![](media/image1.png){width="5.5in" height="0.8645833333333334in"}

February 28, 2008

**Topic:** Advanced Academy Report

**Background:** FUTA program staff developed the Advanced Academy
concept to replace the 7-week Spring Session (February-April). The
Academy was held January 27-February 22 utilizing NWCG 400-level
coursework and a Leadership Management Project.

The FUTA program proceeded to pilot this concept. They developed an
application process and selected 7 candidates based on their training
and career needs. Six of the 7 candidates were FUTA graduates and the
Advanced Academy represented the next level of training and experience
they needed in their career. All candidates participated in trainings
offered January 22-25 to better prepare for the Academy.

Response from graduates of the Academy is clear; this Academy definitely
advanced their preparation for leadership in future programs. Target
audience for the Academy includes current and aspiring decision support
specialists, burn bosses, fire use managers, fire behavior and long-term
fire analysts, and fire and fuels managers needing experience and
training.

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  **Curriculum**                                  

  **Class**               **Cadre**               **Students**

  BehavePlus              3                       11

  WIMS #1                 5                       20

  WIMS #2                 3                       12

  40 Fuel Models          3                       14

  L-480                   1                       33

  S-490                   11                      22

  S-491                   7                       29

  **TOTAL**               **33**                  **141**
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

**PARTICIPANTS**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="6.665277777777778in"
height="6.802083333333333in"}

**Back (left to right):** Mario Gomez, Robyn Woods, John Lange, Julian
Affuso

**Front (left to right):** Morgan Pence, Travis Dotson, Steve Franke

+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| **PARTICIPANTS: January |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| 27-February 22, 2008**  |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| **Name**                | ** | *   | **   | **L | *  | **S | *   |
|                         | WI | *40 | Beha | -48 | *S | -49 | *Fi |
|                         | MS | F   | vePl | 0** | -4 | 1** | eld |
|                         | ** | uel | us** |     | 90 |     | Pro |
|                         |    | s** |      |     | ** |     | jec |
|                         |    |     |      |     |    |     | t** |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Julian Affuso, District | *  | **  | *    | **  | *  | **  | **  |
| AFMO                    | *X | X** | *X** | X** | *X | X** | X** |
|                         | ** |     |      |     | ** |     |     |
| FS, Lincoln NF, Smokey  |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| Bear RD                 |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Travis Dotson, Field    |    |     |      | **  | *  |     | **  |
| Operations Specialist   |    |     |      | X** | *X |     | X** |
|                         |    |     |      |     | ** |     |     |
| FS, R-3 FAM-FUTA        |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Steve Franke,           | *  | **  |      | **  |    | **  | **  |
| Supervisory Forestry    | *X | X** |      | X** |    | X** | X** |
| Technician              | ** |     |      |     |    |     |     |
|                         |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| FS, Tahoe NF, Lake      |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| Tahoe Basin Mgmt. Unit  |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Mario Gomez,            | *  | **  | *    | **  | *  | **  | **  |
| Supervisory FEO/Engine  | *X | X** | *X** | X** | *X | X** | X** |
| Captain                 | ** |     |      |     | ** |     |     |
|                         |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| FS, Klamath NF, Happy   |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| Camp-Oak Knoll RDs      |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| John Lange, Fuels       | *  | **  | *    | **  | *  | **  | **  |
| Specialist              | *X | X** | *X** | X** | *X | X** | X** |
|                         | ** |     |      |     | ** |     |     |
| BIA, Southern Ute       |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| Agency                  |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Morgan Pence, Natural   | *  | **  |      | **  |    |     | **  |
| Resource Specialist     | *X | X** |      | X** |    |     | X** |
|                         | ** |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| FS, R-4 FAA, University |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
| of Idaho                |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+
| Robyn Woods, Fuels      |    |     |      | **  | *  | **  | **  |
| Technician              |    |     |      | X** | *X | X** | X** |
|                         |    |     |      |     | ** |     |     |
| FS, Eldorado NF         |    |     |      |     |    |     |     |
+-------------------------+----+-----+------+-----+----+-----+-----+

**[Lessons Learned]{.underline}**

Listed below are some of the immediate lessons learned following
completion of the Advanced Academy on February 22. FUTA staff are
gathering additional information and responses.

-   The Academy advanced FUTA\'s mission of preparing participants for
    leadership in future programs.

-   FUTA program staff determined that the Leadership Management Project
    fell into more of the Appropriate Management Response (AMR) Decision
    Support category. This allowed the Academy to focus on skills needed
    to serve on an AMR Decision Support Team at the national level.

-   The Field Project required students to use skills recently gained in
    the classroom to generate a product that benefited the host unit in
    management of their fire program. Team size of 7 was optimal.

-   Two projects can be worked on at a single location but it\'s up to
    the Academy to work with the local unit to provide a relevant,
    usable service or product. Increased numbers of students means
    multiple field projects at multiple locations.

-   The project served as an opportunity for students to gain valuable
    hands-on experience, advance their careers in fuels and fire use,
    and immediately apply classroom training. Their performance was
    elevated because they were producing an actual, relevant product to
    be put to use by the host unit.

-   From the host unit\'s perspective, their work on the Field Project
    built their credibility as a team and also heightened understanding
    and support for the Advanced Academy concept.

-   A full week should be allotted to the Field Project. During this
    pilot Advanced Academy, the Field Project was scheduled during a
    4-day work week (federal holiday) due to travel.

-   These candidates are at the level where they can participate as
    cadre in some courses and can develop their instructional skills to
    serve on future cadres for some of these courses.

-   As a student, Travis Dotson offered a student and program
    perspective on the Academy and the value of the Field Project along
    with lessons learned.

-   Julian Affuso was also a student in the Advanced Academy and his
    District hosted the Field Project. As District Assistant Fire
    Management Officer, he was able to draw out options for the most
    effective field projects.

-   The Field Project should be hosted off-site by a field unit.
    Separation from Albuquerque is key, requiring students to build
    rapport and work closely with the hosting unit.

-   Consider leadership in the field during the project week. For future
    Advanced Academies, an individual is needed for leadership,
    logistics coordination, mentoring, technical expertise, and liaison
    with the hosting unit.

-   The curriculum will be adjusted annually as needed when new
    technology, policy, and concepts are introduced at the national
    level.

-   This year, students\' home units covered all costs. It\'s
    recommended that at least the week of travel for projects be covered
    by the FUTA program as a minimum and that Government housing be
    utilized.

-   The Advanced Academy workshops effectively prepared students for the
    NWCG coursework that followed.

A preliminary After-Action Review was completed with the students prior
to their leaving the Academy. This will be followed up with another
survey to capture any other ideas and suggestions they have to offer.

Following is an overview of the Academy\'s final week.

**[Overview of Field Decision Support Team]{.underline}**

The students were tasked with two projects:

-   Produce a District Prevention Plan meeting all national requirements
    based on historical fire occurrence statistics.

-   Model and analyze a fire in a specified location utilizing historic
    weather data and make recommendations for Appropriate Management
    Response based on findings.

In three days, students completed both tasks. Students presented
findings to a panel consisting of the Deputy Forest Supervisor, Forest
FMO, Forest AFMO, District FMO, neighboring District FMO, 2 local Fire
Department representatives, and the District Prevention Specialist.

Feedback from the local unit:

**[Appreciation]{.underline}**

**Prevention Plan:** There was much appreciation expressed due to the
fact that the District is required to have a prevention plan in place
but had no local resources or time to create. With minor adjustments
from the local unit, the plan is now in use. The Forest staff expressed
interest in utilizing the Academy for similar projects in the future.

**AMR Analysis:** There was much appreciation expressed as well for this
portion of the project for several reasons. The District had been
pressured to expand their Appropriate Management Response options and
felt they needed data analysis and establishment of specific thresholds
to assist in decision-making. The students provided documentation needed
to enable locals to make informed decisions in this arena.

**[Support of the Program]{.underline}**

The panel expressed awe at the products produced by the students. It was
apparent the students solidified skills taught in the classroom.
Interest was expressed in sending students from the Forest to develop
needed skills within the local staff. Acknowledgment was given to the
fact that these skills are desperately needed at the national level to
support the current direction of fire management.