United States Air Force Special Operations Weather Technician Special Operations Weather Team ( SOWT ) ( AFSC 1W0X2 ) specialists are tactical observer / forecasters with ground combat capabilities and fall under the 720th Special Tactics Group within the Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ) . The mission of a Special Operations Weather Team Specialist is to deploy by the most feasible means available into combat and non - permissive environments to collect and interpret meteorological data and provide air and ground forces commanders with timely , accurate intelligence . They collect data , assist mission planning , generate accurate and mission - tailored target and route forecasts in support of global special operations , conduct special weather reconnaissance and train foreign national forces . SOWTs provide vital intelligence and deploy with joint air and ground forces in support of direct action , counter - terrorism , foreign internal defense , humanitarian assistance , special reconnaissance , austere airfield , and combat search and rescue . History . During World War II , Air Force ' s combat weathermen supported the American effort against the Japanese in the China - Burma - India theater of operations . They also participated in the European theater at Normandy Beach , France ; and in the Netherlands and Yugoslavia . The 10th Weather Squadron reactivated at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand , to conduct combat weather operations in Southeast Asia on 16 June 1966 . The squadron trained indigenous weather personnel and set up the clandestine weather observation networks throughout Southeast Asia . The 10th Weather Squadron played an important part in the raid on the Son Tay POW camp ( a . k . a . Operation Ivory Coast ) of 1970 . The mission was planned around advanced weather reconnaissance by the 10th WS . It has been reported that elements of the 10th WS also conducted on - the - ground weather reconnaissance in areas along the Ho Chi Minh trail in support of covert air interdiction , strafing , and armed reconnaissance missions against the communist Viet Cong guerillas & North Vietnamese Army soldiers that used the trail . Special operations weathermen have directly participated in the majority of modern special operations contingency operations since Operation Urgent Fury , the U . S . invasion of Grenada working with other special operations and conventional forces . These recent successes include operations Just Cause in Panama , Desert Shield / Desert Storm , Task Force Ranger operations in Somalia , Uphold Democracy in Haiti , operations in Bosnia and counter narcotics operations in South America , as well as ongoing operations in support of Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom . Special operations weathermen were not included in the failed US embassy hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980 , known as Operation Eagle Claw . A report by the Holloway Commission , formed to examine what went wrong with the mission , pointed out that the lack of weather intelligence personnel on the ground was one of the key factors in the mission failure . Training . Special operations weathermen are among the most highly trained personnel in the U . S . military . They maintain the same weather weapon system qualifications as all Air Force weathermen in addition to advanced special tactics skills . Their 2 . 5 to 3 years of training and unique mission skills earn them the grey beret . Previously , only those who were already in a weather - related specialty were recruited for training , but on 5 May 2008 , the Air Force approved the establishment of a new Air Force Specialty Code for Special Operations Weather , formally recognizing their commitment to deploy into restricted environments by air , land or sea to conduct weather operations , observe and analyze all weather data and environmental intelligence . This course focuses on sports physiology , nutrition , basic exercises , special operations weather history and fundamentals . This course prepares special operations weather apprentices . Training includes basic , intermediate , and advanced meteorology , report writing and computer usage . Other topics include satellite meteorology , weather chart analysis , weather radar , weather products , tropical meteorology , synoptic level analytical meteorology , weather prognosis techniques , forecasting weather elements to include severe weather , synoptic lab , forecasting lab , and a unit on the weather career field and weather equipment . Additionally , this time is also used to train students physically and mentally for the rigors of the rest of their pipeline . Students train alongside combat controllers to develop the team mindset they will use during their career . Trainees learn the basic parachuting skills required to infiltrate an objective area by static line airdrop . This course teaches basic survival techniques for remote areas . Instruction includes principles , procedures , equipment and techniques , which enable individuals to survive , regardless of climatic conditions or unfriendly environments and return home . This two - day course teaches principles , procedures , techniques , and equipment that enhance the ability to survive in a water environment and return to friendly control . This course teaches the principles , procedures , and techniques necessary to successfully egress from a sinking aircraft . Experiencing water entry and performing underwater egress is part of the training . This 13 - week course provides final special operations weather qualifications . Training includes physical training , austere weather operations , tactical weather observations , small unit tactics , land navigation , communications , demolitions , and field operations including parachuting . Upon completing the course graduates are awarded a 3 - skill level ( apprentice ) , gray beret and SOWT crest . This four phase course , formal training , core tasks , employment readiness training , and operational readiness training , produces operators ready for deployment as special operations weathermen The following is a list of schools which are available to certain SOWT candidates based upon the needs of their unit and the Air Force : Initial Training . Riverine Assessment , Avalanche Survival Training , Military Freefall ( HALO / HAHO ) , SCUBA Mission . Special Operations Weathermen are U . S . Air Force meteorologists with unique training to operate in hostile or denied territory . They gather , assess , and interpret weather and environmental intelligence from forward deployed locations , working primarily with Air Force and Army Special Operations Forces . SOWTs can also be attached to Marine MARSOC and Navy SEAL teams . They collect weather , ocean , river , snow and terrain intelligence , assist mission planning , generate accurate mission - tailored target and route forecasts in support of global special operations and train joint force members and coalition partners to take and communicate limited weather observations . Additionally , Special Operations Weathermen conduct special reconnaissance , collect upper air data , organize , establish and maintain weather data reporting networks , determine host nation meteorological capabilities and train foreign national forces . Every Special Operations Forces mission is planned using the intelligence and coordination of special operations weathermen . Notes . Special Operations Weather Team members were known as Air Commando Weathermen in the 1960s , and Special Operations Weather Team members through the 1970s and 1980s . They were known as Combat Weathermen until the late 1990s when base weather stations were " redesignated " as Combat Weather Teams ( CWT ) . This caused quite a bit of confusion and prompted the name change from Combat Weatherman to Special Operations Weather Team specialists . Today ' s Combat Weather Teams typically provide front - line combat weather support to regular Army , Navy , Marine , Air Force , and Coast Guard units and their members receive combat training depending on the types of units they support . Air Force special operations weathermen now have a new specialty code they can call their own . Recruiters can enlist trainees directly into the 1W0X2 special operations weathermen career field since the new Air Force specialty code is now in the enlisted classification directory . Before this new AFSC , weather Airmen applied to become special operations weather after already being in the Air Force . They were sent to work and live on Army post , where they relied on the Army for equipment and training . There was no standardized training , according to Chief Master Sgt . Andrew Hopwood , Air Force Special Operations Command weather functional manager . " The new AFSC will provide special operations weathermen the right technical , physical and tactical training from day one . This will greatly enhance their battlefield observing , environmental reconnaissance and forecasting missions , " said Chief Hopwood . Because of time between classes , Airmen previously spent four years training to become special operations weathermen . Under the new program , they will finish training in approximately two and half years . The first Basic Military Training graduates enter the new training pipeline January 2009 . Trainees will attend the two - week Special Operations Weathermen Selection Course at Lackland Air Force Base , Texas . This is a physical training assessment with progressive training to prepare candidates for the next phase . After the selection course , students will attend their initial skills course at Keesler AFB , Miss . , for 30 weeks where they will go through the Air Force Weather Course and endure additional physical training elements . Upon completion of their initial skills course , they will earn their jump qualification from Airborne school at Fort Benning , GA , and attend Survival school at Fairchild AFB , WA . They will then train side - by - side with combat controllers at the Special Operations Weather Apprentice Course at Pope Field , NC , before being assigned to the Special Tactics Training Squadron here . They will learn additional weather skills necessary to deploy and operate in stressful environments . Training will also include basic communication , navigation , employment techniques , weapons training and small unit tactics . Special operations weathermen have now over 150 slots , but are currently only 65 percent manned . Once Airmen become special operations weathermen , they will be assigned to Hurlburt ' s 10th Combat Weather Squadron and will be stationed at detachments across the United States . These assignments include : Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ) AFSOC / DOW , Hurlburt Field , FL 720th Special Tactics Group , Hurlburt Field , FL HQ 10th Combat Weather Squadron , Hurlburt Field , FL OL - A , Fort Lewis , WA Det 2 , Fort Campbell KY OL - B , Fort Carson , CO OL - C , Fort Benning , GA OL - D , Fort Bragg , NC 321st Special Tactics Sq , RAF Mildenhall , UK 320th Special Tactics Sq , Torii Station , Japan US Army Special Operations Command , Fort Bragg , NC Air National Guard ( ANG ) 123d Special Tactics Sq , Louisville , KY 125th Special Tactics Sq , Portland , OR 107th Weather Flight , 25090 Altus Street , Bldg 1414 , Selfridge Air National Guard Base , MI 48045 ( near Detroit ) 146th Weather Flight , GTR Pittsburgh Air Guard Station , PA 15108 181st Weather Flight , Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth / Carswell Field , TX 76127