1st Weather Group
Encyclopedia
The 1st Weather Group aligns stateside weather operations with the Air Force warfighting initiative overseeing operational weather squadrons; the 15th OWS at Scott AFB, Ill.; the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; and the 26th OWS at Barksdale AFB, La. The 1st WXG is a subordinate of the Air Force Weather Agency
.
"Provide initial qualification and up-grade training for weather forecaster apprentices and new weather officers.”
, Scott AFB, IL.
25th Operational Weather Squadron
, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
26th Operational Weather Squadron
Barksdale AFB, LA.
from 1952 to 1956, after which they were again deactivated. The group reactivated once again under the 1st Weather Wing from 1966 to 1972 at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. The most recent period of activation was at Fort McPherson
, Ga., from 1992 to 1994 under the Air Combat Command
.
The Group was distinguished with service and campaign streamers from World War II
and Vietnam
. They also earned four outstanding unit award
s and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
The realignment began with the reactivation of the 1st Weather Group, at Offutt AFB, Neb., 25 May. The 1st WXG continues its long and decorated history of providing weather products and service to Air Force and Army units, and is now part of the Air Force Weather Agency
.
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron
, Scott AFB, Ill., was the first of four OWSs to re-align under the newly formed 1st WXG during a ceremony 25 May 2006. The 26th OWS was realigned at Barksdale AFB, 22 Jun. 2006. Next, was the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan on 6 July 2006, and the last addition to the team was the 9th OWS which was re-activated on 20 Jul. 2006 at Shaw AFB. The 9th OWS has since been deactivated on 31 May 2008.
Air Force Weather Agency
The Air Force Weather Agency is a Field Operating Agency and the lead military meteorology center of the United States Air Force...
.
Mission
"Provide accurate, timely, and relevant weather analyses, forecasts, warnings and briefings to Air Force, Army, Guard, Reserve, and Combatant Command forces operating in the continental United States.""Provide initial qualification and up-grade training for weather forecaster apprentices and new weather officers.”
Personnel and resources
The 1st Weather Group is part of the Air Force Weather Agency's worldwide organizational force of more than 1,100 professionals. The 1st WXG manning consists of active duty, reserve, civilian and contract personnel and is headquartered on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.Organization
The 1st Weather Group is organized into three continental United States squadrons. Each of the squadrons produces forecasts for a specified area of the United States. The squadrons also serve as training hubs for new weather professionals – both enlisted and officers.Subordinate units
15th Operational Weather Squadron15th Operational Weather Squadron
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron , based out of Scott Air Force Base, IL, is the largest Operational Weather Squadron in the Continental United States that does not have an overseas mission.-Mission statement:...
, Scott AFB, IL.
25th Operational Weather Squadron
25th Operational Weather Squadron
The 25th Operational Weather Squadron , based out of Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, is the Squadron responsible for the Western United States; the current states in the Area of Responsibility are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and...
, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.
26th Operational Weather Squadron
26th Operational Weather Squadron
The 26th Operational Weather Squadron , based out of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, is the US Air Force meteorological squadron responsible for the Southeastern United States...
Barksdale AFB, LA.
History
The 1st Weather Group has a long and proud heritage starting as the Far East Air Forces Weather Group in October 1944. In September 1945, the 1st WXG was assigned to the 43rd Weather Wing and later that year to the Headquarters Army Air Forces Weather Service. They were deactivated in 1948, and reactivated and assigned to the Air Weather Service at Offutt AFB through the Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
from 1952 to 1956, after which they were again deactivated. The group reactivated once again under the 1st Weather Wing from 1966 to 1972 at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. The most recent period of activation was at Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
, Ga., from 1992 to 1994 under the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
.
The Group was distinguished with service and campaign streamers from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. They also earned four outstanding unit award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
s and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
The realignment began with the reactivation of the 1st Weather Group, at Offutt AFB, Neb., 25 May. The 1st WXG continues its long and decorated history of providing weather products and service to Air Force and Army units, and is now part of the Air Force Weather Agency
Air Force Weather Agency
The Air Force Weather Agency is a Field Operating Agency and the lead military meteorology center of the United States Air Force...
.
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron
15th Operational Weather Squadron
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron , based out of Scott Air Force Base, IL, is the largest Operational Weather Squadron in the Continental United States that does not have an overseas mission.-Mission statement:...
, Scott AFB, Ill., was the first of four OWSs to re-align under the newly formed 1st WXG during a ceremony 25 May 2006. The 26th OWS was realigned at Barksdale AFB, 22 Jun. 2006. Next, was the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan on 6 July 2006, and the last addition to the team was the 9th OWS which was re-activated on 20 Jul. 2006 at Shaw AFB. The 9th OWS has since been deactivated on 31 May 2008.