Photo By Cpl. Joshua Brown | U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Adam R. Sheley (left), the meteorology/oceanography chief with...... read more read more
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USS KEARSARGE— The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 conduct a wide array of military operations. There are multiple factors that apply when conducting each of these missions. One variable that remains a consistent hurdle the MEU and PHIBRON must leap is weather.
Weather can hinder training evolutions and real world operations. To mitigate the influence it has on the operational tempo of the units, each has their own meteorological/oceanographic specialists.
The MEU has three meteorologists, two on the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), and one on the USS Arlington (LPD 24).
The meteorologists work directly with intelligence and the air combat element, briefing them throughout the day with weather predictions, updates and information to ensure safety for all involved.
“We paint a picture of the atmosphere for them,” said Cpl. Justin R. Seddon, a meteorological/oceanographic specialist with the MEU. “We give them a break-down of the conditions in their current location, at their destination and what’s occurring between those points.”
Meteorologists use various methods to formulate weather predictions for the Navy and Marine Corps team. They focus on the missions scheduled each day and generate information tuned to those missions.
“We use different tools to make a prediction,” said Seddon. “We bounce information off each other’s reports, use satellite imagery, computer generated forecast models and measurement devices.”
The meteorological/oceanographic work space, or METOC, on the Kearsarge houses a barometer, speedometer, weather vane, thermometer and other utilities used to calculate wind speed and conditions to determine an accurate description of the weather.
“We also predict sea states,” said Seddon.
After formulating a clear layout of the weather conditions within the range of an operation, the meteorologists brief the sections involved.
“We’re one of the first to brief our units every day,” said Seddon. “If the weather is bad it gives them time to modify their plan.”
Units still want to complete an assigned mission despite weather conditions, said Seddon. Often times the meteorologists will have to find the small windows of opportunity in poor weather conditions that the units can capitalize on and complete an objective.
“The two most difficult parts of our job are timing and finding that window of opportunity in bad weather,” said Seddon. “If you have to make a prediction in a short amount of time, or figure out when a storm has a break, it gets difficult.”
It presents challenges to the teams that rely on the meteorologists as well. Aircraft can be grounded if the weather conditions prevent a safe flight, thus preventing personnel from getting to a specified location, and ultimately limiting the success of a mission.
“It can literally stop a mission,” said Seddon. “You can’t throw firepower at weather to change it, so it’s exceptionally important that we provide the most accurate picture possible to keep our missions on track.”
The meteorologists are expected to make accurate predictions all day, every day.
“We operate 24 hours a day,” said Staff Sgt. Adam R. Sheley, the meteorology/oceanography chief with the MEU. “We work closely with the Navy to make this happen because we don’t have the manpower to do it all ourselves.”
The Navy aerologists work in two 12 hour shifts. Without them the Marine meteorologists wouldn’t have the ability to meet the demands of the units, said Sheley. It is a close partnership and essential to mission success.
“Integration with them has been outstanding,” said Sheley. “They really make things smoother for us so we can get the job done.”
Aerographers provide support to their Marine counterparts, share information and assist in the prediction process. Working as a team is emphasized to ensure their respective units get the most accurate information possible.
“They’re fun to work with,” said Seddon. “They’re great teammates; we learn from each other and we can rely on each other.”
The teams rely on each other in the data collection and dissemination process, but they also work together to aid search and rescue missions. When a search and rescue mission is necessary, the aerographers and meteorologists work directly with the search and rescue team.
“We’re responsible for ensuring an effective search and rescue,” said Seddon. “We coordinate the details and information with the search and rescue team, because a search and rescue can go at any time, under varying weather conditions and is time sensitive dependent on the sea state.”
The METOC Marines and sailors use their predictions to determine where an individual out at sea will be when the search and rescue team goes out on a mission. They use the weather and sea conditions to calculate the pattern of movement of that individual or those individuals.
Every mission within the scope of the MEU and PHIBRON can be impacted by weather and thus depends on the meteorologists and aerographers to supply the most accurate information for the commander to make timely decisions, said Seddon. It’s necessary to ensure success.
“We’re fortunate to have the team we do,” said Sheley. “Their knowledge, skills and abilities give me complete confidence that we’ll continue to succeed throughout this exercise and during deployment.”
The 26th MEU and PHIBRON 4 are currently conducting a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX) in preparation for their deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility later this year.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2015 09:22 |
| Story ID: | 171921 |
| Location: | USS KEARSARGE, US |
| Web Views: | 644 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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