Beamter/Beamtin im Wetterdienst (mittlerer nichttechnischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Educational institutions, e.g., the Center for Geoinformation Services of the German Armed Forces (GeoInfoDBw), Education Center of the German Armed Forces: classrooms (classroom instruction); offices of the Geoinformation Service of the German Armed Forces (GeoInfoDBw): office and computer rooms, partly also outdoors at measuring stations in climate gardens.

Occupation type: Civil service training (Beamtenausbildung). Type of training: Preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst), regulated by federal ordinances. Duration of preparatory service: 20 months. Learning locations: Educational institutions and service units of the Center for Geoinformation Services of the German Armed Forces (GeoInfoDBw), Education Center of the German Armed Forces. What does one do in this profession? Civil servants in the intermediate weather service provide the working documents for the services of the official weather service. They primarily undertake tasks in weather observation and information technology, as well as assistant activities in forecasting, warning, and climate services. They observe weather phenomena, measure weather elements such as precipitation amount, air pressure, temperature, and humidity, control the measured values of digital measurement systems, evaluate them, and prepare them on IT systems so that weather forecasts and official weather warnings can be generated. Weather reports and forecast products are sent encrypted to weather offices.

Job title: Civil servant in the intermediate weather service (Beamter/Beamtin im mittleren Wetterdienst). Occupation type: Civil service training (Beamtenausbildung)/Preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst). Training duration: 20 months. Access requirement: Usually a secondary school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or a basic secondary school leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and a relevant completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung). What does one do in this profession? Civil servants in the intermediate weather service provide the working documents for the services of the official weather service. They primarily undertake tasks in weather observation and information technology, as well as assistant activities in forecasting, warning, and climate services. They observe weather phenomena, measure weather elements such as precipitation amount, air pressure, temperature, and humidity, control the measured values of digital measurement systems, evaluate them, and prepare them on IT systems so that weather forecasts and official weather warnings can be generated. Weather reports and forecast products are sent encrypted to weather offices, collected, and also...

20 months

The aptitude test consists of a written part, which tests general knowledge, German, mathematics, physics, geography, English, and computer skills, and an oral part, which includes an application interview. Furthermore, a security clearance according to the Security Clearance Act (Sicherheitsüberprüfungsgesetz - SÜG) usually takes place.

Structure of the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) in the intermediate weather service: Theoretical training, among others, at the Education Center of the German Armed Forces (Bildungszentrum der Bundeswehr) in the federal states (Bundesland) of Bavaria and Hesse: 8 months. Practical vocational training in the respective service units: 12 months. Career examination (Laufbahnprüfung). Total training duration: 20 months.

No tuition fees or course fees are charged. Travel expenses or costs for learning materials may arise. Costs for accommodation at the training location may also be incurred.

During the theoretical training, one acquires knowledge in areas such as meteorology, weather observation and encryption, cloud science, aviation weather service, weather telecommunication service, agrometeorological service, radioactivity measurement service, climate service, aerology, measurement and recording, information technology, data acquisition and transmission, and the care, maintenance, and functional testing of meteorological measuring instruments. During the practical training, prospective civil servants learn to perform the tasks of the intermediate weather service, especially in the areas of weather specialist service, data service, and operational service.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical training phases, there is classroom instruction, possibly project work, and self-study of content at home. During the practical training phases, practical work is performed under guidance, such as preparing weather observation data, assisting in creating weather warnings, and providing information. Requirements include diligence (e.g., error-free measurement of weather elements with precision instruments), oral and written communication skills (e.g., providing information, formulating weather warnings), and adaptability (e.g., switching between screen work and outdoor measurement tasks, as well as working in shifts).

The monthly gross basic salary for civil servant candidates in federal authorities is 1,473 Euro. Source: dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, as of March 2024. Note: In addition to the basic salary, the candidate's remuneration includes capital-forming benefits, possibly also family allowances, and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for a successful Ausbildung (vocational training): Physics is required because the curriculum primarily includes meteorological and geophysical content, and values such as air pressure, humidity, and temperature must be measured and evaluated. Mathematics knowledge is needed, for example, to perform meteorological calculations. Geography is necessary to make precise statements during weather observations about local conditions, topographies, or climate zones of cities, regions, and countries. German is indispensable because one learns, among other things, to handle correspondence and to prepare protocols and reports during the training.

The following Ausbildung (vocational training) alternatives are available for the profession of Beamter/Beamtin (civil servant) in the intermediate weather service: In the laboratory field, Physical-technical Assistant or Environmental Protection Technical Assistant. Commonality: collecting and processing scientific data. In the legal and administrative field, Beamter/Beamtin in General Internal Administration (intermediate non-technical service). Commonality: processing administrative procedures.

The Ausbildung (vocational training) in the intermediate weather service takes place as a 20-month preparatory service. It is regulated by federal ordinances and leads to a career examination.

Career titles: Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the intermediate scientific service of the Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces).

After the training, it is possible to find a suitable area of deployment. Civil servants in the intermediate weather service work for the Geoinformation Service of the Bundeswehr (GeoInfoDBw). To keep specialist knowledge up-to-date, adaptive further training can be undertaken. The range of topics extends from geoinformation systems to public administration. For career advancement, civil servants in the intermediate weather service have the opportunity to move to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure, if they are suitable. With a university entrance qualification, one can also pursue a Studium (university degree) and, for example, obtain a bachelor's degree in meteorology.

Ordinance on the preparatory service for the federal intermediate weather service (MWDVDV), last amended by Article 65 of the law of 20.08.2021 (BGBl. I S. 3932).

Generally, an intermediate school leaving certificate (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) or a Hauptschulabschluss (secondary school leaving certificate) combined with a beneficial completed vocational training is required. Furthermore, access to the training requires: sufficient sight, hearing, and speech ability, color recognition and differentiation ability, health suitability for the demands of shift work, unrestricted willingness to be transferred, German citizenship according to Art. 116 of the Basic Law, a declaration of willingness to participate in Bundeswehr missions abroad, and generally not exceeding 49 years of age. An extended security check may also be required.