Air Force Thunder Challenge weather competition held at Fort Drum

The U.S. Air Force's annual Thunder Challenge competition is underway at Fort Drum, according to a community submission. The event brings combat weather airmen from across the country together and is meant to test skills they would use on deployments alongside the Army and the 10th Mountain Division. Five combat weather squadrons are competing over two days in mission scenarios that include tactical weather operations and combat skills, the submission reports.

According to the submission, the first day featured a round robin in which airmen worked through mission scenarios, including setting up tactical weather sensors and a simulated ambush that required airmen to respond and sweep the surrounding area. Airmen quoted in the submission, identified by rank and unit, described the competition as an annual event that rotates among locations and as preparation for future deployments with the Army. The challenge wraps up Thursday, after which squadrons return to their home bases. ClickNNY has not independently verified these details.