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***image1***The Navy and Air Force weather communities in Europe will jointly support European Command.
Four Naval meteorology and oceanography offices at Naval Activities
Rota, Spain, Naples, Italy, Sigonella, Sicily and Souda Bay, Crete will
close. Their services will move to the Naval Aviation Forecast
Detachment and the 21st Operational Weather Squadron at Sembach.
To realize the Chief of Naval Operations’ plan, the Navy METOC in the
European theater will reduce from 239 personnel to 37 by fiscal year
2008.
This reduction, along with the existing Navy/Air Force European Weather
relationship led to the co-location plan at the 21st OWS, allowing both
services to work together, maximizing Department of Defense resources.
The combination will streamline facilities, security management,
systems integration, administration and costs.
All Naval European aviation weather and resource protection responsibilities will move to the 21st OWS by October 2006.
Fourteen additional personnel will augment the Navy at Sembach for the
transition. The AF/Navy team will provide resource protection and
terminal aerodrome forecasts for all four Navy sites around the clock.
The Navy has deeply integrated with the squadron by working with the
21st OWS director of operations, Maj. Bob Kraetsch and the operations
superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Koch. For example, the NAFD
officer-in-charge is also serving as the 21st OWS assistant director of
operations.
Additionally, Navy forecasters will eventually run the European Desks for both Air Force and Navy sites.
At the Flight Weather Briefing Desk, Navy and Air Force forecasters
completely integrated in June. EUCOM pilots may be supported by either
a Sailor or Airman forecaster. The 21st will also test the Naval Flight
Weather Briefer software program with Army and Air Force aviation this
fall to consider it for operational use in all EUCOM flight weather
requirements.
Administratively, the leading Navy Chief Petty Officer, AGC Jamie
McClain, works closely with the 21st OWS chief enlisted manager, Chief
Master Sgt. Christopher Rambali, to foster the good discipline and
morale of the integrated unit while the Navy OIC and 21st OWS
Commander, Lt. Col. John Shepley, coordinate reimbursement for squadron
services, equipment and consumables used by the Navy.
Navy-specific administrative needs are handled by a Navy personnel
specialist at Navy Expeditionary Logistics Unit Detachment 1 at
Sembach. (Courtesy of the 21st Operational Weather Squadron)
