SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The Weasel of the Week series asks Team Shaw to share their experiences, Air Force spirit and personalities. We sat down with Staff Sergeant Travis Wester, airfield weather operations noncommissioned officer in charge, to get to know him and his job. Wester supervises two Airmen, manages 3 weather systems and coordinates base weather watches and warnings. He plans on working towards earning the rank of Technical Sergeant and obtaining an accounting degree.
Where are you from?
I’m from Panama City, Florida.
Why did you decide to join the Air Force?
I decided to join the Air Force for family, change and to explore the world.
How long have you been at Shaw?
I have been at Shaw for about two and a half years.
What is one Air Force resource you found that is incredibly beneficial?
Medical has been the most beneficial for me, with two kids there is always something going on.
What is your favorite part of South Carolina?
I love being so close to everything, having access to the mountains, beaches and other geographic locations is great.
What is your favorite part of your hometown?
My favorite part of my hometown is the beach life.
How would you describe a normal day for you?
The day literally depends on the weather. If the weather is bad, we make sure everything is taken care of to ensure everyone is safe. If the weather is good, it is usually pretty relaxed.
What is one word that describes how you lead?
Transparent. Weather is one of the jobs where you can mess up quick. I explain to my Airmen that I’m not perfect and that I don’t expect them to be.
What is your favorite sport? Team?
My favorite team is the Florida Gators.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?
I wish people knew that we don’t just look at the weather app or the weather channel to come up with our predictions. We do a lot of research on our own systems to come up with our determination. Weather is not a precise science, we can’t pinpoint the exact minute it will rain but we can get pretty close.
What is your least favorite part of your job? How do you make sure it gets done?
Administrative things can get tedious, but I stay vigilant and try to get ahead on it so I can put myself in a good position.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I love working with all of the people here and bouncing ideas off of each other because everyone does things differently.
What would you like to say to the people back home?
I would like to thank them for their support. I wouldn’t be in the position I am without them raising me to be a decent human being. I am also coming home soon for a vacation, so I will see you soon.