11th Operational Weather Squadron The 11th Operational Weather Squadron ( 11OWS ) based out of Elmendorf AFB , Alaska , is responsible for forecasting Alaska ’ s weather and analyzing Alaska ' s climate . Mission . The 11th Operational Weather Squadron provides mission tailored , operational , and tactical level meteorological , geological , oceanographic , and space environment products and services for Department of Defense air and land operations in the Alaskan region . They provide headquarters staff support to the Alaskan Command , 11 AF , PACAF , and U . S . Army Alaska , and contingency support to the Alaskan NORAD Region . This weather squadron is responsible for base or post forecasting , developing weather products , briefing transient aircrews , and weather warnings for all of their geographical units . Using automatic observing systems located at all military installations and communicating with their combat weather flights , the squadron is able to ' watch ' the weather in their entire area of responsibility from one central location . The Operational Weather Squadron is the first place a newly schooled weather apprentice will report . At the squadron , working alongside a seasoned weather professional , the forecaster is trained in all aspects of Air Force meteorology , from pilot briefing to tactical forecasting . The weather squadron works closely with the combat weather flights they support to ensure a flawless exchange of weather information . Personnel and resources . 11th Operational Weather Squadron ’ s manning consists of active duty , reserve , civilian and contract personnel and is located on Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , Under the 611th Air Operations Group , Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska . The 11 OWS is in the process of inactivation and merging with the 17th Operational Weather Squadron in Hawaii . This merger will be completed in June 2008 . Lineage . Activations and Inactivations of the 11th Operational Weather Squadron Duty Assignments . List of duty assignments and parent units from 1997 to present . Ladd Field , Alaska , 9th Service Command , 11 January 1941 – c . 1941 Ladd Field , Alaska , Alaska Defense Force c . 1941 – 2 May 1941 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , Alaska Defense Force , 2 May 1941 – 26 February 1942 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 11th Air Force , 26 February 1942 – 22 October 1945 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , AAF Weather Service , 22 October 1945 – 4 December 1945 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 7th Weather Group ( later , 2107th Air Weather Group ) , 4 December 1945 – 20 April 1952 Keesler Air Force Base , Mississippi , Air Weather Service , 20 April 1952 – 20 May 1952 Keesler Air Force Base , Mississippi , 8th Weather Group , 20 May 1952 – 18 November 1957 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 3rd Weather Group , 18 June 1958 – 10 June 1959 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 4th Weather Wing , 1 June 1959 – 30 June 1972 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 3rd Weather Wing , 30 June 1972 – 1 October 1989 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 1st Weather Wing , 1 October 1989 – 30 September 1991 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , Pacific Air Forces , 30 September 1991 – 1 April 1992 Eielson Air Force Base , Alaska , Pacific Air Forces , 1 April 1992 – 15 April 1992 Eielson Air Force Base , Alaska , 343rd Operations Group , 15 April 1992 – 1 June 1992 Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska , 611th Air Operations Group , 19 February 1999 - present Emblem . Approved on 13 Jun 1961 Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors . Blue alludes to the sky , the primary theater of Air Force operations . Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel . The three mountain peaks represent the unit ' s support to the mission of the Alaskan Command , Alaskan NORAD Region and United States Army , Alaska . The Big Dipper constellation denotes the squadron ' s alignment with and support to the 11th Air Force . The anemometer symbolizes the commitment to excellence in weather forecast operations and the snow capped mountain peaks allude to the unit ' s home location and operating conditions . History . The 11th Operational Weather Squadron was constituted as Air Corps Detachment , Weather , Alaska , on November 15 , 1940 . It was activated on January 11 , 1941 , at Ladd Field , Alaska , and assigned to the Ninth Service Command . The squadron relocated to Elmendorf Field on May 2 , 1941 . The squadron was redesignated the 11th Air Corps Squadron , Weather , on February 26 , 1942 , and assigned to the 11th Air Force . It was designated the 11th Weather Squadron on January 6 , 1944 . On October 22 , 1945 it was assigned to the Army Air Forces Weather Service ( later redesignated Air Weather Service ) . The squadron relocated to Keesler AFB , Mississippi in 1952 and was inactivated on November 18 , 1957 . It returned to Elmendorf and was activated on June 18 , 1958 . It was reassigned to Pacific Air Forces on September 30 , 19991 , when weather squadrons of Air Weather Service were transferred to the commands they supported , and was inactivated on June 1 , 1992 following a short stay at Eielson AFB . The squadron was redesignated the 11th Operational Weather Squadron on February 5 , 1999 and activated on February 19 , 1999 . Awards . Service Streamers : World War II Asiatic - Pacific Theater Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for periods : 1 May 1966 – 30 Apr 1968 ; 1 Jun 1969 – 31 May 1971 ; 1 Jan 1975 – 1 Apr 1976 ; 1 Jul 1976 – 30 Jun 1978 ; 1 Jul 1990 – [ 1 ] Jun 1992 .