Stanley A. McChrystal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stanley McChrystal
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General Stanley A. McChrystal c. 2009
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| Born | 14 August 1954 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1976–2010 |
| Rank | General |
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| Battles/wars | |
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Stanley Allen McChrystal (born 14 August 1954) is a retired U.S. Army general. He is well known for leading the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2003 to 2008. During this time, his team was involved in the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Later, General McChrystal was the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He served in this role from June 2009 to June 2010. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates once called him "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I ever met."
However, General McChrystal resigned from his command in Afghanistan after some comments he and his staff made about government officials appeared in a magazine article. President Barack Obama accepted his resignation. After leaving the military, he began teaching at Yale University.
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Early Military Career
Stanley McChrystal was born on a U.S. Army base in Kansas. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1976. He then became a second lieutenant in the United States Army.
His first job was with the 82nd Airborne Division. He led a weapons team and later a rifle team. From 1978 to 1979, he was an executive officer.
In 1978, McChrystal joined the Special Forces Officer Course. After finishing the course, he stayed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He commanded an "A-team" in the 7th Special Forces Group.
He later served in South Korea as an intelligence and operations officer. In 1982, he moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia. There, he worked as a training officer. He also commanded a company in the 24th Infantry Division.
Leading Ranger Units
In 1985, McChrystal joined the 75th Ranger Regiment. He commanded a company there. He also became a battalion operations officer.
He studied at the Naval War College in 1989. During this time, he earned a master's degree in international relations. From 1990 to 1993, he worked for the Joint Special Operations Command. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
From 1993 to 1994, McChrystal commanded the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry. He then led the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, from 1994 to 1996. He helped improve the Army's hand-to-hand combat training. After studying at Harvard University, he commanded the entire 75th Ranger Regiment from 1997 to 1999.
Becoming a General
McChrystal became a brigadier general in 2001. He served as assistant division commander for the 82nd Airborne Division. This included working as Commander of United States Army Central in Kuwait.
From 2001 to 2002, he was chief of staff for the XVIII Airborne Corps. He also served as chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force 180. This group directed all Operation Enduring Freedom operations in Afghanistan.
When the Iraq War began in 2003, he worked at The Pentagon. He was the vice director of operations for the Joint Staff. He gave televised briefings on U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Leading Special Operations
General McChrystal led the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) for five years. He was in charge from September 2003 to August 2008. He spent most of his time in Afghanistan, Qatar, and Iraq. His work in Iraq was very important.
One early success was the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003. McChrystal was promoted to lieutenant general in February 2006.
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JSOC is a very secret part of the U.S. military. McChrystal became more known in June 2006. His forces were responsible for the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. After Zarqawi was located and killed in an airstrike, McChrystal went to the site to identify the body himself.
McChrystal's team was criticized for how they treated some prisoners. After the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal, 34 members of his task force faced discipline. McChrystal later said that mistreating prisoners hurt America's efforts.
He was also criticized for his role after the death of Pat Tillman. Tillman was a former football player and Army Ranger who died from friendly fire in 2004. McChrystal was informed quickly that Tillman's death was due to friendly fire. He was involved in the paperwork to award Tillman a medal.
A memo from McChrystal warned White House staff not to use the medal recommendation in public statements. This was because it "might cause public embarrassment" if the friendly fire details became known. A later Pentagon investigation suggested discipline for eight officers, including McChrystal. However, the Army did not take action against him.
According to journalist Bob Woodward, JSOC and CIA teams launched successful secret operations in 2007. These operations captured or killed many key al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq. Many officials said these joint efforts were key to defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Director of the Joint Staff
In 2008, McChrystal was nominated to be the director of the Joint Staff. This is a high-level position. His approval was delayed by some senators. They wanted more information about how prisoners were treated under his command.
After meeting with him, the Senate approved his appointment in May 2008. He became director of the Joint Staff in August 2008.
Leading Forces in Afghanistan
In June 2009, McChrystal was approved to lead forces in Afghanistan. He was promoted to general. Soon after he took command, a large military operation called Operation Khanjar began.
Calling for More Troops
McChrystal sent a report to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. In the report, he said more troops were needed in Afghanistan to win the war. The report became public in September 2009. He warned that the war could be lost without more troops.
In 2009, McChrystal publicly suggested sending 30,000 to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan. White House staff advised him not to give specific numbers.
Resignation After Magazine Article
A magazine article in Rolling Stone caused controversy. The article quoted McChrystal and his staff making critical comments about civilian government officials. These officials included Vice President Joe Biden.
McChrystal was not directly quoted criticizing the president. However, comments from his aides suggested he was disappointed with President Obama.
After the article was released, McChrystal called Vice President Biden to apologize. He also issued a public apology. President Obama then asked McChrystal to come to the White House.
On June 23, 2010, McChrystal offered his resignation to President Obama. The president accepted it. President Obama then nominated General David Petraeus to take McChrystal's place.
Obama stated he accepted the resignation with regret. He said it was the right thing for the mission in Afghanistan. McChrystal also released a statement. He said he strongly supported the president's strategy and was committed to the mission.
Retirement from the Army
Soon after leaving his command in Afghanistan, McChrystal announced his retirement from the Army. The White House said he would keep his four-star rank in retirement.
His retirement ceremony was held on July 23, 2010. He received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Pentagon Inquiry
The Pentagon's inspector general looked into the Rolling Stone article. The inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing by McChrystal or his staff. The report also questioned the accuracy of some parts of the article. It stated that some events or comments were not reported exactly as they happened.
After this report, the White House asked McChrystal to lead a new advisory board. This board would support military families.
Life After the Military
In 2010, after retiring from the Army, McChrystal joined Yale University. He became a senior fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. He teaches a course called "Leadership" to graduate students and some undergraduates.
He also joined the boards of directors for JetBlue Airways and Navistar International.
McChrystal is the chairman of Siemens Government Technologies. He also co-founded the McChrystal Group. This is a consulting firm in Virginia. It helps organizations by using lessons learned from military leadership.
In 2011, McChrystal joined the advisory board of Spirit of America. This organization helps Americans serving abroad and the people they work with.
He has also spoken about the idea of a national service program in the United States. He believes that all Americans should serve their country in some way, not just those in uniform. He thinks this could help improve education, science, and leadership in America.
Books and Endorsements
McChrystal's memoir, My Share of the Task, was released in January 2013. In 2015, his second book, Team of Teams, was published. This book focuses on how he changed the Joint Special Operations Task Force to fight new types of enemies. It is aimed at business leaders.
In 2014, McChrystal supported Seth Moulton, a Democratic candidate for Congress. McChrystal said he supported Moulton because Congress needed people of his character.
In 2016, McChrystal became the chair of the Board of Service Year Alliance. This group wants to make a year of full-time service common for young Americans. He has called on presidential candidates to support national service.
He was considered as a possible running mate for Donald Trump in 2016. However, McChrystal said he would not take any role in a Trump administration. He later rejected an offer to be Trump's Secretary of Defense.
In 2020, McChrystal supported Joe Biden for president. He said he could trust Joe Biden as commander in chief. In 2024, he endorsed Kamala Harris for president. He explained that he chose Harris based on her character, strength, and values.
Personal Life
Stanley McChrystal comes from a military family. His father, Major General Herbert J. McChrystal, was also a general. His grandfather was a U.S. Army Colonel. All five of his brothers and one sister served in the military or married military members.
He married Annie Corcoran in 1977. She also came from a military family.
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
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2LT | 2 June 1976 |
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1LT | 3 June 1978 |
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CPT | 1 August 1980 |
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MAJ | 1 July 1987 |
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LTC | 1 September 1992 |
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COL | 1 September 1996 |
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BG | 1 January 2001 |
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MG | 1 May 2004 |
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LTG | 16 February 2006 |
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GEN | 15 June 2009 |
Awards and Decorations
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See also
- The Operators (book)
- War Machine (film)
