Extended Abstract (228K)P1.27
IMETS University
Patrick M. Hayes, U.S. Air Force, Fort Huachuca, AZ
The US Air Force provides operational weather support to the US Army. Air Force combat weather teams (CWTs) are stationed with most major Army combat units. AF CWTs use several pieces of equipment to receive, process, and transmit weather intelligence to the supported Army and Air Force warfighting units. One weather processing system used by the CWT is called the Integrated Meteorological System, or IMETS. Air Force weather personnel receive training on the IMETS in several forms, all managed under one overarching institution known as the IMETS University.
The IMETS University is managed by the Program Director for the IMETS (PD-IMETS), headquartered at the Army Research Laboratory at White Sands Missile Range, NM. PD-IMETS is responsible for successful development, fielding, and user training of the IMETS. Since the operators are Air Force weather personnel, two AF agencies assist in the development and execution of IMETS training: the AF Combat Weather Center, Hurlburt Field, FL, and the Training Division of the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt AFB, NE.
Air Force weather personnel receive initial training, or New Equipment Training (NET), when the Army delivers an IMETS to an AF weather unit. This two-week course of instruction teaches the CWT how to effectively operate the particular version of the IMETS that they receive. The subjects covered include: the IMETS components and capabilities, satellite and network communications, processing weather data to produce useful weather intelligence, and effective integration of the weather intelligence into the larger body of Army intelligence information. At certain units an additional week of advanced instruction is provided for an IMETS system administrator.
The second form of IMETS training is the IMETS Training Course. This course uses training material nearly identical to that used in the NET, but is taught away from the CWT location, at the US Army Intelligence Center and School (USAICS), Fort Huachuca, AZ. IMETS-equipped Air Force CWTs send personnel who missed the NET to this course.
IMETS University also includes "just-in-time training," or JIT. JIT is taught mainly at the Air Force's Combat Weather Center. AFCWC operates four IMETS and provides a four-day course of instruction to AF weather personnel who are enroute to an Army support assignment or deployment location. Frequently the AFCWC responds to this training requirement on a short- or no-notice basis.
A recent addition to IMETS training is a new distance-learning initiative. PD-IMETS has developed a beta version of a computer-based training (CBT) program that will be provided to all AF CWTs that operate IMETS, to be used as refresher or recurring training after NET is provided.
The last form of IMETS training is a week-long block of instruction presented during the Army Staff Weather Officer (SWO) Course at USAICS. Personnel attending the SWO Course are usually enroute from their first operational AF tour to an assignment supporting the Army. Because they have likely missed their new unit's NET, SWO Course attendees receive a condensed version of the training provided in the NET course. Additionally, the SWO Course provides hands-on training using the IMETS in an integrated command post exercise with Army intelligence officers. The exercise provides valuable cross-service training as AF weather personnel learn how the Army incorporates weather intelligence, and Army intelligence personnel see how the AF weather teams have the ability to improve an Army commander's military decision-making process.
Poster Session 1, Poster Session Educational initiatives (Hall 4AB)
Sunday, 11 January 2004, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Hall 4AB
Previous paper Next paper