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	SOUTHCOM officials conduct annual METOC conference
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        <h1 class="title">SOUTHCOM officials conduct annual METOC conference</h1>
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            <div class="image-title">USSOUTHCOM officials conduct annual METOC conference</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Officials from the U.S. Southern Command pose for a group photo at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 6, 2018. Meteorology and oceanography specialists from various sections of the Department of Defense gathered for a 2-day-long USSOUTHCOM-sponsored conference that allowed them to discuss lessons learned from 2017 and ways to better communicate with one another in the future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Frankie D. Moore)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">USSOUTHCOM officials conduct annual METOC conference</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Air Force Maj. Shane Gillies, 25th Operational Weather Squadron operations officer, gives a tour of the 25th OWS to U.S. Southern Command officials at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 6, 2018. The tour was a part of an annual joint Meteorological and Oceanographic conference that brings together multiple Department of Defense entities from the METOC field to discuss ways to better communicate and move forward in the future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Frankie D. Moore)</div>
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    <div><b>By Airman 1st Class Frankie D. Moore</b> <span class="date">/ Published Feb. 10, 2018</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz., </span>
    Officials from the U.S. Southern Command held their annual SOUTHCOM Meteorological and Oceanographic conference here, Feb. 6.<br />
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The 2-day-long gathering brought meteorology and oceanography specialists together from various sections of the Department of Defense to discuss operations, lessons learned from 2017, and ways to move forward in the future.<br />
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“USSOUTHCOM is a very joint-driven environment,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Carvalho, 612th Air Base Squadron joint METOC officer. “The importance of this meeting is for all of us to see what we can do to better aid each other.”<br />
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Conferences such as these help create a better working relationship among the DoD entities, especially during times of crisis.<br />
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“Our group cohesion during Hurricanes Maria and Irma last fall shows that these gatherings are beneficial,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Shane Gillies, 25th Operational Weather Squadron operations officer.<br />
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By sharing information from each other’s collection of experiences, the individual departments will be able to understand how they can work together more effectively to support those in need.<br />
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“When we go forward to fight, we’re one unit and no longer separate services,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. James Wynn, II Marine Expeditionary Force METOC officer. “Getting in that joint mindset, coming together and knowing how to communicate with one another before heading downrange is essential to winning that fight.”<br />
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The annual USSOUTHCOM METOC conference aims to improve tactics and communication between the DoD entities during joint operations. These implemented developments will ensure our troops are ready to win any fight at any time.<br />
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