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CMDR
Andrew McCrindell, LCDR Bob Woodham and LCDR Scott Preskett
at the Hydrograph and Meteorology office on Garden Island.
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Photo:
LSPH Bill Louys
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A
new specialist officer category of Maritime Geospace (MG) has
been introduced into the Navy.
The Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, authorised its introduction
as of July 1.
Combining the skills acquired in Hydrography, Meteorology and
Oceanography, the new career path will provide the warfighting
community with the officer structure to integrate the vital
environmental picture into planning and conducting RAN operations.
Until now Hydrography and Meteorology/Oceanography were individual
skill sets and specialty qualifications.
MG specialists will gain an indepth knowledge of one of these
skill sets and acquire a sound working knowledge of the other.
The concept is similar to the way in which pilots and observers
contribute to aviation.
While they share commonality, they are not interchangeable but
each contributes to the whole.
Creation of the MG specialisation recognises the already close
links between H and METOC within the Hydrographic, Meteorological
and Oceanographic Force Element Group and permits a unified
approach to the RAN’s growing Rapid Environmental Assessment
capability.
Rapid Environmental Assessment is a process which uses satellite,
remote vehicle, warship and emerging computer technologies to
generate accurate three-dimensional pictures of environmental
conditions both above and below the water line.
MG officers will have general skills in the production of Military
Geospatial Information (MGI) and specialist skills in either
Hydrography or METOC.
They will work at sea in support of task groups and in deployed
headquarters ashore, providing tailored geospatial information
to commanders and planning teams.
These geospatial products might be a fused hydrographic chart
and topographic map of an area of operations, a three-dimensional
image of the seabed produced by surveyors working with the task
group, or an image showing sonar performance, radar ducts or
forecast weather conditions.
MG officers will also continue to produce traditional hydrographic
and METOC products to support the safety of surface, subsurface
and air navigation.
