diff --git a/jobs/JGLOBAL_STAGE_IC b/jobs/JGLOBAL_STAGE_IC
index 0113b6c224..5039c94eec 100755
--- a/jobs/JGLOBAL_STAGE_IC
+++ b/jobs/JGLOBAL_STAGE_IC
@@ -3,31 +3,12 @@
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/preamble.sh"
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/jjob_header.sh" -e "stage_ic" -c "base stage_ic"
 
-# Define significant cycles
-# shellcheck disable=SC2153
-half_window=$(( assim_freq / 2 ))
-current_cycle="${PDY}${cyc}"
-previous_cycle=$(date --utc -d "${PDY} ${cyc} - ${assim_freq} hours" +%Y%m%d%H)
-current_cycle_begin=$(date --utc -d "${PDY} ${cyc} - ${half_window} hours" +%Y%m%d%H)
-current_cycle_end=$(date --utc -d "${PDY} ${cyc} + ${half_window} hours" +%Y%m%d%H)
-
-# Define model start date for current_cycle as the time the forecast will start
-if [[ "${DOIAU:-NO}" == "YES" ]] && [[ "${MODE}" == "cycled" ]] ; then
-  model_start_date_current_cycle="${current_cycle_begin}"
-else
-  if [[ "${REPLAY_ICS:-NO}" == "YES" ]]; then
-    model_start_date_current_cycle=${current_cycle_end}
-  else
-    model_start_date_current_cycle=${current_cycle}
-  fi
-fi
-export current_cycle previous_cycle model_start_date_current_cycle
-
 # Initialize return code
 err=0
 
 # Execute staging
 "${SCRgfs}/exglobal_stage_ic.py"
+err=$?
 
 ###############################################################
 # Check for errors and exit if any of the above failed
diff --git a/parm/stage/stage.yaml.j2 b/parm/stage/stage.yaml.j2
index 84e79da980..49415a3e17 100644
--- a/parm/stage/stage.yaml.j2
+++ b/parm/stage/stage.yaml.j2
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@
 {% set current_cycle_HH = current_cycle | strftime("%H") %}
 {% set previous_cycle_YMD = previous_cycle | to_YMD %}
 {% set previous_cycle_HH = previous_cycle | strftime("%H") %}
-{% set m_prefix = model_start_date_current_cycle | to_YMD + "." + model_start_date_current_cycle | strftime("%H") + "0000" %}
-{% set p_prefix = previous_cycle | to_YMD + "." + previous_cycle | strftime("%H") + "0000" %}
+{% set m_prefix = model_start_date_current_cycle | strftime("%Y%m%d.%H0000") %}
+{% set p_prefix = previous_cycle | strftime("%Y%m%d.%H0000") %}
 
 ####################################################################
 # Initial condition to stage
@@ -37,26 +37,26 @@
 {% else %}
   {% set mem_char = '' %}
 {% endif %}
-{% set current_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
-                         '${RUN}':RUN,
-                         '${YMD}':current_cycle_YMD,
-                         '${HH}':current_cycle_HH,
-                         '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
-{% set previous_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
-                          '${RUN}':rRUN,
-                          '${YMD}':previous_cycle_YMD,
-                          '${HH}':previous_cycle_HH,
-                          '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
-{% set previous_run_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
-                              '${RUN}':RUN,
-                              '${YMD}':previous_cycle_YMD,
-                              '${HH}':previous_cycle_HH,
-                              '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
+{% set current_cycle_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
+                               '${RUN}':RUN,
+                               '${YMD}':current_cycle_YMD,
+                               '${HH}':current_cycle_HH,
+                               '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
+{% set previous_cycle_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
+                                '${RUN}':rRUN,
+                                '${YMD}':previous_cycle_YMD,
+                                '${HH}':previous_cycle_HH,
+                                '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
+{% set previous_cycle_and_run_dict = ({ '${ROTDIR}':ROTDIR,
+                                        '${RUN}':RUN,
+                                        '${YMD}':previous_cycle_YMD,
+                                        '${HH}':previous_cycle_HH,
+                                        '${MEMDIR}': mem_char }) %}
 
 # Initial condition definitions
 
 {% if MODE == "cycled" and RUN == "gdas" %}
-{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS = COM_ATMOS_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS = COM_ATMOS_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 analysis:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS }}"
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ analysis:
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if EXP_WARM_START == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV = COM_ATMOS_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV = COM_ATMOS_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_dict) %}
 atmosphere_warm:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV }}"
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ atmosphere_warm:
         {% endif %} # path_exists
         {% endfor %} # ntile
 {% else %} # cold start
-{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT = COM_ATMOS_INPUT_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT = COM_ATMOS_INPUT_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 atmosphere_cold:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT }}"
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ atmosphere_cold:
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if REPLAY_ICS == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS = COM_ATMOS_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS = COM_ATMOS_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 atmosphere_perturbation:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_ANALYSIS }}"
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ atmosphere_perturbation:
 atmosphere_nest:
   {% set ntile = 7 %}
   {% if EXP_WARM_START == True %}
-    {% set COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV = COM_ATMOS_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_dict) %}
+    {% set COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV = COM_ATMOS_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_dict) %}
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV }}"
     copy:
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ atmosphere_nest:
         - ["{{ ICSDIR }}/{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV | relpath(ROTDIR) }}/{{ m_prefix }}.{{ ftype }}.tile{{ ntile }}.nc", "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_RESTART_PREV }}/{{ m_prefix }}.{{ ftype }}.nest0{{ ntile-5 }}.tile{{ ntile }}.nc"]
         {% endfor %}
   {% else %} # cold start
-    {% set COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT = COM_ATMOS_INPUT_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+    {% set COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT = COM_ATMOS_INPUT_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ATMOS_INPUT }}"
     copy:
@@ -134,14 +134,14 @@ atmosphere_nest:
 
 {% if DO_ICE %}
 {% if DO_JEDIOCNVAR == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_ICE_ANALYSIS = COM_ICE_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ICE_ANALYSIS = COM_ICE_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 ice:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ICE_ANALYSIS }}"
     copy:
         - ["{{ ICSDIR }}/{{ COMOUT_ICE_ANALYSIS | relpath(ROTDIR) }}/{{ m_prefix }}.cice_model_anl.res.nc", "{{ COMOUT_ICE_ANALYSIS }}"]
 {% else %}
-{% set COMOUT_ICE_RESTART_PREV = COM_ICE_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_ICE_RESTART_PREV = COM_ICE_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_dict) %}
 ice:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_ICE_RESTART_PREV }}"
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ ice:
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if DO_OCN %}
-{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV = COM_OCEAN_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV = COM_OCEAN_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_dict) %}
 ocean:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV }}"
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ ocean:
         {% endif %}
 
 {% if DO_JEDIOCNVAR == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS = COM_OCEAN_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS = COM_OCEAN_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 rerun:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS }}"
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ rerun:
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if REPLAY_ICS == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS = COM_OCEAN_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS = COM_OCEAN_ANALYSIS_TMPL | replace_tmpl(current_cycle_dict) %}
 replay:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_ANALYSIS }}"
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ replay:
 {% endif %}
 
 {% if EXP_WARM_START == True %}
-{% set COMOUT_MED_RESTART_PREV = COM_MED_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_MED_RESTART_PREV = COM_MED_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_dict) %}
 {% if path_exists(ICSDIR ~ "/" ~ COMOUT_MED_RESTART_PREV | relpath(ROTDIR) ~ "/" ~ m_prefix ~ ".ufs.cpld.cpl.r.nc") %}
 mediator:
     mkdir:
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ mediator:
 {% endif %} # DO_OCN=True
 
 {% if DO_WAVE %}
-{% set COMOUT_WAVE_RESTART_PREV = COM_WAVE_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_run_dict) %}
+{% set COMOUT_WAVE_RESTART_PREV = COM_WAVE_RESTART_TMPL | replace_tmpl(previous_cycle_and_run_dict) %}
 wave:
     mkdir:
         - "{{ COMOUT_WAVE_RESTART_PREV }}"
diff --git a/scripts/exglobal_stage_ic.py b/scripts/exglobal_stage_ic.py
index 7757caf879..4a7b034efa 100755
--- a/scripts/exglobal_stage_ic.py
+++ b/scripts/exglobal_stage_ic.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import os
 
-from pygfs.task.stage import Stage
+from pygfs.task.stage_ic import Stage
 from wxflow import AttrDict, Logger, cast_strdict_as_dtypedict, logit
 
 # Initialize root logger
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ def main():
 
     # Pull out all the configuration keys needed to run stage job
     keys = ['RUN', 'MODE', 'EXP_WARM_START', 'NMEM_ENS',
-            'previous_cycle', 'current_cycle',
-            'model_start_date_current_cycle',
+            'current_cycle', 'previous_cycle',
             'ROTDIR', 'ICSDIR', 'STAGE_IC_YAML_TMPL',
             'OCNRES', 'waveGRD', 'ntiles', 'DO_JEDIOCNVAR',
             'REPLAY_ICS', 'DO_WAVE', 'DO_OCN', 'DO_ICE', 'DO_NEST']
@@ -34,6 +33,9 @@ def main():
         if key.startswith("COM"):
             stage_dict[key] = stage.task_config[key]
 
+    # Configure staging
+    stage_dict = stage.configure(stage_dict)
+
     # Stage ICs
     stage.execute_stage(stage_dict)
 
diff --git a/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage.py b/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
similarity index 55%
rename from ush/python/pygfs/task/stage.py
rename to ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
index 377ce1faae..32bc7efdf1 100644
--- a/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage.py
+++ b/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, List
 
 from wxflow import (AttrDict, FileHandler, Task, cast_strdict_as_dtypedict,
-                    logit, parse_j2yaml, strftime,
-                    to_YMD, to_YMDH, Template, TemplateConstants)
+                    logit, parse_j2yaml, strftime, to_YMD,
+                    add_to_datetime, to_timedelta, Template, TemplateConstants)
 
 logger = getLogger(__name__.split('.')[-1])
 
@@ -32,13 +32,11 @@ def __init__(self, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         """
         super().__init__(config)
 
-        rotdir = self.task_config.ROTDIR + os.sep
-
         self.task_config = AttrDict(**self.task_config)
 
     @logit(logger)
-    def execute_stage(self, stage_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-        """Perform local staging of initial condition files.
+    def configure(self, stage_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> (Dict[str, Any]):
+        """Determine stage settings based on configuration and runtime options.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
@@ -47,22 +45,38 @@ def execute_stage(self, stage_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
 
         Returns
         -------
-        None
+        stage_dict : Dict[str, Any]
+            Configuration dictionary updated
         """
 
-        if not os.path.isdir(stage_dict.ROTDIR):
-            raise FileNotFoundError(f"FATAL ERROR: The ROTDIR ({stage_dict.ROTDIR}) does not exist!")
-
         # Add the os.path.exists function to the dict for yaml parsing
+        #-------------------------------------------------------------
         stage_dict['path_exists'] = os.path.exists
 
+        # Determine model start date
+        #---------------------------
+        current_cycle_begin = add_to_datetime(self.task_config.current_cycle, -to_timedelta(f"{self.task_config['assim_freq']}H") / 2)
+        current_cycle_end = add_to_datetime(self.task_config.current_cycle, to_timedelta(f"{self.task_config['assim_freq']}H") / 2)
+
+        if self.task_config.DOIAU == True and self.task_config.MODE == "cycled":
+            model_start_date_current_cycle = current_cycle_begin
+        else:
+            if self.task_config.REPLAY_ICS == True:
+                model_start_date_current_cycle = current_cycle_end
+            else:
+                model_start_date_current_cycle = self.task_config.current_cycle
+
+        stage_dict['model_start_date_current_cycle'] = model_start_date_current_cycle
+
         # Determine restart RUN
+        #----------------------
         rRUN = self.task_config.RUN
         if self.task_config.RUN == "gfs":
             rRUN = "gdas"
         stage_dict['rRUN'] = rRUN
 
         # Determine ensemble member settings
+        #-----------------------------------
         MEM_START = -1  # Deterministic default, no members
         if self.task_config.NMEM_ENS > 0:
             if self.task_config.RUN == "gefs":
@@ -71,14 +85,33 @@ def execute_stage(self, stage_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
                 MEM_START = 1
 
         if MEM_START >= 0:  # Ensemble RUN
-            first_mem = MEM_START
-            last_mem = self.task_config.NMEM_ENS
+            stage_dict['first_mem'] = MEM_START
+            stage_dict['last_mem'] = self.task_config.NMEM_ENS
         else:  # Deteministic RUN
-            first_mem = MEM_START
-            last_mem = MEM_START
+            stage_dict['first_mem'] = MEM_START
+            stage_dict['last_mem'] = MEM_START
+
+        return stage_dict
+
+    @logit(logger)
+    def execute_stage(self, stage_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """Perform local staging of initial condition files.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        stage_dict : Dict[str, Any]
+            Configuration dictionary
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        None
+        """
+
+        if not os.path.isdir(stage_dict.ROTDIR):
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"FATAL ERROR: The ROTDIR ({stage_dict.ROTDIR}) does not exist!")
 
         # Loop over members
-        for mem in range(first_mem, last_mem + 1):
+        for mem in range(stage_dict.first_mem, stage_dict.last_mem + 1):
             stage_dict['mem'] = mem
             stage_set = parse_j2yaml(self.task_config.STAGE_IC_YAML_TMPL, stage_dict, allow_missing=False)
             # Copy files to ROTDIR