Operational Weather Squadrons conduct weather operations in support of Total Force Army and Air Force operations covering a specified geographical region of the world. Weather officers and enlisted weather technicians operate around the clock to provide installation forecasts, aviation hazard decision aids, flight weather briefings, and weather advisories, watches and warnings.
These regional weather 'hubs' are responsible for producing base or post forecasts, developing weather decision aids, briefing aircrews, and issuing weather advisories, watches and warnings for all units in their geographical area. Using automated observing systems located at most major installations and communicating with base or post weather flights, the squadron is able to 'forecast' the weather for the entire area of responsibility from one central location.
The 25th Operational Weather Squadron (25 OWS), located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, generates asymmetric advantage through weather intelligence. The squadron integrates with Department of Defense and inter-agency mission partners to deter National Defense Strategy adversaries and deny them influence, counter threats from transnational criminal organizations, and ensure homeland security. The 25 OWS continuously generates combat power by deploying Airmen forward to enable power projection to satisfy Combatant Commander requirements.
When at home station, 25 OWS Airmen provide resource protection for 53 Department of Defense sites across North, Central, and South America, providing Commanders with time to mitigate risk ahead of destructive weather events, enabling a ready force and ensuring homeland security. The 25 OWS also converges with multiple Information Warfare units, combining global weather forecast capability for friendly and adversary locations with current intelligence to predict and counter adversary behavior and expose adversary intentions. By generating these insights, 25 OWS enables our nation to compete in the Gray Zone, achieving U.S. interests and deterring adversary escalation.
(Current as of August 2022)