Meteorological and Oceanographic Operations: 24 September 2008

by Stanley McChrystal

Joint meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) operations are critical to a commander's awareness of the operational environment and his ability to exploit that awareness to gain an advantage across the range of military operations. METOC forces must work cooperatively within the Department of Defense (DOD) community and across interagency and multinational lines and boundaries to share and obtain information to provide timely, accurate, relevant, and consistent METOC support to the joint force commander (JFC). METOC is a term used to convey all meteorological, oceanographic, and space environmental factors as provided by the Services, support agencies, and other sources. The principles of accuracy, consistency, relevancy, and timeliness are the cornerstone of joint METOC operations. Joint METOC operations focus on two primary functions: characterization of the environment and exploitation of environmental information to gain an operational advantage by integrating this information into the commander's decision-making cycle and command and control systems. By applying the principles of accuracy, consistency, relevancy, and timeliness, METOC forces are better prepared to support planning and decision making. When characterizing the environment, the principles of accuracy and consistency are paramount to collection, analysis, and prediction processes. The guiding principles of relevancy and timeliness are critical in tailoring and integrating METOC products for the commander. METOC operations depend on continuous characterization of the environment. METOC data are collected and then analyzed to develop a coherent depiction of the natural environment, which is used to provide operational battlespace awareness and to predict the future state of the natural environment. The combatant commander (CCDR) is ultimately responsible for the direction of METOC assets within their area of responsibility. The JFC should direct and coordinate the activities of the METOC assets under the JFC's operational control to ensure unity of effort. Each CCDR should designate a senior METOC officer (SMO) to coordinate all METOC operations within the area of responsibility or functional responsibility. During joint operation planning, METOC support includes integrating global, regional, and locally produced METOC products as well as data and products received from supporting agencies and reliable indigenous sources. The SMO incorporates this assessment into a comprehensive METOC support normally begins well prior to force deployment and often ends after redeployment of the joint force is complete. METOC forces, databases, products, and equipment must be responsive to the requirements of the JFC and should be maintained to a degree of readiness that ensures immediate employment capability. The JMCC is the cornerstone of METOC operations support. Under the JMO's guidance, the JMCC combines multiple source METOC information with operational information to generate the joint operations area forecast (JOAF). The JOAF is the official baseline forecast for operational planning and mission execution within the joint operations area. This publication sets forth the joint doctrine for the planning and execution of meteorological and oceanographic operations in support of joint operations throughout the range of military operations.

86 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2013

About the author

Stanley Allen McChrystal (born August 14, 1954) is a retired United States Army General. His last assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A). He previously served as Director, Joint Staff from August 2008 to June 2009 and as Commander, Joint Special Operations Command from 2003 to 2008, where he was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, but also criticized for his alleged role in the cover-up of the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident. McChrystal was reportedly known for saying and thinking what other military leaders were afraid to; this was one of the reasons cited for his appointment to lead all forces in Afghanistan. He held the post from June 15, 2009, to June 23, 2010.

Following unflattering remarks about Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials attributed to McChrystal and his aides in a Rolling Stone article, McChrystal was recalled to Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama accepted his resignation as commander in Afghanistan. His command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan was immediately assumed by the deputy commander, British General Sir Nicholas "Nick" Parker, pending the confirmation of a replacement. Obama named General David Petraeus as McChrystal's replacement; Petraeus was confirmed by the Senate and officially assumed command on June 30. Days after being relieved of his duties in Afghanistan, McChrystal announced his retirement.

In 2010, after leaving the Army, McChrystal joined Yale University as a Jackson Institute for Global Affairs senior fellow. He teaches a course entitled "Leadership," a graduate-level seminar with some spots reserved for undergraduates. The course received 250 applications for 20 spots in 2011 and is being taught for a third time in 2013.

McChrystal co-founded and is a partner at the McChrystal Group LLC, an Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm.

McChrystal's memoir, My Share of the Task, published by Portfolio of the Penguin Group, was released on January 7, 2013. The autobiography had been scheduled to be released in November 2012, but was delayed due to security clearance approvals required from the Department of Defense.

McChrystal is the son of Mary Gardner Bright and Major General Herbert J. McChrystal, Jr., and was the fourth child in a family of five boys and a girl, all of whom would serve in the military or marry military spouses. His older brother, Colonel Scott McChrystal, is a retired Army chaplain, and is the endorsing agent for the Assemblies of God.

McChrystal married his wife Annie in April 1977, and the couple has one adult son, Sam.