Special operations weather course has 1st graduate

Published May 6, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Veronica Bird
335th Training Squadron

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Airman 1st Class Sampson Graham, 19, is the first and only graduate so far of the 30-week special operations weather forecaster course in the 335th Training Squadron for the new Air Force specialty code 1W0W2.

SOWT forecasters are components of the Air Force's special tactics teams and are attached to special operations force elements for deployment in non-permissive and politically sensitive areas of operation. New recruits go through two years of specialized training after which they become a member of one of the smallest and most highly trained units in the Department of Defense as well as the only Air Force weathermen trained and equipped with special operations forces.

Airman Graham's next stop is temporary duty to complete the airborne course at Fort Benning, Ga. Then he'll head to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., for underwater egress, water survival, survival, evasion, resistance and escape training. Finally, he'll report to Pope AFB, N.C. for the special operations weather apprentice course before receiving his 3-level badge.