diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
index bc52e68ffd..af913edc93 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
@@ -766,6 +766,16 @@ vector<MaskLatLon> parse_conf_llpnt_mask(Dictionary *dict) {
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+StringArray parse_conf_obs_qty(Dictionary *dict) {
+   const char *method_name = "parse_conf_obs_qty() -> ";
+
+   StringArray sa = parse_conf_string_array(dict, conf_key_obs_qty, method_name);
+
+   return(sa);
+}
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 StringArray parse_conf_obs_qty_inc(Dictionary *dict) {
    const char *method_name = "parse_conf_obs_qty_inc() -> ";
 
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
index 5e83b2c6aa..896e0ff9e1 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ extern StringArray     parse_conf_sid_list(Dictionary *dict, const char *);
 extern void            parse_sid_mask(const ConcatString &, StringArray &, ConcatString &);
 extern vector<MaskLatLon>
                        parse_conf_llpnt_mask(Dictionary *dict);
+extern StringArray     parse_conf_obs_qty(Dictionary *dict);
 extern StringArray     parse_conf_obs_qty_inc(Dictionary *dict);
 extern StringArray     parse_conf_obs_qty_exc(Dictionary *dict);
 extern NumArray        parse_conf_ci_alpha(Dictionary *dict);