19th OSS Weather Flight

Published July 19, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Russ Scalf
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- In an area where weather can turn violent at a moment's notice, the 19th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight stands ready to keep Team Little Rock alert to the always changing conditions around base.

Capt. JohnDavid Gasa, weather flight commander, leads a close knit team of weather technicians who have a large impact on the base mission.

"This will be my first go in a tornado rich environment," said Gasa. "I was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base during Hurricane Katrina, where we had two or three days notice to evacuate. To be in Tornado Alley and actually seeing development in six hours or less is going to be challenging, and honestly probably a little frightening."

There is no need for Gasa to be frightened. He has a more than capable team at his side. The weather flight was recognized as the Air Force's best in 2010, and then in 2011 as Air Mobility Command's best.

Part of that team is Staff Sgt. Sarah Peoples.

"Essentially what we do on a day-to-day basis is resource protection. It's probably number one," said Peoples. "When you are hearing that lightening within five, or any kind of weather warning going out, that's us providing the base, the aircraft, anybody working, with an update of what is going to be expected or what is actually happening."

A perfect example of these warnings came just last year, before the storms that spawned an EF2 tornado that ripped across Little Rock Air Force Base.

Staff Sgt. April Stanford issued the warnings in advance of that storm.

"It was pretty intense trying to get the timing down right as to when tornados typically happen during that season," explained Stanford. "We had said the most likely time would be between 6 p.m.-8 p.m. We put out the tornado watch, and I want to say it happened at 7:44 p.m."

Giving ample time to take cover and secure resources is an important and more complex job than simply checking The Weather Channel. A typical day in the weather flight consists of reviewing forecasts coming in from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., making local observations, briefing and advising pilots on weather situations and keeping the base populous safe and informed about the potential for severe weather.

"One of the most important things for people to know is to take it seriously when they hear sirens," said Peoples. "Not stepping outside and taking a look at what's going on, but actually taking cover. We mean business at that point."

Anyone seeking the latest Little Rock Air Force Base weather updates and follow the command post via twitter @19AWCommandPost.