A Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember is a member of the Army's field artillery team. Artillery systems are weapons that fire large ammunition or missiles to support infantry and tank units in combat. The Field Meteorological Crewmember monitors weather conditions and patterns so artillery units can fire and launch missiles accurately.

Some of your duties as a Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember may include:

• Operate meteorological equipment
• Monitor flight progress and system status during flight
• Compute total and free balloon lift for helium and hydrogen
• Assemble, test and adjust transmitter
• Obtain ballistic temperature and densities
• Prepare meteorological balloons for launching

Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmembers must have the physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest. They're also required to have normal color vision.

Job training for a Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and eight weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction. Part of this time is spent in a classroom and part in the field under simulated combat. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Methods of computing target locations
• Ammunition-handling techniques
• Gun, missile and rocket system operations
• Artillery tactics and field combat strategy

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to think and remain calm under stress
• Interest in mathematics
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Interest in maps and weather systems
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties

Advanced level Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmembers provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers. As an advanced Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember, you may be involved in:

• Plot weather data manually
• Operate computers in weather station
• Supervise the repair and maintenance of weather equipment, vehicles and electronics
• Terminate weather flight operations

The skills you will learn as a Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember, such as teamwork, discipline and leadership, will help you in any civilian career you choose. The strong background in instrument repair that you'll gain will especially help to prepare you for the field of precision instrument repair.

• Cannon Crewmember (13B)
• Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data System Specialist (13D)
• Field Artillery Firefinder RADAR Operator (13R)
• Field Artillery Surveyor (13S)
• Fire Support Specialist (13F)
• Multiple Launch Rocket System Operations/Fire Direction Specialist (13P)
• Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS/HIMARS) Crewmember (13M)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.