Posted on Feb 16, 2016
How does one apply for a Weather position from outside the military?
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I am a National Guard veteran and I am absolutely ON FIRE for pursuing a career in Meteorology with the military. I have a lot of experience (self-obtained) in my science. I am a forecaster for a veteran's group in my local area, I have been a Storm Spotter for 17 years (NOT to be confused with a regular storm chaser). In 2012, I obtained my Advanced Storm Spotter certification, in a class presented by none other than Greg Carbin, former WCM at SPC. I am also co-host of a weather podcast called "Polygon".
The person I aspire to be the most like in the weather enterprise said this: "Have a servant's heart, and you will go far."
I believe I possess every word of that quote, and I intend on living by that every minute of every day.
With the drawdowns being how they are right now, none of the services seem to looking for people like me right off the street.
Does anyone have any idea how to get in the Meteorology career field? I am willing to do pretty much anything to make it happen, (aside from breaking the law, haha) and I believe that I would be a great asset to a military weather team.
The person I aspire to be the most like in the weather enterprise said this: "Have a servant's heart, and you will go far."
I believe I possess every word of that quote, and I intend on living by that every minute of every day.
With the drawdowns being how they are right now, none of the services seem to looking for people like me right off the street.
Does anyone have any idea how to get in the Meteorology career field? I am willing to do pretty much anything to make it happen, (aside from breaking the law, haha) and I believe that I would be a great asset to a military weather team.
Posted in these groups: 
1W0X1: Weather
Weather Forecaster
251X0: Weather Observer
15WX: Weather
1W0X2: Special Operations Weather
1W0X1: Weather Weather Forecaster 251X0: Weather Observer 15WX: Weather 1W0X2: Special Operations Weather
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 6
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How old are you? If you're <23 years old you might qualify for the USAF Academy, especially as a former Guardman. It offers meteorology BS degrees and make weather officers.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Oh sorry -- the service academies will take waiver requests, but probably not that much of one :-(
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A civilian friend of mine (former TV weatherman) just raised his right hand late last year and DEPPed into the AF Reserves and is currently awaiting a position at the USAF Forecaster schoolhouse at Keesler AFB. Once he gets the forecaster school slot he will go to Basic, then initial skills training. He went through an AF Reserve recruiter near Kansas City, but first did his homework: He arrived at the recruiter's office armed with contact information for the two AF Reserve weather units he was interested in joining. There's one at Scott AFB (near St. Louis) and one at Shaw AFB (near Columbia, SC). The recruiter made contact with those two units and got the availability information that way.
PS: I got to hear Greg Carbin speak several years ago in Omaha, NE. I really enjoyed it!
PS: I got to hear Greg Carbin speak several years ago in Omaha, NE. I really enjoyed it!
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SGT Matt Schiess
THIS is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for! I've visited a recruiter already, but he's basically saying that there's no availability, so finding a way around that is a great first step in my mind.
Thank you very much for the insight!
I live in Iowa, so Scott AFB may be a good place, but location isn't a real issue, as I'm willing to go anywhere to master my science.
I plan on hearing Greg speak for the first time at the Iowa State Universit Met Dept Radar Conference next month, so I'm plenty excited for that. Best severe weather mind in the game, IMHO.
Thanks again! If you have any more helpful tips, I'm ALL ears.
Thank you very much for the insight!
I live in Iowa, so Scott AFB may be a good place, but location isn't a real issue, as I'm willing to go anywhere to master my science.
I plan on hearing Greg speak for the first time at the Iowa State Universit Met Dept Radar Conference next month, so I'm plenty excited for that. Best severe weather mind in the game, IMHO.
Thanks again! If you have any more helpful tips, I'm ALL ears.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
Can you go active duty? Or are you just sticking with Reserves? The recruiter needs to talk to the 12th Operational Weather Flight at Scott or the 5th Operational Weather Flight at Shaw. For my friend, yes there was availability (as of about last October) but there's a LONG wait for a tech training school slot...perhaps at least a year?
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