1st Weather Group
A United States Air Force weather organization responsible for operational forecasting, warnings, briefings, and weather training.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 1st Weather Group is a United States Air Force organization within the 557th Weather Wing. It coordinates six operational weather squadrons that provide meteorological analysis, forecasts, warnings, and briefings to Air Force, Army, Guard, Reserve, and combatant-command forces. Although its name resembles that of a commercial brand, the 1st Weather Group is a military unit rather than a consumer-facing company or product brand. The group's operational mission covers weather support for forces in the continental United States and for selected overseas regions. Its subordinate squadrons are geographically distributed: the 15th Operational Weather Squadron is based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois; the 17th is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam in Hawaii; the 21st is at Kapaun Air Station in Germany; the 25th is at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona; the 26th is at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana; and the 28th is at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Each squadron produces forecasts for a defined area and also contributes to the qualification and upgrade training of weather personnel. The group forms part of the Air Force's broader worldwide weather enterprise, which includes active-duty, reserve, civilian, and contract personnel. Its stated responsibilities include delivering accurate, timely, and operationally relevant weather information, as well as providing initial and advanced training for enlisted weather forecasters and newly commissioned weather officers. This makes the organization both an operational support formation and a training structure. The unit has a long and discontinuous lineage. Its history traces back to the Far East Air Forces Weather Group in October 1944. It was constituted as the 1st Weather Group in August 1945 and activated in September of that year. After an initial period associated with the 43rd Weather Wing and Army Air Forces weather organizations, it was inactivated in 1948. It was reactivated at Offutt Air Force Base in 1952 under the Air Weather Service and remained active until 1956. A further activation took place in 1966 under the 1st Weather Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam, where it supported operations during the Vietnam War, before being inactivated in 1972. The group returned to active status in the early 1990s under Air Combat Command, operating first from Langley Air Force Base and later from Fort McPherson in Georgia. That iteration ended in 1994 or, in assignment records, in 1996. The current organizational era began with activation at Offutt Air Force Base on 3 May 2006. The 15th, 26th, and 25th Operational Weather Squadrons joined during 2006, followed by the reactivation of the 9th Operational Weather Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base. The 9th was later inactivated in 2008. In 2015, when the Air Force Weather Agency became the 557th Weather Wing, the 17th, 21st, and 28th Operational Weather Squadrons were added to the group's structure. The 1st Weather Group has received recognized military honors for service in World War II and Vietnam, including campaign and service streamers, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Its present role is centered on continuous weather support and professional development for military weather specialists rather than on commercial products, sales, or public-market activity.
History
The 1st Weather Group's lineage begins with the Far East Air Forces Weather Group, established in October 1944. The organization was constituted as the 1st Weather Group on 29 August 1945 and activated on 20 September 1945 in Manila, Philippines. It initially served under the 43rd Weather Wing and was later associated with the Headquarters Army Air Forces Weather Service. The first period of activity ended when the group was inactivated on 31 May 1948. The organization was reactivated on 20 April 1952 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, under the Air Weather Service and the Military Air Transport Service structure. This second period lasted until 8 October 1956, when the group was again inactivated. A third activation began on 8 July 1966 under the 1st Weather Wing. The group was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Airport, later Tan Son Nhut Air Base, in Vietnam, and remained active there until 30 June 1972. Its Vietnam-era service contributed to the military honors associated with the unit. The group was activated again on 15 June 1992 under Air Combat Command. It was initially connected with Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and later operated from Fort McPherson, Georgia. This period concluded with inactivation on 1 July 1994, although assignment records identify the Air Combat Command relationship as continuing through 1 July 1996. The current 1st Weather Group was activated at Offutt Air Force Base on 3 May 2006. It was placed under the Air Force Weather Agency, the predecessor of the 557th Weather Wing. During 2006, operational weather squadrons were progressively aligned with the group. The 15th Operational Weather Squadron joined on 25 May, the 26th on 22 June, the 25th on 6 July, and the 9th was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base on 20 July. The 9th Operational Weather Squadron was subsequently inactivated on 31 May 2008. A major organizational change occurred in March 2015, when the Air Force Weather Agency became the 557th Weather Wing. At that point, the 17th Operational Weather Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, the 21st Operational Weather Squadron at Kapaun Air Station in Germany, and the 28th Operational Weather Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base joined the group. The present structure consists of six operational weather squadrons. The group is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base and operates as part of the Air Force's global weather capability. Its personnel include active-duty and reserve service members, civilian employees, and contractors. The organization supports military operations by producing forecasts, analyses, warnings, and briefings, while also serving as a training hub for enlisted forecasters and weather officers. Its recognized honors include World War II and Vietnam service and campaign streamers, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.
- 2015
Alignment with the 557th Weather Wing
[1]The Air Force Weather Agency became the 557th Weather Wing, and three additional operational weather squadrons joined the group.
- 2006
Current organization activated
[1]The current 1st Weather Group was activated at Offutt Air Force Base on 3 May. Four operational weather squadrons were aligned or reactivated under it during the year.
- 1994
Third inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 1 July 1994; assignment records extend the related Air Combat Command period to 1996.
- 1992
Air Combat Command reactivation
[1]The group was activated on 15 June under Air Combat Command, with activity associated first with Langley Air Force Base and later Fort McPherson.
- 1972
End of Vietnam-era period
[1]The group was inactivated on 30 June after its Vietnam assignment.
- 1966
Vietnam-era activation
[1]The group was reactivated on 8 July under the 1st Weather Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.
- 1956
Second inactivation
[1]The Offutt-based period ended with inactivation on 8 October.
- 1952
Reactivation at Offutt
[1]The group was reactivated on 20 April at Offutt Air Force Base under the Air Weather Service.
- 1948
First inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 31 May after its initial postwar period.
- 1945
Constitution and first activation
[1]The 1st Weather Group was constituted on 29 August and activated on 20 September in Manila, Philippines.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force operational-support and training organization that supplies timely, mission-relevant meteorological information to military forces.
Military meteorological service
Operational weather forecasting
The group's operational squadrons produce area-specific weather forecasts for Air Force, Army, Guard, Reserve, and combatant-command forces. Their work is intended to support planning, readiness, deployment, and ongoing military operations with timely and mission-relevant meteorological information.
Military operational support
Weather warnings and briefings
The organization delivers weather warnings, analyses, and briefings to military users. These outputs help supported units understand current and forecast conditions that may affect aviation, mobility, field activity, logistics, and other operations.
Professional military training
Weather professional training
The six operational weather squadrons also function as training hubs. They provide initial qualification and upgrade training for enlisted weather forecaster apprentices and newly assigned weather officers, supporting the development of the Air Force weather workforce.
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