Aerographer's mate (abbreviated as AG) is a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
occupational
rating
A rating is an evaluation or assessment of something, in terms of quality, quantity, or some combination of both.
Rating or ratings may also refer to:
Business and economics
* Credit rating, estimating the credit worthiness of an individual, c ...
.
Duties
Aerographer's mates:
* observe, collect, record and analyze
meteorological
Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not ...
and
oceanographic
Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamics ...
data;
* make visual and instrument observations of
weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmosphere, the ...
and sea conditions, surface and sub-surface;
* operate meteorological
satellite
A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope ...
receivers and interpret and apply satellite data;
* interpret and brief
radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
imagery and data;
* interpret meteorological and oceanographic
codes
In communications and information processing, code is a system of rules to convert information—such as a letter, word, sound, image, or gesture—into another form, sometimes shortened or secret, for communication through a communication ...
;
* verify meteorological and oceanographic products;
* evaluate recent meteorological and oceanographic developments for integration into local routines and enter data on appropriate
charts
A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can represent tabul ...
;
* operate
ancillary equipment for the processing, dissemination and display of environmental data;
* perform preventive maintenance on meteorological and oceanographic equipment;
* prepare
warnings of severe and hazardous weather and sea conditions;
* forecast meteorological and oceanographic conditions;
* prepare and present briefings concerning current and predicted environmental conditions and their effect on operations.
Training
AG "A" and "C" Schools are currently located in
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi ( ; ) is a city in and one of two county seats of Harrison County, Mississippi, United States (the other being the adjacent city of Gulfport). The 2010 United States Census recorded the population as 44,054 and in 2019 the estimated popu ...
, on
Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city along the Gulf Coast in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr., a Mississippi nati ...
. AG "A" School concentrates on weather observing and lasts approximately 3 months. AG "C" concentrates on weather forecasting and lasts approximately 9 months. Upon graduating from "A" school, AGs work toward qualification as environmental observers through completion of personnel qualification standards and job qualification requirements. They also prepare for advanced training at "C" school by the four- to six-year career stage.
Aerographer's mates are assigned to larger ships such as aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and cruisers, to naval air stations, weather centers, and other shore facilities in the United States or overseas. During a 20-year period in the Navy, AGs spend about 60 percent of their time assigned to shore units and 40 percent to fleet stations.
See also
{{commons category, Aerographer's Mate
*
List of United States Navy ratings
United States Navy ratings are general Enlisted rank, enlisted Job (role), occupations used by the United States Navy, U.S. Navy since the 18th century, which denote the specific skills and abilities of the sailor. Each naval rating has its own ...
*
Weather observer
References
United States Navy ratings