Hurricane Hunters join AES for training

by Capt. Philip Cortez
433 AW/PA

9/27/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- When a community is informed that a hurricane is headed toward them, their first natural reaction is to go away from the storm. That is not the case for the 53rd Weather Squadron, or as they are appropriately named, the "Hurricane Hunters."

Hurricane Hunters, based at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. are trained specifically to encounter a hurricane, head on and attempt to gather critical information in regard to the strength of the storm, wind speed, distance from the shore, and to evacuate citizens from danger. The men and women of this brave squadron came to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland this week to participate in a training exercise with the 433rd Aeromedical Squadron.

Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Christa, 433rd AES superintendent, stressed the importance of training with the Hurricane Hunters.

"We have been fighting wars for over 10 years now," said Christa. "War-time efforts and humanitarian efforts, in terms of evacuating people, are completely different. We need to train with the 53rd Weather Squadron to view things through a humanitarian lens."

The job of evacuating citizens from natural disaster areas in the U.S. now regularly includes members from all branches of military. The nation has a greater expectation from the military in terms of having an active role in providing both care and order to communities impacted by a natural disaster.

Master Sgt. David Snow, a 23-year member of the 433rd AES, was excited and grateful to be able to train with the members of the 53rd WS.

"The 433rd AES is the largest air evacuation unit in the Air Force, and we are proud of it, but we can always get better by training with an elite group such as the Hurricane Hunters," Snow said. "I'm honored to be able to help in both military and humanitarian missions."

The members of the Hurricane Hunters squadron also recognized the need for continuous and updated training as their role on a humanitarian level continues to evolve. Tech. Sgt. Troy Bickham, a six-year member of the 53rd WS, appreciates the opportunity to help citizens impacted by a natural disaster, but he takes pride in bringing home our nation's wounded warriors from the combat zone.

"It's an honor to bring our wounded warriors home from Iraq and Afghanistan to their families," said Bickham. "I know they have sacrificed a lot to defend our country, and they deserve a smooth ride home from us to recover with their loved ones. We train for them."