The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Keesler hosted junior officer Basic Oceanography Accession Training (BOAT) students, Aug. 23, onboard Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The event introduced the Navy's future meteorology and oceanography (METOC) officers to the sole schoolhouse for initial accession Sailors studying to become aerographer's mates (AG), the enlisted forecasters who could one day work for them. They toured the training facilities, visited AG "A" and "C" school classrooms, and met with CNATTU Keesler Chiefs Mess instructors and members.

"This is a great opportunity for METOC junior officers to meet their future METOC forecasters and to have a greater familiarization with the training provided at CNATTU," said CNATTU Keesler Commanding Officer Cmdr. Timothy Knapp.

The senior instructor staffs from CNATTU Keesler and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center (NMOPDC) coordinated the visit as part of the BOAT course's five-week program.

Knapp and NMOPDC Commanding Officer Cmdr. Christi Montgomery addressed the BOAT and AG "C" school students, with the tropical weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas serving as a fitting backdrop to what the Navy's newest forecasters will do at assignments around the world.

"Understanding and predicting the real-life weather that's happening around you today is why METOC officers and Sailors in the aerographer's mate rating spend so much time in school," Knapp said. "You'll be taking the tools you've learned at NMOPDC and CNATTU Keesler to the fleet and helping plan aircraft missions, ship movements, special operations evolutions and other Navy operations."

BOAT students also attended the Meteorological Equipment Maintenance School graduation on the Weather Training Complex observation deck. After the ceremony they met with the newest electronics technicians who will play an integral part in the accurate collection of meteorological data by calibrating and maintaining meteorological equipment.

"Naval oceanography is a small community within the Navy, and events like today's familiarization tour are a good opportunity for our junior officers and our junior forecasters-in-training to interact before they arrive at operational fleet units," said Montgomery.

CNATTU Keesler trains service members in the electronic calibration of afloat and aviation equipment, meteorological and oceanographic observing and forecasting, and the maintenance and repair of meteorological equipment.

NMOPDC is the full-spectrum source for professional training in meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, and geospatial information. Personnel are responsible for more than 150 courses of instruction delivered via several means, including computer-based-training and instructor-led courses.

CNATTU Keesler is a training unit of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. CNATT develops, delivers, and supports aviation technical training at 27 sites located throughout the continental United States and Japan.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost under Naval Education and Training Command.

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