JMH-2000, JOINT METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY (METOC) HANDBOOK (JMH) (3RD EDITION) (1 MAY 2000)

JMH-2000, JOINT METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY (METOC) HANDBOOK (JMH) (3RD EDITION) (1 MAY 2000)., 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.