PCU 1: Develop and Maintain User Awareness and Partnership
Producer: Brian Garcia (WR/WFO Monterey, CA)
Description of Job Competency to be Achieved: Marine weather forecasters at coastal and Great Lakes Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers will learn to establish and nourish working relationships with the key marine forecast constituents in their area. This will ensure forecasters understand the specific needs of users. Forecasters will be better able to understand the importance of marine weather behavior on types of vessels, watercraft and surf enthusiasts in order to provide a more focused, targeted and effective service. Depending on the type of vessel or personal watercraft being used, varying sea conditions affect users in drastically different fashion. Shallow versus steep swells, large and battering breaking waves, varying local topography and bathymetry all impact mariners differently depending on type of vessel. Mariners in smaller vessels encountering hazardous conditions along the Nation's coastal waters and the Great Lakes may be hours away from a safe port and at the mercy of the elements. Large ships at sea also face potentially great dangers and are often several days away from port. When in peril, rescue of these vessels may be hours or days in coming. Reliable, rapid, and easy access to weather information, when properly understood and applied, supports decisions which ultimately lead to saving lives and reducing economic losses.
|
Core Instructional Components (Core Instructional Components develop the most important skills needed by NWS marine forecasters and form a solid foundation of training.)
|
Ability 1. Identify users of marine products and services
- Skill 1.1. Demonstrate knowledge of who the users are, and why they use NWS Marine Products and Services
- IC [Core]: "Understanding Marine Customers, 2nd Edition" (COMET Module)
- IC: If available in local area, attend residence course on maritime weather, for interaction purposes with merchant mariners (i.e. MITAGS, StarPath)
- IC: Discover outreach opportunities (i.e. NWS Outreach and Education Event System (NOEES)
- IC: Participate in local staff outreach marine training
- IC: Become familiar with types of marine crafts common within forecast waters
|
Ability 2. Describe how users ingest, digest, and react to NWS Marine Products and Services
- Skill 2.1. Be able to explain how users receive NWS Marine Products and Services
- Skill 2.2. Be able to articulate how users interpret NWS Marine Products and Services
- IC [Core]: "Communicating Effectively with Customers" (SkillSoft Course), to develop skills needed by marine focal points to engage the marine community
- IC: Attend user forums at various marine meetings and conferences (i.e. clubs and associations).
- Skill 2.3. Learn and be able to anticipate how NWS Marine Products and Services cause users to react.
- IC: Participate in office familiarization with local mariners and FAM FLOATS.
- IC: Define user needs/thresholds in the marine environment.
- IC: Perform targeted "surveys" of users.
|
Ability 3. Differentiate the various types of marine users by season and use
- Identify traditional marine users by season
- All seasons marine customers
- Winter marine users
- Spring marine users
- Summer marine users
- Fall marine users
- Identify non-traditional marine users
- Governmental marine users (PMO's, USCG, NMFS, etc.)
- NGO marine users
|
Ability 4. Develop soft skills to facilitate relationships with users
- Skill 4.1. Gain competency of intelligent communication in order to better understand and empathize with marine users.
(Learn communication intelligence to better understand and empathize with marine users)
- Skill 4.2. Learn (apply) effective communication skills for interacting with marine users
- Skill 4.3. Learn and develop leadership skills in order to guide and direct the marine community in use of NWS marine products and services. (Exhibit leadership by developing influence with marine users)
- IC: "Leadership Essentials: Building Your Influence as a Leader" (SkillSoft Course)
|
