Meteorologists/oceanographers in the military work in a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors, depending on the area of specialization.  Many meteorologists/oceanographers perform their work in laboratories or offices. Other meteorologists/oceanographers spend extensive hours outdoors collecting and analyzing data in the field.

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for meteorologists/oceanographers primarily consists of classroom instruction and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include:

• Methods of analyzing weather conditions
• Identification of common weather patterns
• Techniques and procedures of forecasting