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Det. 2, 607th Weather Squadron, hosts Korean Air Force, civilian weather experts

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Detachment 2 of the 607th Weather Squadron hosted an open house for a dozen members of the Republic of Korea Air Force Weather Wing and civilian members of the Korean Meteorological Administration on Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Nov. 1.

The Korean forecasters were given briefings on the mission and capabilities of Det. 2, demonstrations of their equipment and tours of the Camp Humphreys flightline.

The 607th WS works alongside the ROKAF Weather Wing at Yongsan Garrison and uses several KMA products to produce their forecasts. Because of this, Capt. Morton Bartlett, Det. 2 commander, said it makes sense to strengthen the relationship between all three organizations.

"The goal of the open house is to give, not only the combined weather personnel at Yongsan, but also the ROK KMA, an idea of how we integrate weather products into aviation," he said.

Events like this between U.S. and Korean forecasters are common, given the close relationship between the organizations, added Lt. Col. James Weaver, 607th WS commander.

"It's a huge partnership between us and the Koreans as far as doing weather forecasting here on the Peninsula," said Weaver. "We have to give our senior leaders, both Korean and U.S., one forecast, regardless of who it comes from. So it's these kind of events that let us get together and strengthen our partnership, and that translates into 'one theater, one forecast.'"

Det. 2 is comprised of 24 Airmen, four of which are stationed at Seoul Air Base. The detachment supports the Army's 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade. It is the only military unit on the Peninsula that is open every hour of every day. It supports 34,000 flight hours annually and provides garrison support, allowing resource protection of $5 billion is construction and $2 billion in aviation assets, Bartlett said.

Bartlett said that though the detachment is a small one, it provides a crucial service.
"A lot of people take the weather for granted," he said. "Not many people know how weather products are created and integrated into the aviation mission. Each flight out of here requires a flight weather brief, and there isn't a U.S. Army aviation mission on the Peninsula that we don't touch."