352nd SOSS Weather Airman supports Norway Partnership Development Program

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Tech. Sgt. Alvin Muecke, 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron Weather flight NCO in charge, recently travelled 540 miles north of the Arctic Circle, to Bardufoss, Norway, as part of the Norwegian Partnership Development Program.

"The 352nd Special Operations Wing were working with our partner nation's special operations forces to enhance our relationship in the Arctic environment," said Muecke,. "My role was to provide weather support to the aircrew."

Muecke and explained how the special operations weather flight differs from that of the 100th Air Refueling Wing.

"The (100th Operations Support Squadron) weather flight stays here; they're in charge of this airfield," he said. "We're tasked to deploy with aircrew from other squadrons in the 352nd SOW - we provide direct weather support from that location. We have the capability to set up at an austere location and predict the weather in a way that sometimes the local weather service may not be able to do.

"I took a tactical, meteorological observing system and set that up. I was then able to pull in live weather data and provide that to the aircrew. On top of that, I was filling out mission briefs, forecasting the weather for their missions and providing them with any other type of weather products that they required," explained Muecke.

Although he didn't have the opportunity to work directly with the Norwegians, the NCO worked alongside U.S. special forces aircrew, providing support to them as they worked hand-in-hand with the Norwegian Air Force, performing air drops together.

Muecke said he volunteered for the TDY as he loves to travel and had never been to Norway.

"One of the best parts was being able to see the country," he exclaimed. "Our location was kind of set in a valley, so we had mountains all around us and there was snow everywhere."

The NCO said fulfilling his role as part of the tactical operations center, and having the opportunity to be involved with the Norwegian Partnership Development Program, meant a lot to him.

"Just being able to do my part, and seeing the mission succeed was a great feeling," he said. "Because of us, they were able to fulfil their mission capabilities and I was able to provide them with solid weather forecasts, preventing them from going out whenever the weather wasn't suitable."

Working with the special operations allies provided Muecke valuable experience, which he was able to bring back to his work center at RAF Mildenhall.

"I have a better sense of how to perform my job," he said. "I was supposed to go with somebody else, but they were pulled out, so I was left to learn everything on my own, which helped me in a way as I had to do everything hands-on, and that's how I learn best."

The 352nd SOSS Weather flight Airman said it was definitely a learning experience, and something he was glad he got to do, as it gave him better confidence to do his job back at home station.

He definitely recommends the experience to others.

"A lot of people weren't too keen on going there as it was the Arctic and it's cold. The place where you're at is only going to be as bad as you make it; if you go in there with the right mindset, a positive mindset, you'll enjoy the trip a lot better," he said.

The support provided by those in the 352nd SOSS Weather flight is vital to the special operations forces.

"What we do aids in the decision-making process; my role in providing the weather can either make or break a mission," said Muecke. "They can either decide to go or no-go, based on what I give them. There were a couple of times the mission was cancelled because the weather was too bad for them, so in essence that potentially saved lives, money and our assets by not taking that unnecessary risk."

The technical sergeant's leadership is proud of him and all he does to get the mission done.

"He's a very diligent NCO in charge and coming here last year was very quick to learn our tactical equipment and what it means to be integrated into the flying squadrons," said Capt. Aaron LeRoy, 352nd SOSS Weather flight commander. "He keeps situational awareness of what the aircrew needs in regards to take-off weather and divert weather, and everything they need to know about the environment so they can conduct their mission efficiently and safely."

Aircraft have certain thresholds, such as wind or visibility, that they can or can't fly in and LeRoy described how the need for live weather support is critical.

"Decision makers and crew need immediate information to make critical mission-go or no-go decisions, and that's what we deliver," he said. "Sergeant Muecke ensured that training with our partner nations was successful. He did exceptionally well. While he had equipment to help him with his observations, he was the sole SOF weather entity up there in a very harsh environment, so his efforts and impact were definitely needed."