Weather Center staff now supports Stars and Stripes

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) --  In addition to producing roughly 8,400 forecasts a month for 72 locations in 60 different countries, the American Forces Network Weather Center here has added yet another client: Stars and Stripes.

Stars and Stripes is a daily tabloid-style newspaper distributed around the world with a readership of more than 350,000. Its primary audience is U.S. military members, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and their families.

"We're very proud to serve such an historic publication as Stars and Stripes," said Staff Sgt. Rebecca Jones, a broadcast weather technician with the AFNWC. "For them to come to us for their weather information just shows the type of quality forecasts we produce here."

The Stars and Stripes staff previously got weather forecasts from AccuWeather, but decided not to renew their contract with them this past fall.

"We decided to put our own weather page together using information from the Associated Press and the Air Force's weather Web site," said Mary Bender, Stars and Stripes assistant managing editor. "When we encountered some issues with the (AFN) Web site we contacted the center for assistance. In the course of the conversation on how to get the information, (they) offered to provide us daily forecasts via e-mail."

"We provide them forecasts in an Excel document by 12 o'clock central time every day," said Staff Sgt. Brian Thompkins, a broadcast weather technician with the AFNWC.

Due to Stars and Stripes' far-reaching distribution list (they publish five daily editions: Mideast, Europe, Japan, Korea and Okinawa and a weekly in the United Kingdom), the AFNWC did have to rearrange their schedules to meet the newspaper's deadlines.

"Their deadline isn't too difficult to meet for the more experienced broadcast weather technicians," Sergeant Thompkins said. "And we are more than happy to support military and DOD personnel in any way we can to make their lives in unfamiliar places a little more like being at home."

"We're very happy with the center's response to our needs," Ms. Bender said. "The transition has gone well."

In addition to weather forecasts, this new partnership also has provided Stars and Stripes editors with some valuable feedback from the field as well.

"(The AFN Weather Center) has let us know if there is a change or a request to add a location," Ms. Bender said. "For instance, they let me know recently that the American commander in Hungary requested that we add Papa, where U.S. servicemembers are based, to the Europe map. So we did."

While the relationship between the AFNWC and Stars and Stripes staffs is young and still in its infancy, both sides are keen on seeing it continue.

"We're very happy to have them on board with us," Sergeant Jones said. "As we move forward we'll continue to look for ways to improve this partnership and possibly see it grow even more."

"I appreciate the working relationship we've been able to develop with the AFN Weather Center," Ms. Bender said. "I hope we can continue the relationship for years to come."

The AFNWC is part of the 2nd Weather Squadron and their broadcasts are seen by nearly one-million military members and their families on American Forces Radio and Television Service stations around the world.

"We are very excited about adding the Stars and Stripes to our growing list of responsibilities," said Lt. Col. Jim Jones, 2nd WS commander. "Weather affects all aspects of military life and we are pleased to be a part of the daily lives of Americans stationed overseas."