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18th Weather Squadron changes name

close up on guidon for the 18th Combat Weather Squadron

The 18th Weather Squadron hosts a redesignation ceremony and becomes the 18th Combat Weather Squadron at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, September 18, 2020. The ceremony involved furling the old guidon and unfurling the new one to demonstrate the change of name and symbolize the formation of a new unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

Squadron salutes flag

Airmen of the 18th Weather Squadron salute the American flag during a redesignation ceremony where the squadron became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron, September 18, 2020 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Adding “combat” to the squadron’s name recognized the different mission of the 18th CWS from other weather squadrons in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

Group commander speaks to the squadron

Col. Jonathan King, 18th Air Support Operations Group commander, addresses the 18th Weather Squadron during a redesignation ceremony that changed the squadron’s name, September 18, 2020, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 18th Weather Squadron became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron during the ceremony, highlighting the specific skills and training required of weather squadrons that support the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

Airman listens during ceremony

Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Roger, 18th Combat Weather Squadron superintendent, listens to the redesignation ceremony that changed the name of his squadron, September 18, 2020, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The name change recognized the difference in missions between Air Force weather squadrons that support the Army and those that perform other missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

unfurling the guidon

Lt. Col. Danele Richardson, 3d Combat Weather Squadron commander, unfurls a new guidon during a redesignation ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, September 18, 2020. The ceremony changed the name of the squadron to recognize the different mission of forecasting weather for the Army. (Courtesy photo)

commander speaks

Lt. Col. Danele Richardson, 3d Combat Weather Squadron commander, addresses her squadron during a redesignation ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, September 18, 2020. The ceremony changed the name of the squadron by adding combat to the name. (Courtesy photo)

squadron leaders stand at attention

Col. Jonathan King (left), the 18th Air Support Operations Group commander, and Maj. David Mack (right), 18th Combat Weather Squadron commander, prepare to furl the squadron’s old guidon during a redesignation ceremony, September 18, 2020, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 18th Weather Squadron became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron during the ceremony, highlighting the specific skills and training required of weather squadrons that support the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

commander unfurls new guidon

Col. Jonathan King (left), the 18th Air Support Operations Group commander, and Maj. David Mack (center), 18th Combat Weather Squadron commander, unfurl the squadron’s new guidon during a redesignation ceremony, September 18, 2020, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 18th Weather Squadron became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron during the ceremony, highlighting the specific skills and training required of weather squadrons that support the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

squadron commander speaks to squadron

Maj. David Mack, 18th Combat Weather Squadron commander, speaks to his Airmen during a redesignation ceremony at Fort Bragg, September 18, 2020. The 18th Weather Squadron became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron during the ceremony, highlighting the specific skills and training required of weather squadrons that support the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Faith Brodkorb)

FORT BRAGG,N.C. --

A new chapter began for two 93d Air Ground Operations Wing squadrons Sept. 18, 2020, when the 3d Weather Squadron and 18th Weather Squadron were redesignated to differentiate their distinct mission sets from other Air Force weather squadrons.

The 3d WS has been redesignated as the 3d Combat Weather Squadron in a ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, and the 18th WS became the 18th Combat Weather Squadron in a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“A simple name change may not seem like a big deal, but by adding these six letters to your name, you’ve gained a new combat identity,” said Col. Danielle Willis, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing commander, in a video message to the squadrons.

The change highlights how these Airmen train and deploy with the Army, which requires different training, skills, and resources. The two ceremonies, which coincided with the Air Force’s 73rd birthday, entailed furling the squadron guidon with the old designation and unfurling a new one in front of the unit’s Airmen.

“On this day in 1947, the National Security Act created the Air Force, and we changed our name tapes from U.S. Army to U.S. Air Force. But what we did not change was our promise to go anywhere, anytime with the Army in order to provide them the highest quality weather observations and forecasts,” said Lt. Col. Danele Richardson, 3d Combat Weather Squadron commander. “You deliver on those promises every single day.”

Each combat weather squadron forecasts weather to an Army corps and its subordinate units. This requires each combat weather squadron to be spread out across the country at 20 different Army installations.

Providing weather forecasting to the Army is only a small part of the larger Air Force weather career field. This specialized mission requires training other weather units do not undergo.

“This redesignation will now formalize a community of five squadrons within the Air Force focused on providing the best possible support to United States Army combat echelons,” said Col. Jonathan King, 18th Air Support Operations Group commander. “This mission drives a very different lifestyle for Combat Weather Airmen, comprised of field exercises, many lengthy deployments and qualifications to include Airborne, Air Assault and Pathfinder.”

This new distinction for the 3d CWS and 18th CWS will align them with their supported Army units, other combat weather squadrons, and the mission of the 93d AGOW.