Weather warriors endure 'turbulent climb'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Billy Harris
  • Det. 1, 607th Weather Squadron
CAMP RED CLOUD, Republic of Korea (AFNS) --  Airmen from Det. 1, 607th Weather Squadron participated in a tactical training scenario dubbed Operation Turbulent Climb here Dec. 5.

The weather warriors at Camp Red Cloud are stationed 15 miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone and would likely be one of the first to see action if hostilities were to break out on the Korean peninsula. Operation Turbulent Climb was intended to prepare them for that possibility.

Designed by 1st Lt. Shane Gillies, the chief of tactical operations at Det. 1, the operation featured a tactical foot movement up a hill next to Camp Red Cloud.

During the movement, members of the detachment reported in tactical weather observations over the radio, constructed a visibility chart and wrote chemical downwind messages while traveling nearly five miles with 65 pounds of gear.

"To complete these tasks, Airmen trained on equipment that would be used down range such as the (single channel ground and airborne radio system) radio, Kestrel hand-held weather observation equipment, a (defense advanced GPS receiver) hand-held GPS device and a laser range finder," Lieutenant Gillies said.

Det. 1 is the most forward deployed detachment of the 607th Weather Squadron and is tasked to support the 2nd Infantry Division as well as provide eyes forward for the other weather units on the Korean peninsula.

"If we have to fight tonight, we are side-by-side with the Army units that we support, so we need to be prepared to fight with them," Lieutenant Gillies said. "Not only that, but we need to use our meteorological expertise to exploit the weather and send frontline weather observations back to the other (meteorological and oceanographic) forces."

The detachment was divided into two chalks: one team ascended the hill in the morning while the other team established a home base at Camp Red Cloud and then the two teams switched in the afternoon.

On the way up the hill, each chalk was tested on the various aspects of tactical weather as they ascended more than 1,000 feet in elevation, following preset waypoints on their defense advanced GPS receiver. The two groups came well prepared for every challenge, whether it was a simulated chemical attack, finding the correct pressure conversion while under stress, or overcoming the physical challenges of the event.

Operation Turbulent Climb not only tested the forecasting and tactical skills of these Airmen, but the training exercise also tested their mental and physical toughness. All eight members of the detachment completed the exercise.

After the event was over, many said that it was one of the most intense exercises they have ever taken part in. Regardless, Operation Turbulent Climb helped to ensure that when called to fight, Det. 1 is ready to exploit the weather for victory.