Captain Darrick B. Lee, Joint Special
Operations Task Force Philippines, Public Affairs
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- As U.S. Forces continue their
drawdown from Iraq, the military is continuing to support counter-terrorism
efforts elsewhere around the globe. While Afghanistan remains the more
widely-known theater of operations, there are other places where Airmen serve.
One such place is Zamboanga, located in the southern Philippines.
Although the United States history in the Philippines dates back to more than a
century, the emergence of terrorist groups in the southern part of the country
placed renewed emphasis on the region since 2001. A lot has changed since
General John “Blackjack” Pershing served as governor-general here at the turn
of the century. Still, the U.S. military presence, while temporary, is a
fixture in Zamboanga.
Nestled in Camp Navarro, home of the Philippine military’s
Western Mindanao Command, is U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force -
Philippines. JSOTF-P is comprised of special operations forces from all four
services, including U.S. Army Green Berets, Navy S.E.A.L.s, Marine Special
Operations Forces and Air Force Commandos. Supported by a small staff, JSOTF-P’s mission is focused on
providing advice to the Philippine military and assisting them in their fight
against terrorism. They are currently focused on pursuing the Abu Sayyaff Group
(ASG) and Jemiah Islamiah (JI), two terrorist groups operating in the islands
of Mindanao, Basilan and Sulu.
This is not an easy task in a country comprised of more than
7000 islands. Absent here are Hummers and mine-resistant ambush-protected
vehicles, as military airlift takes center stage. To ensure SOF are able to move
freely in the area, JSOTF-P maintains a small fleet of PC-12 and C-12 fixed-wing
aircraft, complemented by Bell 214 helicopters for use in the jungle areas
where U.S. and Philippine forces are collocated.
JSOTF-P relies on their Joint Special Operations Air
Detachment (JSOAD) to fly and maintain the aircraft. JSOAD operates much like
Airmen do at any other flight line, scheduling flights and ensuring the safety of
air operations that support Special Forces. The unit shares the airfield with Zamboanga
International Airport, which doubles as Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), owned by
the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
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U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Carrie Volpe, a weather
forecaster deployed with Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines,
remotely monitors the status of a TMQ-53 weather sensor 30 Nov. Through her
computer, Volpe can provide real-time weather forecasting in support of special
operations in the southern Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Matthew P. Troyer/released)
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Sharing a runway means sharing the responsibility for flight
safety. U.S. Airmen are embedded with the PAF, living and working near the flight
line. Shouldering the responsibility for U.S. weather reporting and forecasting
is Technical Sergeant Carrie Volpe, JSOAD’s weather forecaster.
TSgt. Volpe’s home station is Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,
HI, where she serves as a forecast supervisor for 20 U.S. military bases in Korea
and Japan. There, Volpe performed the same job she performs in JSOAD; she
provides detailed weather reports to help mission planners conduct safe flying and
ground operations.
In Hawaii, equipped with the latest meteorological tools at
the 17th Operational Weather Squadron, her biggest hurdle was simply keeping up
with the workload. With multiple airfield forecasts and weather warnings across
a 113 million square-mile area of responsibility, the need for up-to-date
weather reporting is constant.
When Volpe arrived at Zamboanga in September, she found a
similar need. However, as guests of a host-nation airport, with limited
meteorological equipment and a separate operating schedule, providing timely
and accurate weather forecasts became a challenge.
“We used to receive periodic weather observations from
EAAB,” said Volpe, who is originally from Epsom, NH. “But sometimes, when EAAB reports weren’t available, or
their schedule didn’t synchronize up with our operations, we had to give pilots
the weather based on our best estimate.”
That’s what she used to do.
When an Air Force Special Operations Command Safety Team
paid a visit to the JSOTF-P in October, Volpe saw it as a chance to let the
brass know how to improve air operations in the southern Philippines. She
recommended the purchase of a weather sensor, capable of providing electronic
forecasts and sharing it with aviators world-wide. Not only would the sensor
help the U.S. forces operating out of Zamboanga, but it could assist the
Philippine Air Force and all aviators who need to know about local weather.
AFSOC liked the idea. However, the Air Force has an almost
never-ending list of good ideas … Many of them remain unfunded. With the cost
of an average weather sensor running more than $150,000, the current financial picture
cast a shadow over the prospect of adding one to Volpe’s office.
Volpe’s boss, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Doug Carroll, in
response to AFSOC’s safety assessment, searched for solutions. Carroll serves
as the JSOAD Commander, but at his home station, he leads the 353 Special
Operations Support Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
“I knew the 353 SOSS had the equipment and capability,” said
Carroll. “With approval from Special Operations Command Pacific, the 353rd was
able to rapidly deploy the sensor to the Philippines.”
Shortly after Carroll’s call, a brand new TMQ-53 Automated Observation
System (TMOS) weather sensor arrived, escorted by MSgt. Scott Williams, the 353rd
weather flight’s NCO in charge. Shortly after he landed, the sensor was
installed and working.
To Volpe, whose primary concern is providing the most
accurate forecasts to pilots about to fly into austere conditions, it was the
perfect gift, just in time for the holidays.
“The TMOS gives us a credible source of weather information,”
explained Sgt. Volpe when describing the sensor. “We can generate our own
weather observations, and we can do it independently.”
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A recently-installed TMQ-53 sensor collects weather data
from the top of a building at Edwin Andrews Air Base, Philippines. U.S. Air
Force Airmen support flight operations in the southern Philippines by sharing
the runway in Zamboanga, and providing weather forecasts in support of U.S.
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew P. Troyer/released)
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The TMOS collects data on current wind conditions, cloud heights,
lightning, temperature, precipitation and more. In a joint special operations
environment, where weather can have a severe impact on success, Volpe is pleased
to have a little help.
The Philippine Air Force will be able to use the new sensor
as they pursue the ASG and JI. Whether it’s a combat resupply mission, a
request for close-air support, or a casualty evacuation, their operations will
benefit from having the real-time forecasting Volpe provides.
“It feels good to know that I can confidently tell pilots
and aircrew what to expect prior to take-off,” Volpe added. “I hope it helps
build their trust in our support to them.”
U.S. Government employees with a CAC-enabled computer can
view current weather conditions in Zamboanga by surfing to https://afweather.afwa.af.mil/weather/met/met_home.html
.