KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Philip Blancher, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, briefs students about the WC-130J aircraft during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at St. Lucia April 19, 2024. During the event, April 16-20, 2024, NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters visited four Caribbean nations to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience, and how people can become weather ready. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft at each location to learn how the 53rd WRS collects weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

St. Lucia's Senior Minister Stephenson King learns about the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron mission and how they collect weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts April 19, 2024, during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour. More than 13,000 people attended this year's event at Nassau, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 16-20, 2024. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Ambassador Roger F. Nyhus and Barbados Ministry of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams toured the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s WC-130J aircraft April 18, 2024, at Barbados during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour. NOAA hurricane specialists and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” visited four Caribbean locations to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become weather ready. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan explains to U.S. Ambassador Roger F. Nyhus how the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center collect weather data to improve forecasts during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 18, 2024. More than 13,000 people attended this year's event April 16-20, 2024, which stopped at Nassau, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn about the mission and to promote a culture of preparedness for the 2024 hurricane season. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. William Magee, 403rd Maintenance Group commander, answers students' questions about the WC-130J aircraft and how maintainers assist with the U.S. Air Force Reserve “Hurricane Hunter” mission during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness tour at Nassau, Bahamas, April 16, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the 403rd Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20, 2024, to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience, and how people can become weather ready. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Larry Banks, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, shows students video of him performing his duties and how the unit collects weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Nassau, Bahamas, April 16, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the 403rd Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20, 2024, to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become weather ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Kait Mclaughlin, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, answers questions from the media during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 16, 2024, at Nassau, Bahamas. NOAA hurricane specialists and the 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Airmen visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20, 2024, to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become weather ready. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan answers questions from the media during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 16, 2024, at Nassau, Bahamas. NOAA hurricane specialists and the 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Airmen visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20, 2024, to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience, and how people can become weather ready. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn about the mission and to promote a culture of preparedness for the 2024 hurricane season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Commander Danielle Varwig, NOAA Corps G-IV pilot and deputy chief of the Aircraft Maintenance Branch, talks to the media during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour April 16, 2024, at Nassau, Bahamas. The NOAA Aircraft Operations Center and U.S. Air Force Reserve “Hurricane Hunters” work together to collect weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. NOAA hurricane specialists and 403rd Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen visited four Caribbean locations April 16-20, 2024, to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become weather ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson received an 815th Airlift Squadron mission brief and tour of the Flying Jennies C-130J Super Hercules during his visit to Keesler Air Force Base, April 16. The tour was designed to continue building relationships between Keesler AFB and the state leadership by providing the opportunity for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and for community building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

1st Lt. Trent Davis, 815th Airlift Squadron pilot, shows Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson the controls of a Flying Jennies C-130J Super Hercules and explains his job and duties as a pilot during Watson's visit to Keesler Air Force Base, April 16. The tour was designed to continue building relationships between Keesler AFB and the state leadership by providing the opportunity for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and for community building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Lisa Breal, 403rd Mission Support Group commander, briefs Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson about the 403rd Wing missions during his visit to Keesler Air Force Base, April 16. The tour was designed to continue building relationships between Keesler AFB and the state leadership by providing the opportunity for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and community building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share