Recognize the principles of good public speaking and briefing and the various types of visual aids used in briefing.

The environmental briefing is one of the most important tasks assigned to Aerographers Mates. In many cases, the basic information supplied in these briefings determines whether a mission or a large-scale operation is executed as planned, or postponed, altered, or canceled. The manner in which this information is presented is considered to be of equal importance with the material con-tained in the briefing.

You should understand that the information you present assists those being briefed in clearly determining the effect of the environment on pro-jected plans and operations. You are the authority on an extremely important element affecting operations, and therefore you must be confident, convincing, and positive.

Briefings are where you sell your services and yourself. Do a good job, and your credibility and that of our community is looked on favorably; do a poor job, and the reverse is true.

Learning Objective: Recognize the prin-ciples of good public speaking and briefing and the various types of visual aids used in briefing.

Effective briefing is an art. It requires alertness, poise, and good judgment. Whether the information you present is in oral, written, or pictorial form, you must be able to think on your feet. There will be times when you will have to come up with precise factual answers to questions that are difficult or even embarrassing. You should avoid verbal ambiguities, vagueness, or misplaced emphasis, which could easily convey a mental picture completely different from the one you have intended.

2. Practice the briefing beforehand, when possible, and make sure you have an orderly presentation.

3. Avoid technical meteorological and oceanographic terms. For example, use the word high instead of anticyclone.

4. Avoid ambiguous and vague terminology. The terms about, probably, might, etc., convey no useful information, but they do convey an impression of hedging or guessing.

5. Make the entire briefing a running narrative, and give your information in terms applicable to the situation.

6. Discuss only the important or essential details, and keep the briefing as simple as possible. Remember, it is the effect of environmental conditions on planned operations that is important. 

7. Be brief. From 3 to 7 minutes is usually ample time to discuss environmental conditions. 

8. Present the briefing in the second person. The material is being presented for and to an audience and is not a mere recitation of an environmental situation or a map discussion.

9. Never apologize for any part of your presentation. Present the best available informa-tion. If your confidence in your information is limited, you may state so.

10. Finish briefings forcefully, with a definite closing statement, and always ask "Are there any questions?". Sometimes, information briefed is not clear to all those being briefed.

The hints given are merely restatements of the principles of good public speaking. Of course, not every briefing situation employs all of these hints. However, you should remember that no matter what type briefing you give, the material you are presenting must be heard and understood.

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