![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.9777777777777777in"
height="0.8145833333333333in"}![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.238888888888889in"
height="0.7284722222222222in"}

NWCG Training Working Team

Leadership Committee

**To: Geographic Area Training Representatives**

**Subject: L-480 course roles and responsibilities for delivery**

**Date: April 2007**

[Background]{.underline}

The L-480, Incident Management Team Leadership course will provide
future Incident Management Team leaders (Command and General Staff) with
the leadership tools to provide strategic direction and influence others
to achieve team goals. The course is designed to develop personal
leadership skills and command presence in order to increase
effectiveness in the dynamic incident management setting.

L-480 makes a distinct break from the structure L-380 and L-381. The
change in skills, knowledge, and abilities in leadership and management
is tremendous from Division Supervisor to Operations Section Chief; from
Unit Leader to Section Chief; and from Incident Commander Type 3 to
Incident Commander Type 2. In addition to technical competence, the IMT
Command & General Staff leader must be able to use his/her cumulative
experience to provide effective leadership in a complex setting
involving many stakeholders.

L-480 was developed in 2004 and tested between 2005 and 2007 in the
Southwest, Northern Rockies and Northwest. The course materials have
been approved by the NWCG Leadership Committee and the L-480 Steering
Group.

The L-480 course package is available through the National Advanced Fire
and Resource Institute (NAFRI). Agencies have the authority to provide
and/or contract this training utilizing the established L-480 course
package.

A set of Instructor Criteria and a Course Delivery Plan have been
developed by the L-480 Steering Group to assist training officers and
managers in securing a quality provider to deliver the L-480 training
course. These criteria can be used to evaluate potential providers such
as a contractor, a university, or other source.

The L-480 Steering Group and the NAFRI L-480 Course Liaison are
committed to assisting with initial deliveries by those interested GATRs
that did not experience the delivery of L-480 during the test course
phase.

**Roles and Responsibilities**

The NWCG / TWT Leadership Committee provides general oversight for the
Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program including the L-480
Steering Group. Specific roles and responsibilities for the L-480 course
are as follows:

***NAFRI***

-   Be the custodian for the L-480 course materials

-   Provide an L-480 Course Liaison point of contact for the GATRs

-   Collect copies of course evaluations / summaries from GATRs

-   Act as a liaison to L-480 Steering Group

***L-480 Steering Group***

-   Promote and maintain L-480 into the future

-   Assist GATRs as requested

-   Determine when course revisions or updates are necessary

-   Report the status of the L-480 program to the NWCG Leadership
    Committee on an annual basis

***GATRs***

-   Obtain a provider or qualified instructor(s) through agency means

-   Order course materials from NAFRI and order assigned books

-   Provide a qualified cadre of group coaches with a designated lead
    coach

-   Schedule courses, prepare announcements, select and notify students

-   Coordinate logistical support and training facilities

-   Collect and send copies of course evaluations / summaries to the
    NAFRI L-480 Course Liaison

-   Communicate course delivery concerns to the NAFRI L-480 Course
    Liaison