I recently spoke with a recruiter and I have a preference question. I'm going to OTS after I graduate with a meteorology degree to become a Weather Officer. I was told I would be sent to one of six OWS (Operational Weather Squadrons) to start... Of those 6 my possibilities are:

1. JB Pearl Harbor- Hickam (Honolulu)
2. Ramstein (Germany)
3. Barksdale (Lousiana)
4. Scott (Saint Louis)
5. Davis (Tuscon)
6. Shaw (Sumter, SC)

They try to place us at our preferred location, however, I know the needs of the AF are above mine. I was wondering if anyone has been stationed at any of these bases and if they could tell me what they liked, didn't like, etc. Even if you know something about one and weren't stationed there, all comments are valuable.

Thanks and Gig Em Ags!

Single? Married? Kids? Want to travel? Need to be near family?

If you're just getting out of school and are single and have the chance, go to Hawaii. It's expensive, getting to work at Hickam can be a drag, but traveling around the islands in your free time is heaven on Earth. But, that said, some get island fever.

Ramstein is sort of the same. Expensive. But, you're able to see an awful lot of Europe in your free time if you're so inclined. It would probably be my first choice.

The stateside assignments are sort of... ugh. Been to every one of those bases, but never lived there. I'd probably pick Tucson over the others. I'd rather stick an icepick in my ear than live in Belleville, IL, but that's just me.

Don't know about WX Officer billets - but you want to go where you get the most challenging career experience straight out of OTS.

Last tidbit - it's called a "Dream Sheet" for a reason. Best of luck.

My recommendations would be:

1. Ramstein - Germany is an amazing place to live, if given the opportunity TAKE IT
2. Hawaii - do it now, while you're young
3. (tie) Tuscon or Sumter - comes down to what you want to be near
25. Barksdale - its only redeeming quality is being a 20-minute drive from the Texas border
1,374. Saint Louis - I would literally fake my own death to avoid being stationed there

I'm not AF but have worked out of Davis-Monthan on multiple occasions. I really like Tucson and the surrounding area. Every time I visit there I ***** about the AF picking much better locations than the Army.

Not only is German great but would be professional enhancement fore-guessing the weather (sarcastic aviator comment). Only to D-M TDY on occasion but stationed at Holloman for three years. For the most part, I could forecast the weather there (Clear, 40 miles vis, winds 10-15G40)

I was Army, and the only places I have experience with on your list are Tuscon and Ramstein (not Ramstein itself but another base in Germany).

That being said, I think Germany would be hard to beat. I was in Bavaria (Garmisch) and it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Like others have said, you may not have another chance to travel and see Europe.

Part of my enlisted days were as a 702X0/732X0 specialist - and heavily involved in assignments.
The most desirable locations are most often given to seniority who list these locations on their dream sheet - ...especially if they did not get their preference on their last assignment or took a short tour unaccompanied to be in a better position to get a far better assignment next time... assuming all their personnel blocks are checked.
Officers who score well and present well and have great attributes are given points.
Something as simply as an official photo can make the difference.
The higher the academic achievement level the better the chances for assignment and promotion.
The most critical locations militarily are most often given to seniority and assuming all their personnel blocks are checked.
Junior officers with little or no experience are usually sent to locations where they can hone their skills and gain seniority as well as prove their merit - typically stateside.
Obviously, it is true to fill out a unit not all positions are for senior personnel - there may be room for junior grade officers simply because the manning document needs to be filled. (Somebody has to be the Squadron Commander, for instance...)
Obviously, "timing" - needs of the service - often will allow the lucky to get into the better assignments.
Sometimes security clearance level will play a big part in the decision process.
Sometimes "short tour" vs "long tour" will play a part of the decision.
Overseas assignments are not usually given for a first assignment to either officers or airmen.
The most desirable overseas assignments are very competitive to be selected.
Sometimes married or single will play into a decision - especially for high cost locations.
Sometimes healthcare requirements for member or dependents will determine whether or not a preferred assignment is "right" for the family since availability for specific health services can be a requirement.
Command assignments will often decide priority on who gets what assignment.
Knowing somebody at the gaining organization willing to tweak the system helps just as much as knowing someone in assignments or who can influence assignments... Often the receiving organization commander (or his/her representative) has the prerogative to approve a newcomer - or not...
There are many variables.
Typically both airmen and officers prefer locations close to home.
Location choices can help or slow promotion potential.
Luck

P.S. I know many people who avoid HQ assignments - especially Washington D.C. like the plague - and often as not their careers stalled. If you are unaccompanied (or accompanied) and can afford to live in a high cost area (even as a Spartan), a D.C. assignment is a fantastic base for your career.

For specifics on each base text me if interested or simply google the base for much related information.

I'm a retired AF weather officer and have been stationed at Scott (two tours, 7 years total) and have been TDY to every other base except Ramstein.

I agree with a lot of the comments on this thread.

The suggestion to explore the missions of each OWS to determine if there are any unique missions, opportunities, etc is spot on (740A I think?).

In this regard, I agree that Ramstein would be #1 from both the "unique mission" aspect AND it also fits the suggestion that Ramstein would have the most challenging weather for a newbie weather weenie. (F4GIB I think?)

Number two would be Hawaii, primarily because it would also provide some "unique" mission experience as well as forecasting experience for vast areas of the ocean that have very few wx obs. One of the most important lessons to learn is how much faith to put in forecast models vs real live wx data analysis and traditional forecasting techniques. I think forecasting the wx for the entire (and data sparse) Pacific would be a great way to learn about models, etc.

As for the other options - I would agree with putting Scott last - I agree with comment that Belleville, IL sucks. On a personal note, our daughter graduated from Belleville East High School shortly before I retired in 1991. Her husband recently retired from the AF at Scott and is now a contractor there. When she moved back there with her husband a few years ago she was able to reconnect with all of her old friends - a few that she met in kindergarten during my first tour. She loves it there - after two tours with me and a tour with her husband, Scott/Belleville is her "home".

I agree with the comment about Davis-Monthan and Tucson. Certainly the least challenging place to learn weather forecasting. I agree with the poster who mentioned that and Holloman. I met my wife 48 years ago when her dad was a Boeing engineer working at Holloman. We got married in Alamogordo. I also had two tours at Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM - wx forecasting in the southwest isn't very challenging. I will say that as a place to live, Tucson certainly trumps Shaw and Barksdale.

Shaw and Barksdale are a tossup IMO. Shaw would have a more challenging flying mission to support than Barksdale, but if you have Texas ties, I'd pick Barksdale.

One last word of advice - you will be doing aviation weather forecasting almost exclusively in the AF. It is MUCH different (and challenging IMO) than normal NWS forecasting. You will be forecasting for wx elements like ceiling, visibility, pressure altitudes, cross winds, altimeter settings, and several other elements that are not taught well - or at all - in college met courses.

At least that was my experience which is 40 years ago for my undergrad met training in college. Be prepared for the fact that you will have a LOT to learn and your college training won't be of much help at first. Make friends with the oldest and saltiest NCOs in your outfit and seek their help and expertise. The AF TRAINS the enlisted wx weenies to be aviation forecasters from the git go - and their tech school is long, arduous, and very, very thorough.

I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Best of luck.

I thought of a better way to explain the "challenging weather" part of the discussion.

If you spend your first 3 years in Germany learning to forecast ceilings and visibilities, you will able to do it anywhere else you go. If you spend your first 3 years at Davis-Monthan in Arizona and then get transferred to Germany, you will have to learn how to forecast ceilings and visibilities all over again.

My first European assignment was a year at RAF Bentwaters, UK, 79-80. It was raining the day I arrived, drizzled every day I was there and it was still coming down a year later as I drove onto the Channel ferry headed for Germany. I rotated three pairs of combat boots for that year, with two of them drying under a heat light at home at any given time. Good times. Would do again.

I spent two years in the UK in 57-59 - I was in the 5th and 6th grade. My dad was stationed at Wethersfield, which was closed in 1970. The 20th TFW had two squadrons of F-100s at Wethersfield and one at Woodbridge. When the 20th transitioned to F-111s, the Wing moved to Upper Heyford - the 111s were too big for Wethersfield.

Your comments about the UK weather are spot on. Flying anywhere in Europe outside of Spain and maybe Italy is always a challenge.