GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- The 7th Weather Squadron completed its "Cadre Focus" training, April 27, 2016 at the Germany Army Air Field, here.
Cadre Focus is a week-long course that is part of their annual combat mission readiness training and focused on environmental analysis for support of U.S. Army aviation operations.
"Cadre Focus is 7th Weather Squadron's premier training event where our Airmen are properly trained to support U.S. Army Europe, and all of the operations done across the European Command," said Col. Eric Chapital, Commander for the 4th Air Support Operations Group, Wiesbaden, Germany.
During this training the Airmen received instructions on how to make weather forecasts using little or no technology and by making observations about the environment.
Weather forecasters must provide information to the commander that will aide in the planning of their mission: real-world or exercise.
"We want to make sure our Airmen are able to integrate with the Army early in their decision making process so that the commander can take advantage of the weather and not be restricted by it," said Lt. Col. Matthew Sattler, Director of operations for the 7th Weather Squadron.
These Airmen familiarized themselves with the broadband global area network (BGAN), a global satellite internet network terminal the size of a laptop, used to connect computers to the internet in a remote location in order to retrieve weather data.
Then, these weather forecasters linked the BGAN to the Tactical Meteorological Observing System, the TMQ-53, which uses low orbiting satellites and sensors to collect weather data.
They also practiced using iridium satellite phones for communication, sending information wherever it is needed.
Finally, using a Kestrel 4500, a handheld temperature sensor, along with a laser range finder, a dated satellite image, and their observations about the environment, these Airmen applied weather analysis against the commander's objectives to produce a weather forecast that shape his decisions for mission planning.
"We are getting back to our roots in weather forecasting," said Sattler. "This is being able to forecast without having a lot of data available or without using normal fixed-base weather monitoring systems."
"When we are facing a near peer adversary, we may not have the communication systems or technology that we usually have. We need to be able to forecast by going outside and looking at the sky, taking observations and use whatever data we have available to put together a forecast." He said.
Chapital explained, "The forecasters go to the field with our supported Army units all the time. We just came back from supporting the 173rd Airborne and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade at Saber Junction. This prepares them so when they go to the field they can actually do the job."
"This training has been awesome," said Senior Airman Angelica Gardner, weather forecaster assigned to 7th Weather Squadron. "This is my first time doing this training. I would love to have had this training before I went to my last exercise. But I'm glad that I'm getting the training now."
In June, more than 20 Airmen will travel to Poland to support the U.S. Army in Exercise Anaconda.
"We have Observer Coach Trainers that will go with them to make sure they are actually doing their job right," said Chapital.
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