KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Rafael Salort, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron navigator and mission commander, conducts an interview with media at the Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 13, 2019. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how they can become “weather-ready” during the 2019 Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 8-13, 2019. As part of the event dignitaries, students and the public toured the Air Force Reserve Command’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Darryl Woods, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, explains the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter mission to Luis Guzmán, the Puerto Rican actor, during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 13, 2019, at the Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how they can become “weather-ready” during the event April 8-13, 2019. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the Air Force Reserve Command’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada met with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters April 10, 2019, at the Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose, Costa Rica during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour. During the event the NOAA hurricane specialists and Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how they can become “weather-ready” during the event April 8-13, 2019. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the Air Force Reserve Command’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Carlos A. Graulau, Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency Zone 4 volunteer, translates for Lt. Col. Jeff Ragusa, Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot and aircraft commander, during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at the Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 13, 2019. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how they can become “weather-ready” during the 2019 Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 8-13, 2019. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the Air Force Reserve Command’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Dwayne A. Russell (right) accepts command of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron from Col. Brian May, 403d Operations Group commander during the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron change of command ceremony April 6, 2019 at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Col. Russell has been with the 53rd WRS since September 1996. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Loicano) Share

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif.

A 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron WC-130J aircraft taking off out of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California for an 8.5 hour mission for one of the missions into an Atmospheric River Feb. 1, 2019. The Atmospheric Rivers research missions are flown during the winter season to provide weather data forNational Center for Environmental Protection, who runs the Global Forecast System models and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo.) Share

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif.

A 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron WC-130J aircraft taking off out of Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California for an 8.5 hour mission for one of the missions into an Atmospheric River Feb. 1, 2019. The Atmospheric Rivers research missions are flown during the winter season to provide weather data forNational Center for Environmental Protection, who runs the Global Forecast System models and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo.) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron departed Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 9, 2018, to operate out of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Savannah, Georgia. The Reserve Citizen Airmen will start flying reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Florence Sept. 10, 2018. The Hurricane Hunters also started flying missions into Hurricane Olivia out of the Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

BARBERS POINT KAPOLEI, Hawaii

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Ziemann, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, checks the data from a dropsonde after it was released near the eye wall of Hurricane Lane Aug 20, 2018. The 53rd WRS provides data vital to the National Hurricane Center to assist the forecasters in providing an updated model of the projected path of the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Hurricane Hunter Association is taking applications for the Swan 38 Memorial Scholarship, which was established to honor the memory the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aircrew members who lost their lives during a reconnaissance mission into Typhoon Bess Oct. 12, 1974, over the South China Sea. The scholarship is available to 403rd Wing members or their family members, and this year's deadline is June 1, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Rafael Salort, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron navigator, briefs to groups of students about the hurricane hunter mission during the 2018 Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour, April 23-28. The tour is a combined effort of the 53rd WRS, also known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designed to help communities in Mexico and the Caribbean prepare for the season and the coming storms. Visitors toured a WC-130J Super Hercules hurricane hunter aircraft and the NOAA Gulfstream IV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hosts the 2018 Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour, April 23-28. The tour is designed to help communities in Mexico and the Caribbean prepare for the season and the coming storms. Visitors toured a WC-130J Super Hercules hurricane hunter aircraft and the NOAA Gulfstream IV. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share