ABOARD USS IWO JIMA, At Sea -- What’s your job?
I provide meteorological and oceanographic forecasts and determine the impact weather and sea states will have on operations.
What’s the most challenging part?
There are always different types of weather phenomena that can be challenging to forecast while deployed. In Iraq it was different types of dust storms. Here in the Caribbean it is tropical cyclones. Movement of these types of systems can be erratic and difficult to forecast.
How does your job support the mission of Continuing Promise?
I work with the intelligence section providing daily updates on the impacts to operations. I provide this information in a daily intelligence brief with the Navy in the joint intelligence center. This information includes location and movement of tropical systems, thunderstorms and sea states.
How does your job in garrison differ from your job in the field?
In garrison our job is mostly tailored for aviation operations and safety of personnel on station by issuing various weather warnings and advisories. I would say the biggest difference would be experiencing different types of climates and weather that you aren't used to forecasting in the United States.