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MCTL, METs, and METL

Marine Corps Task List (MCTL)​

The Marine Corps Task List (MCTL) is the authoritative Marine Corps task list and provides the standardized, doctrinally based lexicon of common language tasks for use by units and installations, that defines Marine Corps capabilities used in development of Core, and Assigned OPLAN and Named Operations Mission Essential Tasks (METs) to report operational readiness of combat missions, contingency operations, and support the warfighter.

Mission Essential Tasks (METs)​

Mission Essential Tasks (METs) provide the foundation for the establishment of training priorities and the reporting of unit readiness to support combatant commanders (CCDRs) for joint operations.

METs quantify the required outputs for the task, along with the resources, subordinate forces, and training required to produce those outputs, given a certain set of conditions. When training and resource shortfalls are identified, follow-on training can be scheduled and resource shortfalls can be addressed through other doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTmLPF).

A quantified MET consists of three components: an essential task, the associated conditions, and the corresponding standards:

Essential Task​

An essential task is an externally focused action, process, or activity (task) deemed critical to mission accomplishment. Essential task characteristics are:

Standard Terminology​

The UJTL serves as common language and a common reference system for joint force commanders, combat support agencies, operation planner, combat developers, and trainers to communicate missions requirements. The MCTL is derived from the UJTL and serves as the common reference for Marine Corps commanders, staffs, and trainers. Marine Corps commands and organizations serving in their core and assigned missions will derive their tasks from the MCTL. The UJTL can be used as a source of specific tasks when no appropriate MCTL task exists.

Essentiality​

The task is absolutely necessary, indispensable, and critical. Essential tasks are those for which the unit was designed, organized, or sourced to the operation or OPLAN. They answer the question "Why does this unit exist?"

Externally Focused​

A MET must be focused outside of the command and support another command or directly affect the enemy. Examples include defending against an enemy force or providing medical support to another organization. In compliance with guidance provided within MCO 3500.26A, Universal Naval Task List (UNTL), METs exclude common internally focused activities such as logistics support or command and control of internal organizations.

Additional Considerations​

  • Tasks do not specify means (e.g., type of unit, organization, or system involved in task performance)
  • Tasks are not organized to describe a sequence or a process. The location of a task within the hierarchy does not imply precedence or organization, not does it imply the way tasks are selected or applied.

Conditions​

Conditions are variables of the environment that affect the performance of tasks in the context of the assigned mission

Tasks do not include conditions, but they are linked to them when developed into METs. The tasks focus on the activities performed. The environment in which the task is performed is key to the successful accomplishment of the mission, and , therefore, the tasks must be linked to applicable environmental conditions. Keeping conditions out of the tasks ensure the tasks will be applicable to a wider variety of operations and regions where operations may be conducted. For example, MCT 1.6.6.6, Conduct Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) is defined in general terms, rather than writing specific conditions into the task title and definition. "Conduct NEO in high terrain elevations" would limit the use of the MCT to only mountainous areas.

Conditions are categorized by conditions of the physical environment (e.g., sea state, terrain, or weather), military environment (e.g., forces assigned, threat, command relationships), and civil environment (e.g., political, cultural, economic factors). For each condition, several descriptors are provided that allow a user to specify how the condition is likely to exist in a particular mission or scenario.. For example, for the condition C 1.3.1 Climate, descriptors allow the user to specify whether the climate is tropical, temperate, arctic, or arid

Conditions which do not affect how to train, organize, or equip to perform a task are not relevant and should not be used. While there is no limit to the number of conditions used, the recommended amount is no more than three to five.

Standards​

Each MET has standards linked to it to allow a commander to distinguish among varying levels of task capability. Wartime/contingency mission performance/requirements should be considered when setting standards. These standards provide for a basis for planning, conducting, and evaluating military operations, readiness reporting, developing training events, and support the procurement of future weapons systems and resources. Each standard consists of a measure and a criterion.

Measure​

Measures provide a dimension, capacity, or quantity description to a task. A measure provides the basis for describing various level of task performance and is therefore directly related to a task.

Criterion​

A criterion defines acceptable levels of performance. It is often expressed as a minimum acceptable level of performance. The combination of the measure and the criterion comprise the standard for a task. Criteria can be based on Yes/No assessment, percentage measurements, or numerical calculations.

Types of Standards​

  • Personnel: Measure the personnel required to produce the required task outputs under the selected task conditions. They normally link personnel on the Table of Organization to the task they support. They are used in DRRS-MC to assess the resources required for the task. ">16 crews formed", ">+80% of T/O billets filled with MOS-qualified, deployable personnel".

  • Equipment: Measure the equipment required to produce the required task outputs under the selected task conditions. They normally link equipment on the Table of Equipment to the tasks they support. ">=80% of BN T/E Stinger sub-systems mission ready and available."  - Subordinates: Subordinate unit standards link the METs of higher-level organizations with the METs of their subordinate organizations. They describe the tasks which each subordinate organization must perform to enable the higher-level organization to produce the required task outputs under the selected task conditions. They are used in DRRS-MC to assess the resources required for the task. ">=2 Battalions report Yes/Qualified for MCT 1.3.2 Conduct Amphibious Operations".  

  • Supporting: Supporting unit standards are used by higher-level organizations to measure the support from external organizations required to produce the required task outputs under the selected task conditions. "Yes / MLG reports DRRS Y/Q for: MCT 4.2 Conduct Transportation Operations"

  • Training: Training standards measure the training required to produce the required task outputs under the selected task conditions. They are used in DRRS-MC to assess the training required for the task, and used as a factor in the calculated of the percentage of METs trained. They normally refer to E-coded event in an approved T&R manual. E-coded events are those collected events identified by the community as critical indicators of a unit's ability to perform a MET. ">=4 teams trained to standard in 0321-AMPH-4002 Conduct a clandestine amphibious landing/withdrawal."

  • Outputs: Output standards quantify and scope the activity described by the task and to measure the capability to produce the required end state. They are used in DRRS-MC to assess the observation of the task performance. ">=22,400 gallons per day of bulk fuel received/stored/dispensed."

  • Certification: Certification standards establish required events, venues, or processes required for the task to be assessed as observed in DRRS-MC. ">=1 Planning / training / operation event for MEB CE performed within the last 12 months".

Mission Essential Task List (METL)

The METL is the sum of all METs required by all missions that are or may be assigned to a commander. As such, it is unique to a specific unit, but is based heavily on standardized Core METs, as well as, additional METs assigned to the unit. Only designed units, generally battalion sized and larger, have METLs. Templates and lists of METs exist for Unit Type Codes (UTCs); however METLs are unique to each unit and therefore will only be associated with Unit Identification Codes (UICs). The Service and MARFORs play a significant role in the development and maintenance of METs within the context of the various Task Sets, but it is the unit commander's responsibility to develop the unit overall METL.

The METL serves as the capstone list which translates the commander's mission analysis into tangible training objectives and assessment criteria against which to measure readiness. Just as missions and mission scopes changes, the METL must be adjusted to ensure it accurately communicates the intended focus of the unit. The METL will often reflect the reconciliation of multiple missions (Core and assigned) into a single, cohesive list which helps prioritize training and resources. The METL is unconstrained by resources and includes those tasks required to accomplish the multiple missions that are or may be assigned to a commander.

Unit commanders utilize METLs as the foundation for their training plans and as the basis for readiness reporting within DRRS-MC, thereby providing a vehicle to measure the readiness of military forces and installation to accomplish their METs to specified conditions and standards. DRRS-MC provides the capability for both resource and MET based readiness reporting. The unit commander will use DRRS-MC to report to organizations ability to meet current, forecasted, and contingency requirements.

Core Task Sets​

Core Task Sets define the design capabilities for a type of unit. The conditions and standards for Core Task Sets are approved by the community and reflect appropriate measure to gauge readiness against the performance of the task. Core Task Sets are standardized for all units of the same type and are used to develop the type community's T&R Manual.

A unit's METL may include both Core and selected Core Plus METs required to accomplish Core and Assigned missions. Standardized Core METs for like-type operational units and installations have been established through a series of MET development workshops and are in use for reporting Core missions readiness in DRRS-MC. These Core METs are "living documents" that require regular review and revision to ensure their continued relevancy.

Assigned Mission Task Sets​

Assigned Mission Task Sets are developed when the unit must prepare to participate in a specific unit deployment, operation, or alert mission (e.g Unit Deployment Program, Tactical Aircraft Integration, Battalion Landing Team, Operation Enduring Freedom, Global Response Force).

  • May be similar to the Core Task Set, with conditions and standards refined as required to capture the requirements of the specific assigned mission.
  • May include tasks not normally expected of the type unit, drawing from the Core Plus tasks for the unit type, or when assigned "in lieu of missions," importing Core or Core Plus tasks from another community's Core METs or using other tasks from he MCTL. Refined conditions and standards must be developed for each task.
  • Assigned Mission Task Sets may be developed to meet local capability requirements. For example, a unit's higher headquarters may direct certain units to maintain proficiency in selected Core Plus tasks in order to broaden the aggregate capability spectrum.
  • Assigned Mission Task Sets are developed and approved through a process established by the supported Marine component commander, who ensured that the Assigned Mission Task Sets meet the requirements of the COCOM.

OPLAN or CONPLAN Task Sets​

An OPLAN or CONPLAN Task Set defines the required tasks for a unit specifically sourced for a major OPLAN or CONPLAN. They are similar to Assigned Mission Task Sets. OPLAN or CONPLAN Task Sets are typically in consonance with the unit's Core Task Set, however, they have refinements/variation in the conditions and standards specific to the OPLAN/CONPLAN.

Template Task Sets​

Template Task Sets are developed in support of rotational or standing requirements, provisional units, or unique missions which are not applicable for all units of a given type. Examples include prepositioning operations and provisional security operations.

Core Plus Task Sets​

Core Plus METs are valid tasks which may be required of a unit in addition to Core METs, but which are not required by all units of the same type. Core Plus Task Sets establish doctrinally appropriate task for the associated unit type which are not widely required from that type unit for the execution of expected missions. Examples are humanitarian operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, and aviation attacks against enemy maritime targets. Core Plus tasks support missions or plans which are limited in scope, theater specific, or have a lower probability of execution. They include the non-core METs used for assigned missions, OPLAN/CONPLANs, or templated task sets. Units preparing to deploy in support of specific assigned missions or OPLANS/CONPLANs may use Core Plus when developing the task sets for those missions. Core Plus tasks are not normally included in unit readiness evaluations, except for pre-deployment evaluations for specific deployments requiring these capabilities. Commanders at all levels may required selected subordinate units or crews to train to selected Core Plus task in order to expand flexibility and maintain resident expertise.

METL Reviews & Workshops​

Review of an revisions to operational unit METs are part of a deliberate process executed cyclically and are synchronized with the communities' of interest (COI) Operational Advisory Group (OAG) conferences and Training and Readiness (T&R) Manual reviews.

MET Workshops​

Core/Core Plus METs will be review every three years, at a minimum, after the last approval date. Core/Core Plus MET review may be conducted by the operating forces or installations whenever required or directed, based on changing capabilities or missions requirements. Advocates, MARFORs, or other stakeholders may request out-of-cycle reviews to DC CD&I.

MET workshops will normally be scheduled as part of an institutional battle rhythm. This will allows the proper nesting of tasks up and down the chain of command and across the MAGTF, providing more accurate assessments at all levels. For example, battalion core METs must support regimental tasks, which in turn support division tasks and the full scope of potential MAGTFs

Operating force MET Workshops will be hosted by DC CD&I and supported by Advocate representation, MARFORs, unit subject matter experts, and a TECOM representative supporting the T&R for the specific community of interest.

Voting​

Representatives from the MARFORs, advocates, and other voting members designated by DC CD&I and the workshop chair will determine the formal workshop outputs. While any workshop attendee may recommend a specific position, the voting members will make the final decisions regarding workshop products. Minority positions will be prepared where concurrent cannot be achieved.

Change Review​

Recommended changes to the MCTL resulting from Core MET Workshops require complete definitions and supporting references to facilitate validation by DC CD&I and inclusion in the MCTL.

Recommended MET changes that require personnel or equipment resources changes for designated missions will be accompanied by a Table of Organization and Equipment Change Request (TOECR).

TFSD will be part of the review process to make sure the Core METs match designated mission and capabilities or concur with TOECRs for changed Core METs. Following approval of Core MET changes, all Advocates shall review their respective units Table of Organization and Equipment (T/O&E) to identify necessary force structure changes (to include mission statements). For those units not affected by changes of the Core METs, a review of T/O&E is required every four years to ensure the stated requirements can lead to the accomplishment of the unit's mission.

References​