10 AVG SEW-ON TIME Initial Skills Apprentice Wx Flt Course Jrnymn UGT OJT / CDC Journeyman 7-level Training / Space Wx CDC / Resident Crs (2 wks) Craftsman Hub, Flt / Det, Strat Center Wx Flt / DetOPS Wx SQ E-2 E-4E-6 E-1E-3E-5 ENLISTED CAREERS

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:11 Weather Training for Aircrews and Customers Pilots receive instruction in weather during Undergraduate Pilot Training Mostly computer-based training with some lecture AFW officer subject matter experts assist in development of curriculum Reengineering integrates forecasters directly into the flight planning process; two-way education between aviators and weather forecasters Local weather units involved in the Instrument Refresher Course Program; brief seasonal weather phenomena, local effects, new capabilities (e.g., NEXRAD), etc. AF/XOW teaches AFW capabilities at Air University’s Operations Group Commanders Course

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e As of:12 Summary AFW is reengineering to better support operations and train personnel Officers are degreed meteorologists trained to provide military weather support; most hold AADs and work to exploit and insert new technologies and techniques Revamped enlisted career track and training allows airmen to mature into highly capable forecasters AFW actively involved in educating aviators and the operational community on weather and its impacts