WYTV weatherman heads for Air Force

The Daybreak meteorologist is leaving the broadcast booth.
By MATT BIXENSTINE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Morning meteorologist Jody Chevalier will be better rested when he wakes up at 5 a.m. each morning starting in July.
The meteorologist on WYTV News Channel 33's Daybreak program is leaving the channel to join the U.S. Air Force as a weather officer.
"I usually get up at 2 [a.m.], so I'm actually going to get more sleep in the military," Chevalier said.
Chevalier, a Persian Gulf War veteran who served six years in the Army, offered his services to the Air Force after Sept. 11, 2001. He recently was called upon to serve.
"I had considered going back [into the military] before, but that was the trigger," Chevalier said about Sept. 11. "The military downsized in the early '90s, and meteorology is a big area where they have a need."
Sworn into the Air Force on Wednesday, Chevalier begins his new career July 1 by reporting to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., for officer training school. Ninety days later, he'll be commissioned to Air Force Weather School at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss.
Ultimately, Chevalier will attend his first duty station at one of eight locations, which include Germany and Japan. Among his duties could be forecasting for Air Force bases and combat missions.
Surprise career move
WYTV news director Pat Livingston said he was surprised to learn of Chevalier's abrupt career move but proud of his devotion to serve his country.
"I've lost anchors to a lot of things, but never to this," Livingston said. "Here's somebody in the media who has a pretty comfortable job ... in today's day and age you don't see many people who have his convictions.
"How could you say no to what he wants to do?" he asked.
Chevalier, who has already begun to prepare on his own for physical fitness testing, has four brothers who previously served or currently serve in the military.
"My parents are used to us being in the military," he said. "It came as a shock, but they support me."
A graduate of Ohio State University, Chevalier has worked more than four years as a television meteorologist, including at WYTV since April 2002.
Livingston said WYTV has benefited from Chevalier's contributions to Daybreak, such as Weather 101, a segment in which Chevalier shares everyday strange weather facts.
"Rather than just a forecast, he'd tell people how to dress their kids, how to prepare for the day," Livingston said.
Daybreak anchor Amy Radinovic said Chevalier brings a dry brand of humor into the newsroom.
"He's been a great person to work with," she said. "I actually look forward to coming to work because he's so much fun."
WYTV meteorologist Demetrius Ivory was promoted to the open Daybreak position after Chevalier covered Youngstown area morning weather for the last time Friday.
"If [Chevalier] ever came back to me and I had an open position, I'd rehire him in a minute," Livingston said.
Chevalier said he has not discarded the possibility of someday returning to television meteorology.
"I'm sure it's an open door," he said. "This is just something I've got to do."
mbixenstine@vindy.com