diff --git a/.github/workflows/fleximod_test.yaml b/.github/workflows/fleximod_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d4203e1d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/fleximod_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+on: pull_request
+
+jobs:
+  fleximod-test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        # oldest supported and latest supported
+        python-version: ["3.7", "3.x"]
+    steps:
+      - id: checkout-CESM
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - id: run-fleximod
+        run: |
+          $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/bin/git-fleximod update
+          $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/bin/git-fleximod test
+#      - name: Setup tmate session
+#        if: ${{ failure() }}
+#        uses: mxschmitt/action-tmate@v3
+        
+          
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index f133ebeb38..4600960184 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ path = components/cice
 url = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CESM_CICE
 fxtag = cesm_cice6_5_0_10
 fxrequired = ToplevelRequired
-fxDONOTUSEurl = https://github.com/NCAR/ParallelIO
+fxDONOTUSEurl = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CESM_CICE
 
 [submodule "clm"]
 path = components/clm
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
index fdcf102a19..b6f728f881 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import argparse
 from git_fleximod import utils
 
-__version__ = "0.8.2"
+__version__ = "0.8.4"
 
 def find_root_dir(filename=".gitmodules"):
     """ finds the highest directory in tree
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
index 4595cd2ab2..50e0ef83df 100755
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
@@ -195,18 +195,19 @@ def submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=False, depth=0):
         submod = init_submodule_from_gitmodules(gitmodules, name, root_dir, logger)
             
         result,n,l,t = submod.status()
-        testfails += t
-        localmods += l
-        needsupdate += n
         if toplevel or not submod.toplevel():
             print(wrapper.fill(result))
-        subdir = os.path.join(root_dir, submod.path)
-        if os.path.exists(os.path.join(subdir, ".gitmodules")):
-            submod = GitModules(logger, confpath=subdir)
-            t,l,n = submodules_status(submod, subdir, depth=depth+1)
             testfails += t
             localmods += l
             needsupdate += n
+        subdir = os.path.join(root_dir, submod.path)
+        if os.path.exists(os.path.join(subdir, ".gitmodules")):
+            gsubmod = GitModules(logger, confpath=subdir)
+            t,l,n = submodules_status(gsubmod, subdir, depth=depth+1)
+            if toplevel or not submod.toplevel():
+                testfails += t
+                localmods += l
+                needsupdate += n
             
     return testfails, localmods, needsupdate
 
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
index 48657272ee..70a3018a42 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def status(self):
                 needsupdate = True
             else:
                 result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules{optional}"
-                testfails = True
+                testfails = False
         else:
             with utils.pushd(smpath):
                 git = GitInterface(smpath, self.logger)
@@ -103,15 +103,23 @@ def status(self):
                     needsupdate = True
                     return result, needsupdate, localmods, testfails                    
                 rurl = git.git_operation("ls-remote","--get-url").rstrip()
-                line = git.git_operation("log", "--pretty=format:\"%h %d").partition('\n')[0]
+                line = git.git_operation("log", "--pretty=format:\"%h %d\"").partition('\n')[0]
                 parts = line.split()
                 ahash = parts[0][1:]
+                atag = None
                 if len(parts) > 3:
-                    atag = parts[3][:-1]
-                else:
-                    atag = None
+                    idx = 0
+                    while idx < len(parts)-1:
+                        idx = idx+1
+                        if parts[idx] == 'tag:':
+                            atag = parts[idx+1]
+                            while atag.endswith(')') or atag.endswith(',') or atag.endswith("\""):
+                                atag = atag[:-1]
+                            if atag == self.fxtag:
+                                break
+
                 
-                #print(f"line is {line} ahash is {ahash} atag is {atag}")
+                #print(f"line is {line} ahash is {ahash} atag is {atag} {parts}")
                 #                atag = git.git_operation("describe", "--tags", "--always").rstrip()
                 # ahash =  git.git_operation("rev-list", "HEAD").partition("\n")[0]
                     
@@ -122,9 +130,11 @@ def status(self):
                 if self.fxtag and atag == self.fxtag:
                     result = f"  {self.name:>20} at tag {self.fxtag}"
                     recurse = True
-                elif self.fxtag and ahash[: len(self.fxtag)] == self.fxtag:
+                    testfails = False
+                elif self.fxtag and (ahash[: len(self.fxtag)] == self.fxtag or (self.fxtag.find(ahash)==0)):
                     result = f"  {self.name:>20} at hash {ahash}"
                     recurse = True
+                    testfails = False
                 elif atag == ahash:
                     result = f"  {self.name:>20} at hash {ahash}"
                     recurse = True
@@ -133,14 +143,17 @@ def status(self):
                     testfails = True
                     needsupdate = True
                 else:
-                    result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {atag}"
-                    testfails = True
+                    if atag:
+                        result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {atag}"
+                    else:
+                        result = f"e {self.name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules, module at {ahash}"
+                    testfails = False
                     
                 status = git.git_operation("status", "--ignore-submodules", "-uno")
                 if "nothing to commit" not in status:
                     localmods = True
                     result = "M" + textwrap.indent(status, "                      ")
-        
+#        print(f"result {result} needsupdate {needsupdate} localmods {localmods} testfails {testfails}")
         return result, needsupdate, localmods, testfails
 
     
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml b/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
index 9cff1423c8..850e57d59d 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "git-fleximod"
-version = "0.8.2"
+version = "0.8.4"
 description = "Extended support for git-submodule and git-sparse-checkout"
 authors = ["Jim Edwards <jedwards@ucar.edu>"]
 maintainers = ["Jim Edwards <jedwards@ucar.edu>"]
diff --git a/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml b/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
index b4eed7d40c..bd82c557ad 100644
--- a/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
+++ b/.lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 github_url = "https://github.com/jedwards4b/git-fleximod/"
 
 [version]
-current = "0.8.2"
+current = "0.8.4"
 
 # Example of a semver regexp.
 # Make sure this matches current_version before
diff --git a/doc/ChangeLog b/doc/ChangeLog
index fb2de533c7..93142a1a4a 100644
--- a/doc/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,73 @@
 ===============================================================
 
+Tag name: cam6_4_018
+Originator(s): peverwhee, jedwards4b
+Date: 30 July 2024
+One-line Summary: Update git-fleximod to 8.4 and add fleximod_test workflow
+Github PR URL: https://github.com/ESCOMP/CAM/pull/1107
+
+Purpose of changes (include the issue number and title text for each relevant GitHub issue):
+  - Issue #1113 - Add git-fleximod github CI workflow
+
+Describe any changes made to build system: update git-fleximod
+
+Describe any changes made to the namelist: none
+
+List any changes to the defaults for the boundary datasets: none
+
+Describe any substantial timing or memory changes: none
+
+Code reviewed by: cacraigucar
+
+List all files eliminated: none
+
+List all files added and what they do:
+
+A   .github/workflows/fleximod_test.yaml
+  - add git-fleximod test github workflow
+
+List all existing files that have been modified, and describe the changes:
+
+M   .gitmodules
+  - fix fxDONOTUSEurl for cice
+
+M   .lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/cli.py
+M   .lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
+M   .lib/git-fleximod/git_fleximod/submodule.py
+M   .lib/git-fleximod/pyproject.toml
+M   .lib/git-fleximod/tbump.toml
+  - update git-fleximod to v8.4
+
+If there were any failures reported from running test_driver.sh on any test
+platform, and checkin with these failures has been OK'd by the gatekeeper,
+then copy the lines from the td.*.status files for the failed tests to the
+appropriate machine below.  All failed tests must be justified.
+
+derecho/intel/aux_cam:
+ERP_Ln9.f09_f09_mg17.FCSD_HCO.derecho_intel.cam-outfrq9s (Overall: FAIL) details:
+- pre-existing failure due to HEMCO not having reproducible results issues #1018 and #856
+
+SMS_D_Ln9_P1280x1.ne0ARCTICne30x4_ne0ARCTICne30x4_mt12.FHIST.derecho_intel.cam-outfrq9s (Overall: PEND) details:
+SMS_D_Ln9_P1280x1.ne0CONUSne30x8_ne0CONUSne30x8_mt12.FCHIST.derecho_intel.cam-outfrq9s (Overall: PEND) details:
+- pre-existing failures -- need fix in CLM external
+
+SMS_D_Ln9.T42_T42.FSCAM.derecho_intel.cam-outfrq9s (Overall: FAIL) details:
+- pre-existing failure -- need fix in CICE external
+
+izumi/nag/aux_cam:
+
+DAE.f45_f45_mg37.FHS94.izumi_nag.cam-dae (Overall: FAIL) details:
+- pre-existing failure - issue #670
+
+izumi/gnu/aux_cam: All PASS
+
+CAM tag used for the baseline comparison tests if different than previous
+tag:
+
+Summarize any changes to answers: BFB, as expected
+
+===============================================================
+
 Tag name: cam6_4_017
 Originator(s): eaton
 Date: 30 July 2024