352nd SOSS weather flight trains to ensure mission readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justine Rho
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Only days after re-deploying back from Trident Juncture 2015, the 352nd Special Operation Support Squadron Weather Flight dove head first into a four-day Air Force Special Operations Command pre-inspection to test the all-around mission readiness of the unit. 

The squadron's participation in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture and the AFSOC staff assisted visit pre-inspection gave insight into the capabilities and teamwork of the unit, which underlines the Airmen's preparedness and dedication to providing day-to-day weather support.

"The purpose of Trident Juncture is to train and test the NATO Response Force, which is a highly ready and technologically advanced multi-national force comprising land, air, maritime and special forces components," said Capt. Aaron LeRoy, 352nd SOSS Weather Flight commander. "The 352nd Special Operations Wing weather team focused primarily on integration into the flying operations and timely exploitation of the battle space."

LeRoy, recently named AFSOC Weather Company Grade Officer of the Year, explained the critical need for live weather support.

"Decision makers and crew need immediate information to make critical mission-go or no-go decisions, and that's what we deliver," LeRoy explained. "We often cannot rely on other nations' meteorological networks or data, and therefore exploit the atmosphere with our presence and capabilities."

Staff Sgt. Aaron Brown, 352nd SOSS Weather Flight weather forecaster, explained thresholds of flight, 321st Special Tactics Squadron missions and the importance of providing timely and accurate weather statistics.

"Aircraft have certain thresholds, such as wind or visibility, that they can or can't fly in," Brown said. "For jumpers or drops, weather at the surface level dictates whether they can safely complete the mission. Our flight profiles provide the information whether or not these thresholds are met, which may result in a mission cancelation."

"Three teams in Germany, Spain and Portugal, with critical support from an air operation center at RAF Mildenhall, provided all planning and execution weather operations for special operations forces flying assets," LeRoy said, summarizing the unit's participation in Trident Juncture.

Just days after returning from the NATO exercise, the unit participated in a pre-inspection report. 

"It was conducted by some of the best in AFSOC Weather to conduct tactical equipment training and to further airfield and aircrew support capabilities," LeRoy said. "The AFSOC team conducted a SAV report of equipment operability and troubleshooting procedures, as well as performance-based checks that range from airfield manual observations, atmospheric profiling with our tactical atmospheric sounding kit weather balloon system, to satellite data gathering and analysis."

"They're making sure we are up-to-speed with our equipment," Brown said. "Additionally, our newer forecasters need to be up to date with training so they are prepared for temporary duty assignments, real world scenarios and deployments."

Master Sgt. Braulia Price, 352nd SOSS Weather Flight flight chief, recently named AFSOC Weather Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year, talked about the unit's Airmen and their work ethic.

"We are the SOW's meteorological assets to get aircrews out the door," she said. "My Airmen, as weather forecasters, make that happen. They are what make the mission successful."

The unit passed the SAV report and the success is appointed to the teamwork and dedication of the Airmen at the 352nd SOSS Weather Flight.

"We are always going, always training, and focused on giving 100 percent each and every day," Price said. "I enjoy my work not only because of our mission, but because of the people I work with within my flight and our amazing leadership."