Air Force provides Army's weather support

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. John Lasky
  • Air Force Print News
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  Many people do not realize the U.S. Army receives its weather support from the Air Force as part of an inter-service agreement when the two became separate services.

Airmen from the 7th Weather Squadron, with headquarters at Heidelberg, Germany, have been providing that support since 1942.

Supporting operations for the Army's 1st Armored Division at Wiesbaden Army Airfield are members of the squadron's Detachment 6. Nine Air Force special weather observers are assigned there. They make up one of 26 weather detachments throughout Europe forecasting at home base or wearing battle and rattle next to a tent.

"It's a bit rougher here, but I love it," said Tech. Sgt. Gina Faulds, a Chino, Calif., native who is the NCO in charge of the detachment. "There's great camaraderie, and I really wouldn't miss going back to an assignment supporting the Air Force."

The squadron's battlefield weather teams predict the impact weather will have on Army and joint operations. This, in turn, gives leadership at all levels the ability to adjust both operational and tactical strategies, helping to further mission success.

Success has been duly noted as the unit was awarded the Air Force's 2005 General Thomas Moorman award for the outstanding weather unit providing specialized weather support. The unit was also named the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's outstanding combat weather team for 2005.

Formed in the Pacific theater during World War II, the 7th WS moved to Europe in 1959 after being inactivated in 1945 and has been supporting the U.S. Army in Europe ever since. Weather observers from the 7th WS have been involved in combat operations extending from Africa to the Balkans and Southwest Asia.