Joint Metoc Handboo - IHMC Ontology and Policy Management

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Joint Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Handbook (JMH) was originally
compiled to provide information to participants in U.S. Joint Forces Command training
exercises and operations. The Services' METOC communities found the Handbook useful,
and it is now distributed throughout the Services to aid those who may suddenly find
themselves fulfilling the role of Joint Task Force (JTF) METOC Officer (JMO). This
document does not constitute a requirements document or initial doctrine. This handbook
intends to provide the JMO, his staff, and Service and functional component METOC
personnel, an easy to use reference manual to assist the planning and execution of METOC
support for joint operations.
The Joint METOC Handbook describes existing joint structure, how METOC personnel
and organizations are integrated into the combatant command and JTF structures, and what
METOC resources are available. Separate chapters cover METOC capabilities and support
to operational forces within Service organizational structures. It is important to understand
the joint operational planning process and how the METOC officer fits into that process.
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior METOC Officer (SMO) and JMO and their
interaction during a joint operation are important concepts. The coordination between the
JMO and his Service and functional component METOC units is vital to the success of
joint METOC operations. The concept of “one theater, one forecast,” highlighted in Joint
Publication 3-59, is the cornerstone of METOC support to a joint operation. Coordination
is critical. METOC support to the overall joint operation as well as the JTF headquarters
element is important.
Joint METOC personnel should understand the capabilities of Service level METOC
equipment and tactical and fixed communication systems for interoperability. The sources
of METOC data and available products and services from various METOC production
sites and theater level operational commands are useful for any military operation.
The appendices provide Service METOC personnel and equipment information for Time
Phased Force and Deployment Data and formats for METOC inputs to Operations Plans.
A starting list of criteria for METOC impacts to operations is provided for many types of
operations; during an actual operation, METOC personnel must tailor impacts to the
mission and its critical thresholds. Examples of Joint Operational Area Forecasts (JOAFs),
METOC Letters of Instruction (LOIs), and joint METOC briefing slides come from
previous joint operations and exercises.
METOC personnel wishing a copy of this handbook should contact their Service
distribution point, listed in Appendix Z. Additionally, the handbook is located on
USJFCOM’s METOC SIPRNET homepage, http://157.224.120.250/weathr.nsf/metoc (go
to Pubs and Documents). The goal of the JMH is to provide an easy to use reference
manual for all METOC personnel. Toward that goal, the USJFCOM SMO will attempt to
revise this Handbook annually, so that new and important information can be incorporated
into one document and provided to the METOC community at large.
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