Combat weather keeps leaders ready to fight tonight Published Feb. 26, 2014 By Senior Airman Marcus Morris 7th Air Force Public Affairs OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Weather plays a crucial role when it comes to planning out day-to-day functions, training missions and war. During Exercise Key Resolve 2014, the 607th Air Operations Center Combat Operations Division Weather Specialty team ensures operational plans run smoothly. Whether it's exercises or wartime operations, the 607 AOC CODW provides accurate weather information to help leaders exploit the weather for air, ground and naval assets and allow them to change battle tactics rapidly. Information must be turned out quickly to allow bombs to be dropped on target and forces properly placed. Since weather is unique to each country, forecasters have to not only read the weather, but understand if aircraft can fly in those conditions. "Weather is science and chaos mixed," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gary Clinton 607th AOC CODW chief of weather operations. "It takes thick skin to do this job as weather constantly changes, but when you succeed, missions can launch and the rewards are enormous." It takes about a year in place to experience the seasonal effects and understand their operational impacts; however, many times this is only a one year assignment, so working with the Republic of Korea Air Force's weather personnel is crucial to properly assessing the weather conditions. "We work very closely with our [Republic of Korea Air Force] counterparts with weather forecasting here on the Peninsula," Clinton said. "We have to make sure we have the same forecast to strengthen the ROK-U.S. cohesion. So it's these kinds of events that let us get together and reinforce our partnership." Exercises like Key Resolve '14 are valuable in many ways, said ROKAF 1st Lt. Seong Soo Kim, Osan Weather Squadron. "The exercise is very beneficial," Kim said. "It lets us collaborate with our allied forces on weather, compare knowledge and share our experience of the local weather patterns." Clinton agreed with his counterpart. "The exercise forces us to play like we're at war. It helps us understand nuances between ROK-U.S. techniques and allows us to go forward together with the concept of 'one theater, one forecast,'" the major concluded.