CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada, March 14, 2016 —
The 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing weather flight received its second consecutive Air Combat Command Weather Flight of the Year award Feb. 29, 2016, at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.
To receive the award, a flight must submit an Air Force form 1206 with a list of team accomplishments, for ACC review. The statements found in the 1206 are a testament to the unit’s ability.
“We’re taking care of global operations while also supporting a formal training unit at home station,” said Senior Master Sgt. Ken, 432nd Operations Support Squadron weather flight superintendent. “We have a really impressive team of individuals who are taking care of global combat operations.”
The dedication of the weather flight enables the mission downrange, as well as home station with the training unit and other exercises.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Ken, 432nd Operations Support Squadron weather flight superintendent, compared to a fighter, bomber, or airline aircraft, RPA’s can be just as, if not more susceptible to inclement weather.
Senior Airman Zane, a 432nd OSS weather forecaster added in the worst case scenario, an RPA can crash if they’re not giving up-to-date weather information to the crews.
“Without this information, the crews won’t know where they can’t fly which is huge because they could easily get caught into an icy environment or a storm,” Zane said.
According to leadership, not only is there a sense of duty of knowing these weather Airmen enable the RPA enterprise but a deep camaraderie within the unit that keeps them going
“I can really feel the teamwork, and I feel like we’re more integrated into the mission than at my previous base,” Zane said. “Here we have more interaction with the operations downrange. Everyone works together well and we’re tight knit like a family. We all help each other out.”
As the 432nd weather flight continues to brave each new storm, it takes them closer to another victory on the horizon.