National Incident Management System (NIMS): 
Five-Year NIMS Training Plan 
National Integration Center (NIC), Incident Management Systems Division (IMSD) 

Table of Contents 
Introduction.................................................................................................................................1 
Intended Audience..............................................................................................................6 
Authorities and Background...................................................................................................6 
Scope of Five-Year NIMS Training Plan....................................................................................6 
Desired State of NIMS Training and Personnel Qualification......................................................................9 
National Training Program for NIMS.....................................................................................12 
Operational Needs Define Core Competencies and Associated Behaviors.........................................13 
Core Curriculum for the NIMS.............................................................................................13 
Course Development and Training Guidance............................................................................15 
Personnel Qualification......................................................................................................16 
Current State of NIMS Training.......................................................................................................17 
Core Competencies and Associated Behaviors...........................................................................17 
Core Curriculum for NIMS.................................................................................................17 
Course Development and Training Guidance............................................................................18 
Personnel Qualification......................................................................................................19 
NIMS Compliance Requirements.....................................................................................................20 
Five-Year Training Plan: Goals, Objectives, Action Items.......................................................................22 
Major Goals Guiding the NIMS Training Plan...........................................................................22 
Table of Appendices 
Appendix A: NIMS Components......................................................................................................31 
I. Component I Overview: Preparedness.................................................................................31 
II. Component II Overview: Communications and Information Management....................................32 
III. Component III Overview: Resource Management.................................................................33 
IV. Component IV Overview: Command and Management..........................................................34 
V. Component V Overview: Ongoing Management and Maintenance.............................................39 
Appendix B: Position Competencies and Behaviors................................................................................41 
Appendix C: Course Summaries.......................................................................................................51 
IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction...........................................53 
IS-800: National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction..............................................................54 
ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System.............................................................55 
ICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents......................................................56 
ICS-300: Intermediate ICS..................................................................................................57 
ICS-400: Advanced ICS......................................................................................................58 
IS-701: NIMS Multi-Agency Coordination Systems (MACS).........................................................59 
IS-702: NIMS Public Information..........................................................................................60 
IS-703: NIMS Resource Management.....................................................................................61 
IS-704: NIMS Communication and Information Management........................................................62 
IS-705: NIMS Preparedness.................................................................................................63 
IS-706: NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid, An Introduction.................................................................64 
IS-707: NIMS Resource Typing............................................................................................65 
P400: All-Hazards Incident Commander.................................................................................66 
P430: All-Hazards Operations Section Chief............................................................................67 
P440: All-Hazards Planning Section Chief...............................................................................68 
P450: All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief...............................................................................69 
P460: All-Hazards Finance Section Chief.................................................................................70 
P480: All-Hazards Intelligence/Investigations Function...............................................................71 
P402: All-Hazards Liaison Officer.........................................................................................72 
P403: All-Hazards Public Information Officer..........................................................................73 
P404: All-Hazards Safety Officer..........................................................................................74 
Appendix D: References................................................................................................................75 

 

Introduction 
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) represents a core set of doctrine, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management across all emergency management and incident response organizations and disciplines.1 The President has directed Federal agencies to adopt NIMS and encouraged adoption of NIMS by all stakeholdersFederal, State, territorial, tribal, substate regional, and local governments, private sector organizations, critical infrastructure owners and operators, nongovernmental organizations involved in emergency management and/or incident response.2 Adoption and implementation of the NIMS by State, tribal, and local organizations is one of the conditions for receiving Federal preparedness assistance (through grants, contracts, and other activities).3
Adequately trained and qualified emergency management/response personnel are critical to the national implementation of the NIMS.4 In particular, the NIMS document describes the National Integration Centers (NIC) responsibility to develop a national program for NIMS education and awareness, and to facilitate common national standards for personnel qualification.5 The Five-Year NIMS Training Plan will guide the NICs activities to support NIMS training and education. The Plan is comprehensive, covering NIC responsibilities and actions as well as those of all stakeholders. 
A critical piece of the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan is the establishment of a National Training Program for NIMS. The National Training Program for NIMS will develop and maintain a common national foundation for training and qualifying emergency management/response personnel. To achieve a national goal of well trained and qualified emergency management/response personnel, able to work together effectively and efficiently during any incident, the National Training Program for NIMS has three broad objectives. 
1. Support NIMS education and training for all stakeholder emergency management/response personnel. 

2. Adapt the functional capabilities defined by the NIMS into guidelines and courses that help stakeholders develop personnel training and credentialing plans that yield the desired capabilities. 

3. Define the minimum personnel qualifications for service in complex multi-jurisdictional incidents nationwide. To meet the broad objectives for the National Training Program for NIMS, this Plan describes a sequence of goals, objectives, and action items that translates the functional capabilities defined in the NIMS into positions, core competencies, training and personnel qualifications. The NIMS defines functional capabilities necessary for emergency management and incident response, organized into components and subcomponents: Preparedness; Communications and Information Management; Resource Management; and Command  and Management, including Incident Command System (ICS), Multiagency Coordination Systems, and Public Information. For each NIMS component and subcomponent, the National Training Program will define typical position titles for personnel fulfilling each functional capability, and specify the core competencies for these personnel. Based on these core competencies, the Program will define standard training courses and minimum personnel qualifications for each position. Personnel qualifications specify the combination of training, experience, and evaluation that a candidate must complete to become qualified to fill a position. 
The Program relies on a process to develop training and personnel qualifications, based on functional needs specified in the NIMS. Personnel need adequate training to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill NIMS functions, and the experience to demonstrate competency and become qualified to serve in a position that fulfills NIMS functions. Figure 1 represents the relationship between functional capabilities, positions, core competencies, training curriculum, and personnel qualifications. Positions and core competencies will be derived from functional capabilities. Starting from core competencies for positions, the Program will specify appropriate training courses and guidelines for personnel qualification for each position. The training and personnel qualification guidelines should be developed in tandem, since each affects the other and personnel qualification typically includes specific training requirements.  
Once appropriate training courses have been defined within the National Training Program, the NIC will support development of these courses. In addition to developing the courses, the NIC will issue training guidance for them. This will allow stakeholders to develop equivalent training, if they wish to develop training that encompasses specific stakeholder needs in addition to the general NIMS training requirements. Training guidance describes the learning objectives, topics covered, and minimum instructional requirements of instructional time and instructor qualifications, to shape development of equivalent courses. 
Personnel-qualification guidelines will provide a national standard model for credentialing organizations and will eventually be the foundation for a national credentialing system.6 While the NIC is in process of developing this national credentialing system, stakeholders hold the responsibility and authority for issuing credentials. However, once the NIMS implementation is mature (including a mature state for the National Training Program for NIMS), participation in national incidents will require credentials based on personnel qualifications that meet or exceed the NIC guidelines for personnel qualification. 
 
 

1 National Incident Management System. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, March 2004 (hereafter cited as NIMS); and National Incident Management System, revision. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, FEMA 501, Draft August 2007, http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-nims.pdf (hereafter cited as NIMS, revised), p. 3 & 6. 
2 Throughout this document, following NIMS, revised, the term stakeholders refers to all organizations involved in emergency management and incident response. Stakeholders are Federal, State, territorial, tribal, substate regional, and local governments, private sector organizations, critical infrastructure owners and operators, nongovernmental organizations 
3 Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5: Management of Domestic Incidents. Washington, DC: White House, February 2003; and NIMS, revised, p. 3. 
4 NIMS implementation means that NIMS is institutionalized in a sustainable manner within every organization, agency, and jurisdiction in order to be effectively and efficiently used for emergency management and incident response activities. 
5 NIMS, revised, p. 76 
6 The NIC is developing a national credentialing system that will help verify, quickly and accurately, the identity and qualifications of emergency personnel responding to an incident. The National Emergency Responder Credentialing System will document minimum professional qualifications, certifications, training and education requirements that define the standards required for specific emergency response functional positions. http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/rm/credentialing.shtm, accessed 4 September 2007. 
7 The NIMS document specifies that NIC/IMSD (formerly known as the NIMS Integration Center) is responsible for developing . . . compliance requirements and compliance timelines for Federal, State, local and tribal entities regarding NIMS standards and guidelines. NIMS, p. 64. 
8 The Working Group of representative stakeholders met on May 1-2, 2007, in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss issues relevant to this initial Five-Year NIMS Training Plan. 
9 NIMS, revised version, p. 3. 
10 Ibid. 
11 DHS should institute a formal training program on the NIMS and NRP for all department and agency personnel with incident management responsibilities (Recommendation 2 of The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned, Washington, DC: The White House, February 2006); The NIC is responsible for  developing a national program for NIMS education and awareness, including specific instruction on  NIMS in general (NIMS, revised version, p. 76). 
12 The national core curriculum will be defined more completely below, but it currently constitutes the following courses: IS-700, IS-800, ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400, IS-701 through IS-707, and position-specific courses currently in pilot testing or under development. 
13 Stakeholders will define emergency management/response personnel within their jurisdiction, agency, or organization who require ongoing training. 
14 Appendix B lists the core competencies and their associated behaviors for the eight ICS Command and General Staff positions, for type I & II incidents. 
15 Levels of training organization is drawn from analysis of course objectives, activities (e.g. practical exercises), depth of material, and evaluations of students. 
16 Appendix A is an annotated outline of the revised NIMS document, to be used for the cross-references found in the Course Summaries contained in Appendix C. 
17 Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Incident Management System (NIMS)National Standard Curriculum Training Development GuidanceFY07, Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, March 2007, p. 5. 
18 In general, equivalent courses have the same course number, with a disciplinary suffix added. Some older courses that have been determined to be equivalent have numbering outside the core curriculum numbering scheme, but these will be renumbered or be given an auxiliary number to align with the core curriculum for the NIMS. 
19 TheCourse Summaries (Appendix C) set forth in this Plan supersede previous National Training Guidance 
20 National Wildfire Coordination Group, Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide. This document is under revision to provide application for all hazards. 
Figure 1: Operational Foundation for NIMS Training and Personnel Qualification Guidelines 
The heart of the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan, then, is to develop the complete foundation of the National Training Program. 
 Core competencies for typical positions 

 A National Core Curriculum for NIMS 

 Training guidance for specific courses within the core curriculum 

 Qualification guidelines 

Establishment of the National Training Program begins with collection of the elements that already exist or are currently in development. Core competencies are in draft form for ICS positions. Initial definition of the national core curriculum includes awareness-level courses spanning all NIMS components and subcomponents; advanced courses in ICS; and position-specific courses for ICS (in pilot testing). Training guidance for all existing courses exists (see Appendix C). Last, personnel qualifications are not defined.  
The National Training Program for NIMSand this Plan which guides the development, maintenance, and sustainment of the Programrecognizes the shared responsibilities between the NIC and all stakeholders. Though the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan guides specific NIC actions to develop, maintain, and sustain the National Training Program for NIMS, it also provides critical guidance to all stakeholders so that they are able to develop plans, budgets, and schedules for their own training programs. Stakeholder training plans can include directing personnel to online or in-person NIMS courses and/or completing stakeholder-developed NIMS-equivalent courses consistent with national training guidance. Stakeholder emergency management and incident response credentials for service in incidents with national implications will be based on NIC guidelines for personnel qualifications. 
A critical driver for stakeholder training plans is NIMS compliance requirements for training. NIMS compliance requirements are specific activities designed to measure an organization or jurisdictions degree of implementation of NIMS.7 For NIMS training, initial NIMS compliance requirements encompass a broad requirement for awareness-level training for all emergency management/response personnel. As the National Training Program for NIMS matures, the breadth of required awareness-level training will expand. In addition to such jurisdiction-wide or organization-wide requirements, NIMS will require that stakeholder emergency management and incident response credentials for service in complex multi-jurisdictional incidents be based on NIC guidelines for personnel qualification. 
The National Training Program for NIMS is in its initial development phase, but the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan should guide a transition from the Programs initial phase into a more mature state. Currently, NIMS training primarily provides awareness-level training; no national all-hazards personnel-qualification guidance exists. Ultimately, the fully formed Program will contain a comprehensive core curriculum for NIMS training spanning all the components and subcomponents, along with national guidance for personnel qualification in all-hazards emergency management and incident response, both based on defined core competencies. In this more mature state, the ongoing support of the Program will be maintenance and sustainment of its elements, plus an additional element of assessing the effectiveness of courses, the core curriculum, and the National Training Program for NIMS. 
In the mature state, qualification guidelines in the National Training Program will be based on a stair-step approach, as shown in Figure 2. Personnel entering jobs in emergency management and incident response will gain initial NIMS training as part of their intake or introductory training. As a person gains experience and additional training, that persons qualifications to serve during incidents should similarly progress.  

 
Figure 2: Personnel qualification steps 
Position qualifications need to be developed that both define a desired state for the Training Program and recognize interim criteria that will be suitable to fill senior positions based on training and experience predating establishment of position-qualification guidelines within the National Training Program for NIMS.  
In general, then, the Plan expands on the training that is available and lays down the operational foundation for more advanced personnel training and qualification. Out-year compliance requirements will allow sufficient time for course development, instructor training, and course distribution to stakeholders. 
The Plan has been developed in conjunction with a Working Group of representative stakeholders8 and has been released for national review. The Plan is based on an analysis of the current state of NIMS-related training, compared to a specification of a desired state of the National Training Program for NIMS. This document describes both the desired state and current state of NIMS training, and then identifies the goals, objectives, and action items that constitute the active portion of the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan. 
INTENDED AUDIENCE 
The primary audience for the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan is the NIC and stakeholder personnel directly involved in the planning, budgeting, and execution of NIMS training at all levels (Federal, State, tribal, local, private sector, and NGOs). The secondary audience includes all stakeholder personnel who require NIMS training. Both groups are encouraged to use this Five-Year NIMS Training Plan to anticipate, plan, and prepare for the NICs implementation of the National Training Program for NIMS. 
AUTHORITIES AND BACKGROUND 
On 28 February 2003, Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)5, Management of Domestic Incidents, was issued, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a National Incident Management System. Initially published in March 2004, the NIMS provides a consistent national approach for Federal, State, tribal, and local governments; the private sector; and NGOs to work together to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity.9 Based upon emergency management and incident response practices, the NIMS represents a core set of doctrine, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management.10
Initially, the Department of Homeland Security established the NIMS Integration Center to coordinate training and support NIMS implementation. Subsequently, this office was renamed the Incident Management Systems Division (IMSD) and placed within the NIC of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 
Incidents lessons learned and the NIMS document recognize that successful implementation relies upon development and maintenance of NIMS training nationally.11 Furthermore, NIMS implementation relies upon comprehensive NIMS training and standardized personnel qualification. In 2007, the NIC supervised and coordinated an update to the NIMS document, to better meet the needs of all stakeholders. 
SCOPE OF FIVE-YEAR NIMS TRAINING PLAN 
The Five-Year NIMS Training Plan defines the National Training Program for NIMS. It specifies NIC and stakeholder responsibilities and activities for developing, maintaining, and sustaining the National Training Program for NIMS. Besides spanning NIC and stakeholder responsibilities and actions, the Plan defines the process for developing both training and personnel qualification requirements for emergency management and incident response credentials. 
The NIC's responsibilities within the National Training Program for NIMS include defining a core curriculum, descriptions of the curriculums courses, and training guidance in the form of Course Summaries suitable to guide development of equivalent courses. The NIC also has responsibility to develop personnel-qualification guidelines for stakeholder-issued incident-management credentials.  
While the Plan defines stakeholder responsibilities, details of stakeholder plans and activities are not specified. However, it does provide out-year training-related NIMS compliance requirements as targets for stakeholders to attain. Existing and future documents, and guidance are, and will be, designed to assist stakeholder development of jurisdictional, agency, and/or organizational training plans for the NIMS. 
The Five-Year NIMS Training Plan has the following strategic objectives. 
1. Establish specific goals, objectives, and action items to guide the NIC as it develops and implements the National Training Program thus providing national leadership. 

2. Provide sufficient planning and documentation to guide stakeholders long-term training plans, budgets, and schedules. 

3. Define a national core curriculum for NIMS and provide explicit guidelines for NIMS courses in the core curriculum, applicable to all levels of government, the private sector, and NGOs. 

4. Provide national guidelines for emergency management/response personnel qualifications, based on development of core competencies for NIMS-defined incident-management positions. 

5. Serve as a single-source, regularly updated compilation of training within the national core curriculum for the NIMS and personnel-qualification guidance. 

Organization of the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan Document 
Preceding the description of the goals, objectives, and action items that constitute its substance, the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan has the following descriptive sections: 
 Desired State of NIMS Training and Personnel Qualification. This introduces the overall picture of NIMS training nationally; the NIC and stakeholder responsibilities and interactions are highlighted. Following the initial picture, the steps surrounding the development of a National Training Program for NIMS are described. These aspects of the program include the basis for core competencies and the training courses and objectives to meet the competencies; it concludes with a discussion of personnel qualifications.  

 Current State of NIMS Training. This describes existing training efforts, following essentially the same structure as the Desired State of NIMS Training and Personnel Qualifications section.  

 NIMS Compliance Requirements for Training. This section describes the evolution of NIMS compliance requirements for training, culminating in a table of out-year compliance requirements for training. By verifying stakeholder engagement with the National Training Program for NIMS, these drive stakeholder activities. As the National Training Program matures compliance requirements will shift accordingly. 

Following these descriptive sections are the tables of goals, objectives, and action items directed at closing that gaps between the current state of NIMS training and the desired state of training and personnel qualification. 
Desired State of NIMS Training and Personnel Qualification 
National coordination among the stakeholders and the NIC must occur to reach a state of consistent and systematic implementation of NIMS training and personnel qualification. Ultimately, operational needs require qualified personnel to serve in emergency management and incident response roles. While training is necessary to produce qualified personnel, this Plan recognizes that qualified personnel are more than simply the sum of their training. Training is necessary to develop qualified personnel, but qualification also requires experience through exercises or providing time in the field and development of discipline-specific skills in emergency management and incident response.  
Figure 3 is a visual depiction of the national coordination process for NIMS training and personnel qualification. The NIC provides national leadership and resources, especially training and qualification guidance. Stakeholders plan, implement training programs, and train, qualify, and credential personnel.  
Figure 3 highlights the following key elements of the process: 
 Foundational national documentse.g., the NIMS and the NRF (National Response Framework)are maintained and distributed by the NIC and provide national doctrine and strategy. These documents, in conjunction with stakeholder assessments of specific hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities, guide stakeholder plans. 

 Based on the NIMS, the NIC specifies core competencies and their associated behaviors to provide a foundation for both personnel qualification and a national core curriculum for NIMS training.12 Qualification guides are usually in the form of position task books, which define tasks that measurably demonstrate a candidates competency and associated behaviors. 

 Stakeholder plans and foundational national documents and dictate functional capabilities for emergency management and incident response that stakeholders should develop and maintain. Functional capabilities relate specifically to core competencies needed to perform within each respective function of NIMS.  

 Personnel qualification guidance specifies means for demonstrating minimum capabilities for stakeholder personnel assigned to NIMS positions. Personnel credentialed to serve on national incidents must be qualified within a system that meets or exceeds the national qualification guidance. 

 Stakeholders determine who should be trained and seek qualification for emergency management and incident response positions, based on their own plans, qualification, and credentialing policy. With consideration of the national training guidance published by the NIC, stakeholders develop a training plan for their personnel. These plans often have significant programmatic, schedule, and budget implications for the stakeholder. For example, stakeholders may decide to develop their own training courses to suit their specific needs while still meeting the national training guidance. 

 Stakeholders execute the training plans, resulting in trained, qualified, and credentialed personnel. 

 Training and experience for personnel qualification are acquired through course-based knowledge development; risk-free practical application, such as tabletop exercises and planned exercises; and on the job training, such as: job shadowing, planned events, and IC experience during small incidents. 

 Once trained, personnel will test and practice their skills during specific exercises and demonstrate their skills by effective management of and response to actual incidents. 

 Exercise and mission/incident after-action reports should include an evaluation of the effectiveness of incident-management personnel. Recommendations for improvements should be incorporated throughout the national coordination process for NIMS training to tailor stakeholder training plans as well as training and qualification of specific personnel, provide feedback to the national curriculum for NIMS and training courses, and perhaps suggest modifications of the NIMS, NRF, and stakeholder plans. 

 
Figure 3: Coordinated responsibilities to support NIMS training and personnel qualification 
NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NIMS 
The NIMS Five-Year Training Plan defines the process for developing the National Training Program for NIMS. The Program, in turn, is guided by the three broad objectives: to support NIMS education and training; to develop NIMS curriculum and training guidance; and to define personnel qualifications. 
To meet these broad objectives, this Training Program will develop and maintain the national core curriculum for the NIMS and personnel-qualification guidelines. Both the curriculum and guidelines are based on core competencies and associated behaviors. Taken together, core curriculum and qualification guidelines specify who needs NIMS training and what the courses, training objectives, and minimum instructional standards are for NIMS training. 
The desired state of the National Training Program for NIMS is to create a sustained program of training and personnel qualification that is well coordinated and continually maintained and meets the operational needs of the emergency management and incident response community under the NIMS. It is envisioned that at the end of Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12), the Training Program will be fully developed and NIMS training will be consistently delivered throughout the community of emergency management/response personnel at the levels identified by the core competenciesat which point, the National Training Program for NIMS will include 
 Core competencies and associated behaviors to describe capabilities required of emergency management/response personnel within the NIMS 

 A national core curriculum for the NIMS, with each course having learning objectives that meet training needs set by the core competencies 

 Complete training guidance for all courses in the core curriculum for the NIMS 

 Qualifications guidelines for individual emergency management/response positions or functions within the NIMS 

The Program also requires additional elements to measure stakeholder participation and evaluate progress of the Program and Plan.  
 NIMS compliance requirements for training to assure maintenance and sustainment of stakeholder training programs, including ongoing qualification of emergency management/response personnel13 

 Program assessment and evaluation systems for gauging the effectiveness of the National Training Program for NIMS 

 Periodic evaluations and updates to maintain the effectiveness of the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan 

OPERATIONAL NEEDS DEFINE CORE COMPETENCIES AND ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS 
The NIMS document specifies an emergency management and incident response framework and specific functions to be conducted within this framework. In most general terms, NIMS functions align with major components and subcomponents of NIMS: Preparedness; Communications and Information Management; Resource Management; and Command and Management, including Incident Command System, Multiagency Coordination Systems, and Public Information. Within each major component and subcomponent, emergency management/response personnel responsibilities and activities are further delineated. 
This set of functions, responsibilities, and activities, in conjunction with an incidents size and/or complexity, identifies operational or mission needs. Based on these operational/mission needs, NIMS personnel capabilitiesskills and knowledge necessary to fulfill these needscan be defined for typical positions within the NIMS structure.  
For the purposes of developing training guidelines, operational needs and NIMS position capabilities are expressed in the form of core competencies for the position, along with behaviors associated with these competencies. The core competencies are quite general, usually encompassing broad leadership and/or management skills. The associated behaviors provide more specific descriptions of how a competency is expressed.14 However, the rubber meets the road in tasks, which are measurable activities to demonstrate proficiency in each position. 
The specificity of tasks makes it difficult to develop them for all hazards. Typically, tasks will be incident-specific, often even discipline-specific, especially for operational and some planning tasks. The NIC will develop personnel qualifications, likely based on tasks, which takes into account this distinction of discipline specificity. 
CORE CURRICULUM FOR THE NIMS 
The core curriculum for the NIMS represents those courses critical to train personnel capable of implementing emergency management and incident response within the NIMS. The current curriculums courses are shown in Table 1, and course summaries are listed in Appendix C.  
Table 1: Core Curriculum for the NIMS 
Course Grouping 
 Course ID 
 Course Title 
 
Overview 
 IS-700 
 National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction 
 
 IS-800 
 National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction 
 
ICS Courses 
 ICS-100 
 Introduction to the Incident Command System 
 
 ICS-200 
 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents 
 
 ICS-300 
 Intermediate ICS 
 
 ICS-400 
 Advanced ICS 
 
NIMS Components and Subcomponents 
 IS-701 
 NIMS Multi-Agency Coordination System 
 
 IS-702 
 NIMS Public Information Systems 
 
 IS-703 
 NIMS Resource Management 
 
 IS-704 
 NIMS Communication and Information Management 
 
 IS-705 
 NIMS Preparedness 
 
 IS-706 
 NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid, An Introduction 
 
 IS-707 
 NIMS Resource Typing 
 
ICS Position-Specific Courses 
 P-400 
 All-Hazards Incident Commander 
 
 P-430 
 All-Hazards Operations Section Chief 
 
 P-440 
 All-Hazards Planning Section Chief 
 
 P-450 
 All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief 
 
 P-460 
 All-Hazards Finance Section Chief 
 
 P-480 
 All-Hazards Intelligence/Investigations Function 
 
 P-402 
 All-Hazards Liaison Officer 
 
 P-403 
 All-Hazards Public Information Officer 
 
 P-404 
 All-Hazards Safety Officer 
 

The core curriculum courses cover all the components and major subcomponents of NIMS and are further classified into levels of training. Each level of training is based upon the expected level of learning the students will achieve:15
 Awareness training presents NIMS topics and concepts at an introductory level, with evaluations typically provided via objective-based examinations (e.g., multiple-choice, true-false, or fill-in-the-blank tests) to determine student comprehension.  

 Advanced training is oriented to skills development and includes practical exercises to test application level of NIMS subject matter. For the most part, courses provided at this level are geared towards fulfilling NIMS credentialing tracks. 

 Practicum training emphasizes exercises that practice the skills learned in the other levels of training. In general, this training will be in the form of exercises directed at certifying or qualifying personnel and will include discipline-specific courses. 

Table 2: Core Curriculum Aligned with NIMS Components and by Level of Training 
 
 Levels of Training 
 
 Awareness 
 Advanced 
 Practicum 
 
Components of NIMS 
 Preparedness 
 IS-700 
 IS 800* IS 705 
  
  
 
 Communications & Info Management 
  IS 704 
  
  
 
 Resource Management 
  IS 703 IS 706 IS 707 
  
  
 
 Command & Management 
 ICS 
  ICS 100 ICS 200  
 ICS 300 ICS 400 
 Position-specific courses 
 
  MACS 
  ICS 701 
  
  
 
  Public Info 
  ICS 702 
  
  
 
 Ongoing Management & Maintenance 
  
  
  
 

* The current IS-800 is based on the NRP; a revised version will be developed and released in conjunction with the updated NRF. 
COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING GUIDANCE 
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI), the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG), and Federal agencies in coordination with the NIC have developed, and are continuing to develop, NIMS-related training courses. In conjunction with courses developed by these agencies and departments, the IMSD issues training guidance in the form of Course Summaries (see Appendix C), which include specific course descriptions and guidelines. 
Each course-developing agency works with the IMSD to assure that the courses meet appropriate instructional standards. Course Summaries describe the courses developed with IMSD support, in sufficient detail to guide development of equivalent courses by other stakeholders. The Course Summaries include  
 Intended student audience for the course 

 Course objectives supported by the topical content descriptions and intended learner outcomes 

 Cross-reference to NIMS topics16 

 Evaluation methodology to ensure that a course has met its learning objectives  

The Course Summaries also determine the means to deliver course material, including consideration of 
 Minimum contact hours 

 Instructor qualifications (for instructor led courses) 

NIMS training development guidance states that training may be offered through government agencies and/or private training vendors. It is not necessary to meet training requirements by attending a Federal course; however, courses must meet course objectives, activities (e.g. practical exercises), and depth of material described within this Plan. This Plan supersedes the previously published National Standards Curriculum Training Development Guidance.17
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION 
Personnel qualification relies on a combination of training, operational experience (during exercises or incidents), job shadowing, and administrative requirements (such as agency association and criminal background checks). The Plan considers qualified personnel to be more than simply the sum of their training, and developing minimum expectations for functional qualification of personnel is an important part of the National Training Program for NIMS. Incident experience must supplement training for a candidate to meet minimum expectations to qualify for service in an all-hazards NIMS position during a complex multi-jurisdictional incident. 
Personnel qualification is closely related to credentialing, which is inherently a stakeholder responsibility. For personnel to be credentialed to serve in NIMS-defined positions on a complex multi-jurisdictional incident, a stakeholders credentialing system must meet the minimum personnel-qualification guidelines specified by the NIC. 
Generally, personnel-qualification guidance will list the performance requirements, through position task books or tasks, for specific positions in a format that allows a trainee to be evaluated against written guidelines. These tasks, based on core competencies and associated behaviors, are the measurable activities that demonstrate proficiency associated with the competencies and behaviors. Successful performance of all tasks during exercises, job shadowing, and/or operations for a relevant position, as observed and recorded by an evaluator, results in a recommendation to the certifying agency that the trainee be qualified in that position. 
Current State of NIMS Training 
A great deal of NIMS training exists, especially at the awareness level, and stakeholders are training personnel in the NIMS to varying degrees. 
CORE COMPETENCIES AND ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS 
The IMSD has drafted core competencies for ICS positions (for examples, see Appendix B). These are the only NIMS positions to have their core competencies and behaviors fully defined. A change management board has been chartered by the IMSD to provide ongoing maintenance of the ICS core competencies. The board is responsible for determining appropriate minimum competencies and behaviors required to enable interoperability between emergency management and incident response functions. Core competencies will be republished by the board every three years, or as needed. 
CORE CURRICULUM FOR NIMS 
Many courses in the core curriculum are available. Table 3 lists the status of each course. A number of the courses are still being developed, but some are closer to completion than others. The courses that are in the latter stages of development are shown within the table to be in pilot testing. All other courses that have not reached this stage are shown to be in development. Several of the courses have equivalent courses tailored to align with disciplines. The course material remains consistent, but the examples and representative scenarios are drawn from a specific discipline, to increase familiarity to the students.18
Table 3: Status of Core Curriculum for NIMS 
Course Grouping 
 Course ID 
 Course Title 
 Course Status 
 
Overview 
 IS-700 
 National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction 
 W, C 
 
 IS-800 
 National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction 
 W, C 
 
ICS Courses 
 ICS-100 
 Introduction to the Incident Command System 
 W, C 
 
 ICS-200 
 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents 
 W, C 
 
 ICS-300 
 Intermediate ICS 
 C 
 
 ICS-400 
 Advanced ICS 
 C 
 
NIMS Components and Subcomponents 
 IS-701 
 NIMS Multi-Agency Coordination System 
 W, C 
 
 IS-702 
 NIMS Public Information Systems 
 W, C 
 
 IS-703 
 NIMS Resource Management 
 W, C 
 
 IS-704 
 NIMS Communication and Information Management 
 D 
 
 IS-705 
 NIMS Preparedness 
 D 
 
 IS-706 
 NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid, An Introduction 
 W, C 
 
 IS-707 
 NIMS Resource Typing 
 D 
 
ICS Position-Specific Courses 
 P-400 
 All-Hazards Incident Commander 
 P 
 
 P-430 
 All-Hazards Operations Section Chief 
 P 
 
 P-440 
 All-Hazards Planning Section Chief 
 P 
 
 P-450 
 All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief 
 P 
 
 P-460 
 All-Hazards Finance Section Chief 
 P 
 
 P-480 
 All-Hazards Information and Intelligence Function 
 P 
 
 P-402 
 All-Hazards Liaison Officer 
 P 
 
 P-403 
 All-Hazards Public Information Officer 
 P 
 
 P-404 
 All-Hazards Safety Officer 
 P 
 

Key: W = web-based, interactive course; C = classroom; D = initial development period; P = pilot testing period 
COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING GUIDANCE 
Equivalent courses may be provided by stakeholders and private vendors. These courses are expected to cover the topics and meet the course objectives as listed in the Course Summaries (See Appendix C). Because of the wide array of potential providers, the issue of standards for course equivalencies is often raised. Courses provided through vendors outside of pre-recognized equivalent courses must meet the standard course minimums described in the Course Summaries.  
Guidelines have been developed to ensure that NIMS training courses, provided outside of NIC venues, meet the appropriate as taught by the NIC standard. These guidelines are developed and issued by the NIC, through the EMI.19  
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION 
The NIC has not yet defined any all-hazards qualification guidance or position task books. The NWCGs qualification guide, which is a position task book initially designed for the firefighting community but currently being adapted for all-hazards use, is the best example of what is likely to be adopted by the NIC. 20
Position task books identify the requirements and standards for positions related to a specific agency, incident type, or particular function. Task books are used as education and evaluation tools, and individuals can be certified as qualified for that position once they are evaluated as having successfully completed all required tasks for that position.  
NIMS Compliance Requirements 
To ensure that stakeholders implement NIMS, the NIC evaluates implementation using NIMS Compliance Requirements. These compliance requirements are regulated at the organizational or jurisdictional level, and Federal policy requires jurisdictions and organizations to meet NIMS compliance requirements as a condition for receiving Federal preparedness assistance (through grants, contracts, and other activities). NIMS compliance requirements for training typically require that stakeholders are providing their personnel with appropriate NIMS training.  
Initially, compliance requirements for training have been focused on the broad awareness-level courses in the NIMS core curriculum. These initial requirements sought to provide awareness of NIMS to the entire emergency management/response community. In FY07, compliance requirements began a shift toward emphasizing compliance through advanced ICS training of personnel deemed likely to fill certain ICS roles. This represents the beginning of a trend toward emphasis on compliance requirements that emphasize developing qualified personnel. 
As the National Training Program for NIMS progresses, stakeholders will be able to train more personnel to greater depth. Compliance requirements will then need to shift accordingly. Compliance requirements will increasingly ensure that stakeholder personnel are meeting published qualifications and then, in turn, receiving credentials. This shift in the compliance requirements for NIMS training must be linked to the National Training Programs maturity to ensure, for example, that there are sufficient numbers of NIMS-related courses and qualified instructors to satisfy the training needs of emergency management/response personnel nationwide.  
Coordinating this shift in compliance requirements and the maturity of the National Training Program for NIMS, the Five-Year NIMS Training Plan describes a complementary evolution of compliance requirements as the Program evolves. As the National Training Program for NIMS reaches its desired statea sustained consistent, well-coordinated training program that meets operational needscompliance requirements will also evolve. Early NIMS compliance requirements have required all or most emergency management/response personnel to take IS-700 and IS-800. Once the desired state is reached, NIMS compliance requirements for training will focus on orderly qualification and credentialing of personnel and maintenance and sustainment of stakeholders training plans for NIMS. Table 4 shows the NIMS compliance requirements for training, as currently envisioned. 
Table 4: Out-Year NIMS Compliance Requirements for Training 
Fiscal Year 
 Tier 
 Compliance Requirement 
 
FY08 
 Tier 1 
 Complete IS-700; IS-800; ICS-100; ICS-200 - Awareness Training 
Complete ICS-300; ICS-400 - Advanced Training 
 
 Tier 2 
 Complete IS 701; IS-702; IS-703; IS-704 - Awareness Training 
Complete ICS Position Specific Training  Practicum * 
 
FY09 
 Tier 1 
 Complete IS-700; IS-800; ICS-100; ICS-200 - Awareness Training 
Complete ICS-300; ICS-400 - Advanced Training 
 
 Tier 2 
 Complete IS 701; IS-702; IS-703; IS-704 - Awareness Training 
Complete Emergency Management Framework Course  Awareness Training 
Complete IS-705; IS-706; IS-707  Awareness Training 
Complete ICS Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
 
FY10 
 Tier 1 
 Complete IS-700; IS-800; ICS-100; ICS-200 - Awareness Training 
Complete IS 701; IS-702; IS-703; IS-704 - Awareness Training 
Complete ICS-300; ICS-400 - Advanced Training 
 
 Tier 2 
 Complete Emergency Management Framework Course  Awareness Training 
Complete IS-705; IS-706; IS-707  Awareness Training 
Complete ICS/EOC Training  Advanced Training 
Complete ICS Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
 
FY11 
 Tier 1 
 Complete IS-700; IS-800; ICS-100; ICS-200 - Awareness Training 
Complete IS 701; IS-702; IS-703; IS-704 - Awareness Training 
Complete IS 705; IS-706; IS-707  Awareness Training 
Complete ICS-300; ICS-400 - Advanced Training 
 
 Tier 2 
 Complete ICS/EOC Training  Advanced Training 
Complete ICS Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
Complete EOC Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
 
FY12 
 Tier 1 
 Complete IS-700; IS-701; IS-702; IS-703; IS-704; IS-705; IS-706; IS-707; IS-800; ICS-100; ICS-200 - Awareness Training 
Complete ICS-300; ICS-400; ICS/EOC Course - Advanced Training 
 
 Tier 2 
 Complete ICS Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
Complete EOC Position Specific Training  Practicum* 
 

Tier 2 activities introduce concepts that may become Tier 1 activities in future fiscal years. Stakeholders are encouraged to complete the Tier 2 training in the year assigned; however the completion of this training is not a requirement for NIMS compliance. 
*Stakeholders are not required to complete ICS Position Specific Training (or EOC Position Specific Training in future years) for NIMS compliance. However, the completion of ICS Position Specific Training is required for those stakeholders who desire to be credentialed as part of the national credentialing system. 
Five-Year Training Plan: Goals, Objectives, Action Items 
A comparison of the current state to the desired state of the National Training Program for NIMS suggests a set of goals, objectives, and action items to achieve the desired state.  
A great deal of NIMS training exists, especially at an awareness/introductory level, and some stakeholders have taken the initiative to train their personnel beyond the scope of the current compliance requirements, while others are still striving to meet training requirements. As a result, personnel are trained in NIMS to varying degrees. In general terms, some objectives and action items for FY08 and FY09 are aimed at fostering continued development of these awareness-level training efforts. Additional objectives and action items for FY08 and FY09 lay a foundation for supporting qualification of emergency management/response personnel by ensuring that qualification guidelines and sufficient instructors and course offerings are available to train these personnel. Objectives and action items for FY10-FY12 focus on reaching a mature implementation of the National Training Program for NIMS, including the sustained and enhanced NIMS proficiency of the stakeholder community. FY10-FY12 will emphasize ongoing development of a national cadre of emergency management/response personnel holding stakeholder-issued NIMS credentials. 
The goals focus on providing training in the context of the NIMS components. There are seven major goals listed in the next section that focus on the development and implementation of the National Training Program for NIMS. The final goal addresses aspects of the National Training Program for NIMS outside curriculum development and personnel qualifications, such as the evolution of compliance requirements and updates and maintenance of the plan itself. 
The objectives under each goal serve as building blocks directed toward developing, maintaining, and sustaining the National Training Program for NIMS. Each goals objectives follow a logical sequence of development.  
Action items are specific tasks that help meet the objectives. These are assigned a specific target year for work, noted by an X in the Action Item table for a particular objective as shown in Tables 5 through 11 below. In some cases, action items may be identified for work over multiple years selected. This indicates that there is an expectation that the task will take in excess of one year to complete or that the task is required for ongoing maintenance of the training program. 
MAJOR GOALS GUIDING THE NIMS TRAINING PLAN 
1. Personnel are appropriately trained in NIMS Preparedness 

2. Personnel are appropriately trained in NIMS Communications & Information Management 

3. Personnel are appropriately trained in NIMS Resource Management 

4. Personnel are appropriately trained in the NIMS Incident Command System 

5. Personnel are appropriately trained in the NIMS Multiagency Coordination System 

6. Personnel are appropriately trained in NIMS Public Information 

7. Plan is maintained and updated annually 

Table 5: Preparedness Component Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirements 
Table 6: Communication & Information Management Component Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirements 
Table 7: Resource Management Component Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirement 
Table 8: Incident Command System Subcomponent Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirements 
Table 9: Multiagency Coordination System Subcomponent Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirements 
Table 10: Public Information Subcomponent Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
S = Stakeholder responsibility 
N,S = Shared responsibility of the NIC and stakeholders 
B = Baseline metric collected through compliance metrics 
R = Required training in NIMS Compliance Requirements 
Table 11: Plan Maintenance Goal 

 
N = NIC responsibility 
WG = NIC-convened Working Group 

Appendix A: NIMS Components 
I. COMPONENT I OVERVIEW: PREPAREDNESS 
The following concepts and principles of the NIMS relating to the Preparedness component need to be addressed in NIMS training offered by other Federal agencies; State, tribal, and local agencies; and private vendors. If these concepts and principles are addressed in non-DHS training, the training will meet the standards established by the NIC. An overview and means to evaluate NIMS training content relevant to preparedness follow.  
I.A. Preparedness focuses on the following elements: planning, procedures and protocols, training and exercises, personnel qualifications and certification, and equipment certification. The core concepts and principles of preparedness as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document) incorporate the following components: 

I.A.1. Unified approach: Preparedness requires a unified approach to emergency management and incident response activities. The unified approach concept is at the core of the command and management system, as it is based on chain of command, unity of command, unity of effort, and, when implemented, unified command. 

I.A.2. Levels of capability: Preparedness involves actions to establish and sustain necessary capabilities to execute a full range of emergency management and incident response activities. 

I.B. Achieving preparedness: Individual jurisdictions are responsible for preparing in advance of an incident, in coordination with and support from the private sector and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as appropriate.  

I.B.1. To achieve national preparedness and coordinated response, emergency management and incident response activities must be coordinated at all levels of government and should include the private sector and NGOs, where appropriate. HSPD-5, Management of Domestic Incidents; HSPD-7, Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection; and HSPD-8, National Preparedness; all direct DHS to establish a comprehensive approach to incident management.  

I.B.2. NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. The National Response Plan is an all-hazards plan built upon the NIMS framework. Both documents are designed to improve the Nations incident management capabilities and overall efficiency. 

I.B.3. Preparedness activities should be coordinated among all appropriate agencies and organizations within the jurisdiction, as well as across jurisdictions. The NIMS provides the tools to ensure and enhance preparedness through the following roles: 

I.B.3.a. Preparedness Organizations 

I.B.3.b. Elected and Appointed Officials 

I.B.3.c. Nongovernmental Organizations 

I.B.3.d. Private Sector 

I.B.4. There are five preparedness elements that build the foundation necessary for efficient and effective response and recovery: Preparedness Planning, Procedures and Protocols, Training and Exercises, Personnel Qualifications and Certification, and Equipment Certification. 

I.B.5. Mitigation is an important element of emergency management and incident response and provides a critical foundation in the effort to reduce the loss of life and property from natural and/or manmade disasters by avoiding or lessening the impact of a disaster and providing value to the public by creating safer communities. 

II. COMPONENT II OVERVIEW: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT  
The following concepts and principles of the NIMS relating to the Preparedness component need to be addressed in NIMS training offered by other Federal agencies; State, tribal, and local agencies; and private vendors. If these concepts and principles are addressed in non-DHS training, the training will meet the standards established by the NIC. An overview and means to evaluate NIMS training content relevant to preparedness follow.  
II.A. The underlying concepts and principles of communications and information management reinforce the use of a flexible communications and information system in which emergency management/response personnel can maintain a constant flow of information throughout an incident. The core concepts and principles of communication and information management as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document) incorporate the following components:  

II.A.1. A common operating picture is established and maintained by gathering, collating, synthesizing, and disseminating incident information to all appropriate parties involved. Having a common operating picture during an incident helps to ensure consistency for all emergency response providers engaged in an incident.  

II.A.2. Interoperability allows emergency management/response personnel and their affiliated organizations to communicate within and across agencies and jurisdictions via various communications systems.  

II.A.3. Reliability, scalability, and portability: Communication and information systems should be designed to be flexible, reliable, and scalable in order to function in any type of incident, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. They should be suitable for operations within a single jurisdiction or agency, a single jurisdiction with multiagency involvement, or multiple jurisdictions with multiagency involvement. 

II.A.4. Resiliency and redundancy are critical to ensuring communications flow during an incident. 

II.B. Emergency management/response personnel must be able to manage incident communications and information effectively using the following: 

II.B.1. Standardized Communication Types 

II.B.2. Policy and Planning 

II.B.3. Agreements 

II.B.4. Equipment Standards and Training 

II.C. Organization and Operations 

II.C.1. Incident information: During an incident, information is vital to assist the IC, UC, and/or supporting agencies and organizations with decision making. Examples include incident notification, situation and status reports, analytical data, and geospatial data. 

II.C.2. Communications standards and formats: Common terminology, standards, and procedures should be established and detailed in plans and/or agreements that enable diverse organizations to work together effectively.  

III. COMPONENT III OVERVIEW: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 
The following concepts and principles of the NIMS relating to the Preparedness component need to be addressed in NIMS training offered by other Federal agencies; State, tribal, and local agencies; and private vendors. If these concepts and principles are addressed in non-DHS training, the training will meet the standards established by the NIC. An overview and means to evaluate NIMS training content relevant to preparedness follow.  
III.A. Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources (personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs.  

III.A.1. The underlying concepts of resource management as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document) are  

 Consistency 

 Standardization 

 Coordination 

 Inclusion 

 Information management 

 Credentialing  

III.A.2. The foundations of resource management are based on the following five principles: planning, use of agreements, categorizing resources, resource identification and ordering, and effective management of resources. 

III.B. The Resource Management process can be separated into two parts: (1) resource management activities as an element of preparedness and (2) managing resources during an incident. Resource management during an incident is a finite process, with a distinct beginning and ending specific to the needs of the particular incident, and includes the following seven steps: 

III.B.1. Identify requirements: Involves accurately identifying what and how much is needed, where and when it is needed, and who will be receiving or using it. 

III.B.2. Order and acquire: Requests for resources that cannot be obtained locally are submitted using standardized resource-ordering procedures. 

III.B.3. Mobilize: This process may include planning for deployment, equipping, training, designating assembly points, and obtaining transportation. 

III.B.4. Track and report: Resource tracking provides a clear picture of where resources are located; helps staff prepare to receive resources; protects the safety and security of equipment, supplies, and personnel; and enables their coordination and movement. 

III.B.5. Recover and demobilize: Recovery involves the final disposition of resources, including rehabilitation, replenishment, and disposal and/or retrograding and pertains to both expendable and nonexpendable resources. 

III.B.6. Reimburse: When applicable, reimbursement provides a mechanism to recoup funds expended for incident-specific activities. 

III.B.7. Inventory: Resource management uses various resource inventory systems to assess the availability of assets provided by jurisdictions. The inventory process includes credentialing and identifying and typing resources. 

IV. COMPONENT IV OVERVIEW: COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT 
The following concepts and principles of the NIMS relating to the Preparedness component need to be addressed in NIMS training offered by other Federal agencies; State, tribal, and local agencies; and private vendors. If these concepts and principles are addressed in non-DHS training, the training will meet the standards established by the NIC. An overview and means to evaluate NIMS training content relevant to preparedness follow.  
The Incident Command System (ICS), Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS), and Public Information are the fundamental elements of incident management. These elements provide standardization through consistent terminology and established organizational structures and are the most visible aspects of incident management. The Command and Management component describes the systems used to facilitate Command and Management operations. 
The NIMS relies on the relationships among the three elements. These relationships must be clearly defined and documented as each element evolves during an incident. 
The following provides an overview of each element as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document). 
IV.A. The ICS is a widely applicable management system designed to enable effective and efficient incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure.  

IV.A.1. Management characteristics: ICS is based on 14 management characteristics:  

IV.A.1.a. Common terminology: The ICS establishes common terminology that allows diverse incident management and support organizations to work together across a wide variety of incident management functions and hazard scenarios. ICS common terminology covers the organizational functions, resources descriptions, and incident facilities. 

IV.A.1.b. Modular organization: The ICS organizational structure develops in a modular fashion that is based on the size and complexity of the incident, as well as the specifics of the hazard environment created by the incident.  

IV.A.1.c. Management by objectives: The establishment of specific, measurable objectives for various incident management functional activities and directing efforts to attain them is essential to a successful operation.  

IV.A.1.d. Incident action planning: Incident Action Plans (IAPs) guide all response activities and provide a concise and coherent means of capturing and communicating the overall incident priorities, objectives, strategies, and tactics in the contexts of both operational and support activities. Every incident must have an action plan. 

IV.A.1.e. Manageable span of control: The span of control of any individual should range from three to seven subordinates, with the optimum being five. 

IV.A.1.f. Incident facilities & locations: Various types of operational support facilities are established in the vicinity of an incident, depending on its size and complexity, to accomplish a variety of purposes. 

IV.A.1.g. Comprehensive resource management: Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date picture of resource utilization is a critical component of incident management. 

IV.A.1.h. Integrated communications: Incident communications are facilitated through the development and use of a common communications plan and interoperable communications processes and architectures. 

IV.A.1.i. Establishment and transfer of command: The command function must be clearly established from the beginning of incident operations. 

IV.A.1.j. Chain of command and unity of command: These principles clarify reporting relationships and eliminate the confusion caused by multiple, conflicting directives. 

IV.A.1.k. Unified command: Unified command allows agencies with different legal, geographic, and functional authorities to work together effectively without affecting individual agency authority, responsibility, or accountability. 

IV.A.1.l. Accountability: The ICS accountability principles include check-in/check-out, IAP, unity of command, personal responsibility, span of control, and resource tracking. 

IV.A.1.m. Dispatch/deployment: Resources should respond only when requested or when dispatched by an appropriate authority through established resource management systems. 

IV.A.1.n. Information and intelligence management: The incident management organization must establish a process for gathering, analyzing, assessing, sharing, and managing incident-related information and intelligence. 

IV.A.2. Incident command (IC) and command staff: Incident command is responsible for overall management of the incident. Overall management includes command staff assignments required to support the command function. 

IV.A.2.a. Incident command: The command function may be conducted in one of two general ways: single incident commander and unified command. 

IV.A.2.a.1. Single incident commander: When an incident occurs within a single jurisdiction and there is no jurisdictional or functional agency overlap, a single IC should be designated with overall incident management responsibility by the appropriate jurisdictional authority. 

IV.A.2.a.2. Unified command (UC): UC is an important element in multi-jurisdictional or multiagency incident management and allows all agencies with jurisdictional authority or functional responsibility for the incident to jointly provide management direction to an incident through a common set of incident objectives and strategies and a single IAP. 

IV.A.2.b. Command Staff: The Command Staff typically includes a public information officer, a safety officer, and a liaison officer, who report directly to the IC/UC and may have assistants as necessary. Additional positions may be required, depending on the nature, scope, complexity, and location(s) of the incident(s), or according to specific requirements established by the IC. 

IV.A.2.c. Incident command organization: The incident command and management organization is located at the Incident Command Post (ICP). Typically, one ICP is established for each incident, where the incident command directs operations. 

IV.A.3. General Staff: The General Staff is responsible for the functional aspects of the incident command structure and typically consists of the Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration Section Chiefs. The Command Staff and General Staff must continually interact and share vital information and estimates of the current and future situation and develop recommended courses of action for consideration by the IC. 

IV.A.3.a. Operations Section: The Operations Section is responsible for all activities focused on reducing the immediate hazard, saving lives and property, establishing situational control, and restoring normal operations. The NIMS document provides an organizational template for an Operations Section, which includes the following elements: a section chief, branches, divisions/groups, and resources. 

IV.A.3.b. Planning Section: The Planning Section collects, evaluates, and disseminates incident situation information and intelligence to the IC/UC and incident management personnel. It then prepares status reports, displays situation information, maintains the status of resources assigned to the incident, and prepares and documents the IAP. The section has four primary units (resource, situation, demobilization, documentation), as well as a number of technical specialists to assist in evaluating the situation. 

IV.A.3.c. Logistics Section: This section is responsible for all service support requirements needed to facilitate effective and efficient incident management. The Logistics Section provides facilities, security (of the incident command facilities and personnel), transportation, supplies, equipment maintenance and fuel, food services, communications and information technology support, and emergency responder medical services, including inoculations, as required. It has six primary units that fulfill the functional requirements: Supply, Facilities, Ground Support, Communications, Food, and Medical. 

IV.A.3.d. Finance/Administration Section: The Finance/Administration Section is established when the incident management activities require on-scene or incident-specific finance and other administrative support services. When established, this section has four primary units that fulfill functional requirements: Compensation/Claims, Cost, Procurement, and Time. 

IV.A.3.e. Intelligence/Investigations Function: This function ensures that all investigative and intelligence operations, functions, and activities within the incident response are properly managed, coordinated, and directed. It can be embedded in several places within the organizational structure: within the Planning Section; as a separate General Staff section; within the Operations Section; or within the Command Staff. The Intelligence/Investigations Function can be organized in a variety of ways. The following groups can be activated, if needed: Investigative Operations; Intelligence; Forensic; Electronic Communications, Surveillance, and Evidence; Missing/Unidentified Persons and Human Remains; and Investigative Support. 

IV.A.4. Incident Management Teams (IMTs): An IMT is an incident command organization made up of the Command and General Staff members and other appropriate personnel in an ICS organization and can be deployed or activated, as needed.  

IV.A.5. Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization: Two or more individual incidents located in the same general area and assigned to a single IC or UC.  

IV.A.6. Area Command: An organization to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by a separate ICS organization or to oversee the management of a very large or evolving incident that has multiple incident management teams engaged.  

IV.A.6.a. An area command is activated only if necessary, depending on the complexity of the incident and incident management span-of-control considerations. 

IV.A.6.b. Area command has the following responsibilities:  

 Develops broad objectives for the impacted area(s) 

 Coordinates the development of individual incident objectives and strategies 

 Allocates/reallocates resources as the established priorities change 

 Ensures that incidents are properly managed 

 Ensures effective communications 

 Ensures that incident management objectives are met and do not conflict with each other or with agency policies 

 Identifies critical resource needs and reports them to the established emergency operations center (EOC)/MAC groups 

 Ensures that short-term emergency recovery is coordinated  

IV.B. Multiagency coordination systems: Multiagency coordination is a process that allows all levels of government and all disciplines to work together more efficiently and effectively. Multiagency coordination occurs across the different disciplines involved in incident management, across jurisdictional lines, or across levels of government. The core concepts and principles of the Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document) incorporate the following components: 

IV.B.1. Description: The primary function of multiagency coordination systems is to coordinate activities above the field level and to prioritize the incident demands for critical or competing resources, thereby assisting the coordination of the operations in the field. MACS consist of a combination of elements: personnel, procedures, protocols, business practices, and communications integrated into a common system. 

IV.B.2. System elements: MACS include a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, and procedures integrated into a common system with responsibility for coordination of resources and support to emergency operations. 

IV.B.3. Examples of system elements: The most commonly used elements of MACS are EOCs and MAC Groups. An EOC is activated to support the on-scene response during an escalating incident by relieving the burden of external coordination and securing additional resources. Typically, administrators/executives, or their appointed representatives, are brought together and form MAC Groups. MAC Groups may also be known as multiagency committees, emergency management committees, or as otherwise defined. 

IV.B.4. Primary functions of multiagency coordination systems: There are seven common functions that MACS will generally perform during an incident: situation assessment, incident priority determination, critical resource acquisition and allocation, supporting relevant incident management policies and interagency activities, coordination with other MACS, coordination with elected and appointed officials, and coordination of summary information. 

IV.C. Public Information 

IV.C.1. Public information consists of the processes, procedures, and systems to communicate timely, accurate, and accessible information on the incidents cause, size, and situation to the public, responders, and additional stakeholders (both directly and indirectly affected). Public information includes processes, procedures, and organizational structures required to gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate information. 

IV.C.2. System description and components: Public information consists of five components: 

IV.C.2.a. The Public Information Officer (PIO) supports the incident command structure as a member of the Command Staff. The PIO advises the incident command on all public information matters relating to management of the incident. The PIO handles inquiries from the media, the public, and elected officials; emergency public information and warnings; rumor monitoring and response; media monitoring; and other functions required to gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate accurate, accessible, and timely information related to the incident. The PIO serves as a link to the Joint Information System (JIS). 

IV.C.2.b. The JIS provides the mechanism to organize, integrate, and coordinate information to ensure timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent messaging activities across multiple jurisdictions and/or disciplines with the private sector and NGOs.  

IV.C.2.c. The Joint Information Center (JIC) is a central location that facilitates operation of the JIS. 

IV.C.2.d. Organizational independence: Organizations participating in incident management retain their independence. 

IV.C.2.e. Getting information to the public and additional stakeholders: This is an ongoing cycle that involves four steps: (1) gathering information, (2) verifying information, (3) coordinating information, and (4) disseminating information. 

IV.C.3. Public information communications planning: Plans should include processes, protocols, and procedures that require the development of news releases, media lists, contact information for elected officials, community leaders, private-sector organizations, and leads for public-service organizations to facilitate the dissemination of accurate, consistent, accessible, and timely public information to numerous audiences. 

V. COMPONENT V OVERVIEW: ONGOING MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE  
The following concepts and principles of the NIMS relating to the Preparedness component need to be addressed in NIMS training offered by other Federal agencies; State, tribal, and local agencies; and private vendors. If these concepts and principles are addressed in non-DHS training, the training will meet the standards established by the NIC. An overview and means to evaluate NIMS training content relevant to preparedness follow.  
Ongoing Management and Maintenance of the NIMS contains two subsections: National Integration Center (NIC) and Supporting Technologies. The core concepts and principles of ongoing management and maintenance as taught by DHS (and as defined in the NIMS document) incorporate the following components:  
V.A. National Integration Center 

V.A.1. Concepts and principles: The NIC serves as a mechanism for ensuring the ongoing management and maintenance of the NIMS and provides strategic direction for and oversight of the NIMS, supporting both routine maintenance and continuous refinement of the system and its components over the long term. 

V.A.2. NIMS revision process: Proposed changes to the NIMS will be submitted to the NIC for consideration, approval, and publication. 

V.A.3. NIC responsibilities include the ongoing administration and implementation of the NIMS; ensuring the adoption of common national standards and credentialing systems compatible with the NIMS; leading the development of training and exercises that further the knowledge, adoption, and implementation of the NIMS; and NIMS publication management. 

V.B. Supporting Technologies 

V.B.1. Concepts and principles: The NIMS leverages science and technology to improve capabilities and lower costs. It observes the following five key principles: interoperability and compatibility, technology support, technology standards, broad-based requirements, and strategic planning for research and development. Supporting incident management with science and technology: Supporting technologies enhance incident management capabilities or lower costs through three principal activities: operational scientific support, technology standards support, and research and development support. 
 

Appendix B: Position Competencies and Behaviors 

Table B-1: Incident Commander 

 
Table B-2: Safety Officer 

 
Table B-3: Public Information Officer 

 
Table B-4: Liaison Officer 

 
Table B-5: Operations Section Chief 

 
Table B-6: Planning Section Chief 

 
Table B-7: Logistic Section Chief 

 
Table B-8: Finance/Administration Section Chief 

 

Appendix C: Course Summaries 

IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction 
 
Audience 
All personnel with a direct role in emergency management/response must complete NIMS IS-700, including 
 Executive levelpolitical and government leaders; agency and organization administrators and department heads; personnel that fill ICS roles as unified commanders, incident commanders, Command Staff, or General Staff in either area command or single incidents; senior MACS personnel; senior emergency managers; and emergency operations center Command or General Staff.  

 Managerial levelagency and organization management between the executive level and first-level supervision; personnel who fill ICS roles as Branch Directors, Division/Group Supervisors, Unit Leaders, technical specialists, strike team and task force leaders, single resource leaders, and field supervisors; midlevel MACS personnel; EOC Section Chiefs, Branch Directors, Unit Leaders, and other emergency management/response personnel who require a higher level of ICS/NIMS training.  

 Responder levelemergency response providers and disaster workers, entry level to managerial level, including emergency medical service personnel; firefighters; medical personnel; police officers; public health personnel; public work/utility personnel; and other emergency management response personnel. 

 
Course Objectives 
 Concepts: Describe the key concepts and principles underlying the NIMS.  

 ICS: Identify the benefits of using ICS as the national incident management model.  

 Area Command: Describe when it is appropriate to institute an area command.  

 MACS: Describe when it is appropriate to institute a Multiagency Coordination System.  

 JIS: Describe the benefits of using a JIS for public information.  

 Preparedness: Identify the ways in which the NIMS affects preparedness.  

 Resource Management: Describe how the NIMS affects how resources are managed.  

 Communications: Describe the advantages of common communication and information management systems.  

 Technology: Explain how the NIMS influences technology and technology systems.  

 NIC: Describe the purpose of the NIMS Integration Center. 

 Relation to NIMS Document  
I Preparedness  
I.A Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.B Achieving Preparedness 
II Communications and Information Management 
II.A Underlying Concepts of Communications and Information Management 
III  Resource Management 
III.A.1 Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2  Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a  Incident Command 
IV A.2.b  Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3  General Staff 
IV.C  Public Information 
IV.C.2.b Joint Information System (JIS)   
V Ongoing Management and Maintenance  
V.A National Integration Center (NIC) 
V.B Supporting Technologies 
 
Instruction Standards 
Course Hours: 3 classroom hours minimum, or interactive, web-based course  
Instructor Qualifications:  
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level emergency management and incident response position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies.  
 
IS-800: National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction 
 
Audience 
All Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnel whose primary responsibility is emergency management must complete this training. Specifically, officials who must take the course include  
 Personnel in Federal departments and agencies with emergency management and incident response responsibilities under the NRP 

 Officials in State and Territorial governments with emergency management and incident response responsibilities, personnel from emergency management agencies, and personnel from agencies who support and interact with the NRP's 15 Emergency Support Functions 
 Officials in tribal entities and local jurisdictions with overall emergency management responsibilities as dictated by law or ordinance, officials with overall emergency management responsibilities through delegation, and officials primarily involved in emergency planning 

 
Course Objectives 
 Purpose: Describe the purpose of the NRP. Locate information within the NRP.  

 Roles and Responsibilities: Describe the roles and responsibilities of entities as specified in the NRP.  

 Organization: Identify the organizational structure used for NRP coordination. Describe the field-level organizations and teams activated under the NRP.  

 Incident Management: Identify the incident management activities addressed by the NRP.  

 Relation to NIMS Document  
I  Preparedness  
I.A Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.A.2  Relationship of NIMS to the National Response Plan (NRP) 
I.B  Achieving Preparedness 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a  Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b  Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c  Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d  Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e  Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.5  Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.A.6  Area Command 
IV.A.6.b  Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
 
Instruction Standards 
Course Hours: 3 classroom hours minimum, or interactive, web-based course  
Instructor Qualifications:  
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level emergency management and incident response position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies  
 

 
 
ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System 
 
Audience 
 It is incumbent upon Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnel to determine who within their organizations requires ICS 100 training, based on local incident management organizational planning.  

 Typically, all Federal, State, tribal, local, private-sector, and nongovernmental personnel at the following levels of responsibility in emergency management and incident response operations: first-line supervisor (sergeant/lieutenant), mid-level management (captain/shift commander) and command and general staff (battalion chief/division chief/district commander/PIO and operations/planning/logistics/finance-admin). 

 

 
Course Objectives 
 Purpose of ICS: Identify requirements to use ICS, three purposes of ICS, and common incident tasks.  

 Basic Features of ICS: Describe the basic features of ICS.  

 Incident Commander and Command Staff Functions: Describe the role and function of the incident commander and Command Staff.  
 General Staff Functions: Describe the role and function of the Operations, Planning, Logistics and Finance/Administration sections.  
 Facilities: Describe the six basic ICS facilities, identify facilities that may be located together, and identify facility map symbols.  

 Common Responsibilities: Describe common mobilization responsibilities and common responsibilities at an incident, list individual accountability and responsibilities, and describe common demobilization responsibilities. 

 Relation to NIMS Document  
IV  Command and Management 
IV.A  Incident Command System 
IV.A.1  Management Characteristics  
IV.A.1.f Incident Facilities & Locations 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV.A.2.a Incident Command 
IV.A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3  General Staff 
IV.A.3.a  Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b  Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c  Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d  Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e  Intelligence/Investigations Function 
 
Instruction Standards 
Course Hours: 6 classroom hours minimum, or interactive, web-based course  
Instructor Qualifications:  
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level emergency management and incident response position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies 
 

 
Audience 

 It is incumbent upon Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnel to determine who within their organizations requires ICS 100 training, based on local incident management organizational planning.  

 
Course Objectives 

 Leadership and Management: Describe the chain of command and formal communication relationships, identify common leadership responsibilities, describe span of control and modular development, and describe the use of position titles.  

 Delegation of Authority and Management by Objectives: Describe scope of authority and the process by which authority is delegated. Management by objectives must be described and explained.  

 Functional Areas and Positions: Identify the ICS tools to manage an incident, demonstrate the function of organizational positions within ICS, and demonstrate the use of an ICS 201 form.  

 Briefings: Give an operational briefing and describe components of field, staff and section briefings/meetings.  

 Organizational Flexibility: Explain how the modular organization expands and contracts, complete a complexity analysis given a specific scenario, define the five types of incidents, and describe the importance of preparedness plans and agreements.  

  Transfer of Command: List the essential elements of information involved in transfer of command and describe a transfer-of-command process. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.1.c Management by Objectives 
IV.A.1.b Modular Organization 
IV.A.1.e Manageable Span of Control  
IV.A.1.I Establishment and Transfer of Command 
IV.A.1.j Chain of Command and Unity of Command: 
IV.A.1.n Information and Intelligence Management 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
 
Instruction Standards 
Course Hours: 6 classroom hours minimum, or interactive, web-based course  
Instructor Qualifications 
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level emergency management and incident response position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
 
 
Audience 
Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnel determine who within their organizations requires ICS 300 training, based on local incident management organizational planning.  
 
Course Objectives 

 ICS Fundamentals Review: Explain ICS staffing fundamentals and organization, including reporting and working relationships, information flow, and transfer of command. Match responsibility statements to each ICS organizational element.  

 Unified Command: Define and identify the primary features of unified command. Describe the unified command organization and functions in a multi-jurisdictional or multiagency incident. Demonstrate roles and reporting relationships under a unified command in single and multi-jurisdictional incidents.  

 Incident Management Operations: Describe methods and tools used to assess incident/event complexity. Describe the five steps in transferring and assuming incident command. Identify the key principles of incident management operations. Describe the process for developing incident objectives, strategies, and tactics.  

 Resource Management: Identify and describe four basic principles of resource management. Identify the basic steps involved in managing incident resources. Demonstrate proper use of ICS forms.  

 Planning Process: Identify the importance of and explain the differences between planning for incidents or events. Discuss major planning steps, including logistical concerns, cost-benefit analysis, situational understanding, plan development, implementation, and evaluation.  

  Demobilization, Transfer of Command, Closeout 
Relation to NIMS Document  
III Resource Management 
III.A.1  Underlying concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2  Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B  Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV A.1.a Common Terminology 
IV A.1.b Modular Organization 
IV A.1.c Management by Objectives 
IV.A.1.d Incident Action Planning 
IV.A.1.e Manageable Span of Control 
IV.A.1.f Incident Facilities & Locations 
IV.A.1.g Comprehensive Resource Management 
IV.A.1.h Integrated Communications  
IV A 1 i Establishment and Transfer of Command 
IV.A.1.j Chain of Command and Unity of Command 
IV.A.1.k Unified Command 
IV.A.1.l Accountability 
IV.A.1.m Dispatch/Deployment 
IV.A.1.n Information and Intelligence Management 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
 
Instruction Standards 
Training must meet the following specific standards:  
Course Contact Hours ICS 300: 18 classroom hours minimum; 24 classroom hours recommended  
Instructor Qualifications:  
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level incident management position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies 
 
 
Audience 
Federal, State, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnel determine who within their organizations requires ICS 400 training, based on local incident management organizational planning.  
 
Course Objectives 

 Command and General Staff: Describe how unified command functions in a multi-jurisdictional or multiagency incident. List the major steps involved in the planning process. Describe issues that influence incident complexity and available analysis tools. Describe the primary guidelines and responsibilities of the Command and General Staff positions.  
 Major and/or Complex Incident/Event Management: Deputies and Assistants: List the primary factors affecting major and/or complex incidents and events. List the four expansion options for incident/event organization and describe their application. 

 Area Command: Define and list the principal advantages of area command, and describe how, where, and when area command would be established. Describe area command organization and identify six primary functions of area command.  

 Unified Command: Demonstrate a knowledge of unified command structure and operations.  

 Multiagency Coordination: Describe the kinds of incident/event management problems that can occur due to a lack of multiagency coordination. Identify the major guidelines for establishing and using MAC groups and systems and their primary components. List the responsibilities of key elements with MACS.  
  Organizational Relationships: Describe the organizational relationships among area command, unified command, multi-entity coordination systems, and emergency operation centers.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV.A.2.a Incident Command 
IV.A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3  General Staff 
IV.A.3.a  Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b  Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c  Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d  Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e  Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.5 Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.A.6  Area Command 
IV.A.6.b  Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
IV.B.1 MACS Description 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
IV.B.3 Examples of System Elements  
IV.B.4 Primary Functions of Multiagency Coordination Systems  
 
Instruction Standards: 
Course Hours: 14 classroom hours minimum, 20 classroom contact hours recommended.  
Instructor Qualifications:  
1. Successful completion of accredited ICS: 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800  
2. Service in a mid-level emergency management and incident response position within five years in real-world incidents, planned events, or accredited exercises 
 

ICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents 
 Typically, all Federal, State, tribal, local, private-sector, and nongovernmental personnel at the following levels of responsibility in emergency management and incident response operations: first-line supervisor (sergeant/lieutenant), mid-level management (captain/shift commander) and command and general staff (battalion chief/division chief/district commander/PIO and operations/planning/logistics/finance-admin). 

IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies 
ICS-300: Intermediate ICS 
Typically, required personnel include all mid-level management, Federal, State, tribal, local, private-sector, and nongovernmental personnel, including persons serving as command staff, section chiefs, strike team leaders, task force leaders, unit leaders, division/group supervisors, branch directors, and multiagency coordination system/emergency operations center staff. 
 
It is recommended that ICS-300 participants utilize their skills in an operational environment before taking ICS-400. This will provide necessary context and understanding of the skills they will develop when they take ICS-400. 
ICS-400: Advanced ICS 
Typically, required personnel include all Federal, State, tribal, local, private-sector, and nongovernmental personnel, including persons serving as Command and General Staff in an ICS organization, select department heads with multiagency coordination system responsibilities, area managers, emergency managers, and multiagency coordination system/emergency operations center managers. 
 
3. Recognized qualifications in techniques of instruction and adult education methodologies 
 
Audience 
 
Course Objectives 

 Concepts: Describe the key concepts and principles underlying NIMS.  

 ICS: Identify the benefits of using ICS as the national incident management model.  

 Area Command: Describe when it is appropriate to institute an area command.  

 MACS: Describe when it is appropriate to institute a Multiagency Coordination System.  

 JIS: Describe the benefits of using a JIS for public information.  

 Preparedness: Identify the ways in which the NIMS affects preparedness.  

 Resource Management: Describe how the NIMS affects how resources are managed.  

 Communications: Describe the advantages of common communication and information management systems.  

 Technology: Explain how the NIMS influences technology and technology systems.  

  NIC: Describe the purpose of the NIMS Integration Center. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
II  Communications and Information Management 
II.A Underlying Concepts of Communications and Information Management 
III  Resource Management 
III.A.1  Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2  Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B  Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a  Incident Command 
IV A.2.b  Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c  Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3  General Staff 
IV.B Multiagency Coordination System (MACS)  
IV.B.1 Description  
IV.B.2  System Elements  
IV.B.3  Examples of System Elements  
IV.B.4 Primary Function of MACS 
 
Instruction Standards 
 

IS-701: NIMS Multi-Agency Coordination Systems (MACS) 
All personnel with a direct role in MACS and complex incident management or response must complete NIMS IS-701, including Federal, state, tribal, and local emergency management/response personnelamong them, incident commanders from all emergency management disciplines, private industry personnel responsible for coordination activities during a disaster, and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster personnel. 
IV.C.  Public Information 
IS-701: Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS) provides an understanding of MACS components, concepts, and principles, and it outlines the relationships among all elements of the system. IS-701 is composed of six components that require approximately 20 to 40 minutes each, as well as a post-test. Although IS-701 is available as a web-based independent study course, materials may be downloaded and used in a classroom setting. 
 
IS-702: NIMS Public Information 
Audience 
This course is designed for experienced PIOs. It will touch on the fundamentals of effective public information programs, but only to illustrate or provide examples for the details of NIMS Public Information. 
 
This course is designed for local and State PIO. 
Course Objectives 

 Joint Information System & Joint Information Center: Define NIMS public information systems, including onsite operations, the JIS and the JIC, and how they relate to each other.  

 JIS/JIC Process: Describe the JIS/JIC process of gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating information by public information and incident management personnel.  

 Agency Participation: Identify each agency involved in given emergency situations and the role of each in the JIS to ensure that appropriate situational awareness information is communicated to the public.  

  Relationship to MACS: Define key terms related to public information systems, including the relationship with multiagency coordination systems and the field.  
 Resource Requirements: Identify typical resource requirements for public information systems. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
II  Communications and Information Management 
II.A Underlying Concepts of Communications and Information Management 
IV.C.  Public Information 
IV.C.1  Public Information Overview  
IV.C.2  System Description and Components  
IV.C.2.a  Public Information Officer (PIO) 
IV.C.2.b  Joint Information System (JIS) 
IV.C.2.c Joint Information Center (JIC) 
IC.C.2.d  Organizational Independence 
IV.C.2.e  Information Flow to Stakeholders and the Public  
 
 
 

The public information systems described in NIMS are designed to effectively manage public information at an incident, regardless of the size and complexity of the situation or the number of entities involved in the response. The goal of this course is to facilitate NIMS compliance by providing the basic information and tools needed to apply the NIMS public information systems and protocols during incident management. 
IV.C.3  Public Information Communications Planning  
Instruction Standards 
IS-702: NIMS Public Information is a web-based independent study module course that explains NIMS public information systems components, concepts, and principles. IS-702 takes approximately three hours to complete. Although it is designed to be taken online interactively, course materials may be downloaded and used in a classroom setting.  
 
IS-703: NIMS Resource Management 
 
All personnel with a significant resource management role in emergency management and incident response must complete NIMS IS-703.  
Course Objectives 

 Concepts and Principles: Establishing systems for describing, inventorying, requesting, and tracking resources. 

 Activation: Activating these systems prior to and during an incident. 

  Dispatch: Dispatching resources prior to and during an incident. 
 Deactivation: Deactivating or recalling resources during or after incidents. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
I Preparedness  
I.A  Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.B  Achieving Preparedness 
III  Resource Management 
III.A.1  Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2  Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B  Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
 
IV A.2.a  Incident Command 
Instruction Standards 
 

 
Audience 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IS-703: NIMS Resource Management is a web-based independent study module course that explains resource management components, concepts, and principles. The course is divided into six lessons, which each take 10 to 60 minutes to complete. A passing grade on the post-test at the completion of Lesson 6 is required for course credit. Although IS-703 is designed to be taken online interactively, course materials may be downloaded and used in a classroom setting.  
Equivalencies: IS-703 supersedes G-276, Resource Management. For purposes of the Advanced Professional Series, those who have completed G-276 may still claim credit for it as an elective, or IS-703 will count toward that elective. 
 
IS-704: NIMS Communication and Information Management 
 
Audience 
IS designed for: members of the general public; emergency management/response personnel; elected officials of State, tribal, and local governments; appointed officials of State, tribal, and local governments; employees of the Department of Homeland Security; and employees of other Federal agencies. 
Course Objectives 

At the conclusion of this course, participants should be able to: 

 Define communications and information management at the local, tribal, State, and Federal levels of government to include the common operating picture and common communications and data standards. 

 Identify each agency involved in communications and information management activities before, during, and after a domestic incident. 

 Identify typical interoperability standards established by the NIMS Integration Center relative to communications and information management, including incident notification and situation reports, status reports, analytical data, geospatial information, wireless communications, and identification and authentication issues. 
  Define key terms related to communications and information management, including the relationship with multiagency coordination systems, public information, and the field. 
 Identify incident management communications issues relative to the incident command system for individual jurisdictions and for multiple jurisdictions. 
 Identify potential coordination and policy issues arising from an incident relative to communications and information  
Relation to NIMS Document  
I. Preparedness  
I.A. Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.A.1. Unified Approach 
I.B. Achieving Preparedness 
I.B.3. Preparedness Roles 
I.B.4. Preparedness Elements 
II. Communications and Information Management 
II.A. Underlying Concepts of Communications and Information Management 
II.A.1. Common Operating Picture 
II.A.2. Interoperability 
II.A.3. Reliability, Scalability, and Portability 
II.A.4. Resiliency and Redundancy 
II.B. Effective management of Incident Communications and Information 
II.B.1. Standardized Communication Types 
II.B.2. Policy and Planning 
II.B.3. Agreements 
II.B.4. Equipment Standards and Training 
II.C. Organization and Operations 
II.C.1 Incident Information 
II.C.2. Communications Standards and Formats 
IV. Command and Management 
IV.A. Incident Command System 
 
IV.C. Public Information 
 
 

IV.B. Multiagency Coordination System 
Instruction Standards 
IS-704: NIMS Communication and Information Management is a web-based independent study module course. 
 
 
IS-705: NIMS Preparedness 
 
Audience 
 

 Course Objectives 
 
Relation to NIMS Document  
 
 

 
   
Instruction Standards 
 
 
 
IS-706: NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid, An Introduction 
 
Audience 
This course is designed for State, local, and tribal emergency response and coordination personnel and takes approximately two and a half hours to complete. 

Course Objectives 

 Purpose: Describe the purpose, benefits, and uses of mutual aid and assistance.  

 Relation to NIMS: Explain how mutual aid and assistance agreements relate to NIMS.  

 Involved Information Identify what information should be included in a mutual aid and assistance agreement.  

  Processes required: Explain the process for developing mutual aid and assistance agreements.  
 Elements of Mutual Aid and Assistance: Identify the elements of a mutual aid and assistance operational plan.  
 
Relation to NIMS Document  
I Preparedness  
I.A  Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.B  Achieving Preparedness 
I.B.3 Preparedness Roles 
I.B.4 Preparedness Elements 
III  Resource Management 
III.A.1  Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2  Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B  Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
 
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
 
 

*To be filled out as the information becomes available. 
IV A  Incident Management  
Instruction Standards 
IS-706: NIMS Intrastate Mutual Aid, An Introduction is a web-based independent study module course that explains resource management components, concepts, and principles. The course is divided into 5 lessons. Completion time for each lesson varies but overall the course will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. A passing grade on the post-test at the completion of Lesson 5 is required for course credit. Although IS-706 is designed to be taken online interactively, course material may be downloaded and used in a classroom setting.  
Prerequisites: The prerequisite for this course is IS-700: National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), An Introduction. 
 
 
IS-707: NIMS Resource Typing 
 
Audience 
 

 Course Objectives 
 
Relation to NIMS Document  
 
 

 
   
Instruction Standards 
 
 
 
 
Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Incident Commander 

Course Objectives 

 Managing the Organization: Describe how to manage an IMT, common management and communication perils, the role of human resource specialists, and union agreements. 

 IMT Administration and Readiness: Describe the incident commanders responsibilities; identify orientation procedures and methods to measure success and build teams. 

 Kits, Aids, Guides: Identify the components of a typical incident commanders kit. 

 Command, Coordination, Support, and Oversight: Describe the purpose and function as related to incident management; define agency administrator. 

 Command Structure and MACS: Describe the concept and purpose of unified command and area command and the role of PFO and MACS. 

 AA and IC Cooperation: Describe complexity analyses and clarification of authority and define the responsibility in preparing and conducting an agency administrator briefing. 

 Transfer of Command: Describe elements of an effective transfer of command and the purpose of a transition plan; identify required forms. 

 Communication, Information, and Intelligence Processing: Describe primary communication responsibilities, target audiences, and sources to obtain intelligence. Define information and intelligence and ways to enhance internal communications. 

  Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics: Define incident objectives, strategies, and tactics.  
 Plans and Meetings: Describe the plans and meetings for which the IC is responsible.  
 Staffing: Describe the staffing responsibilities and considerations of the IC. 
 Agreements: Describe agreements united in incident management and the difference between a cooperative agreement and a memorandum of understanding.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV A.1.a Common Terminology 
IV A.1.b Modular Organization 
IV A.1.c Management by Objectives 
IV.A.1.d Incident Action Planning 
IV.A.1.e Manageable Span of Control 
IV.A.1.f Incident Facilities & Locations 
IV.A.1.g Comprehensive Resource Management 
IV.A.1.h Integrated Communications  
IV A 1 i Establishment and Transfer of Command 
IV.A.1.j Chain of Command and Unity of Command 
IV.A.1.k Unified Command 
IV.A.1.l Accountability 
IV.A.1.m Dispatch/Deployment 
IV.A.1.n Information and Intelligence Management 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3  General Staff 
IV.A.5  Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
IV.B.3 Examples of System Elements  
 

*To be filled out as the information becomes available. 

P400: All-Hazards Incident Commander 
IV.B.1 MACS Description: 
IV.B.4 Primary Functions of Multiagency Coordination Systems  
 
Minimum Course Contact Hours: 40 total hours 
 
P430: All-Hazards Operations Section Chief 
Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Operations Section Chief 

Course Objectives 

 Roles and Responsibilities: Identify the role of the Operations Section Chief and contrast that with the other divisions and groups. 

 Management Cycle: Describe the incident management and planning process and operational schedules. 

 Information Gathering: Describe how to gather, organize, and communicate the appropriate information; incident commander briefing. 

 Strategy and Planning: Identify the purpose of strategy, tactics, and planning meetings, use of the Operational Planning Worksheet, and the Incident Action Plan. 

 Contingency Planning: Differentiate short- and long-term contingency planning; name ways to obtain, adjust, communicate, and publicize contingency plans. 

  Demobilization: Describe early resource monitoring and the demobilization plan. 
 Supervision and Communication: Identify the supervisors role in ICS, communicating instructions, effective delegation, and executing an ops briefing and sub-briefing. 
 Managing and Adjusting the Operations Section: Identify appropriate use of multiple Operations Section Chiefs, responsibilities in planning, staging areas, the Air Operations Branch, and developments that require adjustments. 
 Risk Assessment and Safety Management: Differences between Operations Section Chief and safety officer duties, partnerships for safety, and information-gathering strategies for safety management. 
 Personal Interaction: Identify key players, significant events requiring special communications, and external partners. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.2 Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.5  Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
 

Instruction Standards 

IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.B.1 MACS Description 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
 
Instruction Standards 
Minimum Course Contact Hours: 40 total hours 
 
P440: All-Hazards Planning Section Chief 

Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Planning Section Chief 

Course Objectives 

 Roles and Responsibilities: Identify the role of the Operations Section Chief and contrast that with the other divisions and groups. 

 Management Cycle: Describe the incident management and planning process and operational schedules. 

 Information Gathering: Describe how to gather, organize, and communicate the appropriate information; incident commander briefing. 

 Strategy and Planning: Identify the purpose of strategy, tactics, and planning meetings and the use of an operational planning worksheet and IAP. 

  Contingency Planning: Differentiate short- and long-term contingency planning; name ways to obtain, adjust, communicate, and publicize contingency plans. 
 Demobilization: Describe early resource monitoring and the demobilization plan. 
 Supervision and Communication: Identify the supervisors role in ICS, communicating instructions, effective delegation, and executing an ops briefing and sub-briefing. 
 Managing and Adjusting the Operations Section: Identify appropriate use of multiple Operations Section Chiefs, responsibilities in planning, staging areas, Air Operations Branch, and developments that require adjustments. 
 Risk Assessment and Safety Management: Differences between Operations Section Chief and safety officer duties, partnerships for safety, and information-gathering strategies for safety management. 
 Personal Interaction: Identify key players, significant events requiring special communications, and external partners.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
I Preparedness  
I.A Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.A.2 Relationship of the NIMS to the National Response Framework (NRF) 
I.B  Achieving Preparedness 
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.2 Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
 

IV.A.5 Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.B Multiagency Coordination Systems 
IV.B.1 MACS Description 
 
Instruction Standards 
 
P450: All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief 

Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Logistics Section Chief 

Course Objectives 

 Position: Describe key functions, responsibilities, and units in the Logistics Section. 

 Facilities Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose.  

 Ground Support Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose.  

 Supply Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose.  

 Food Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose.  

  Medical Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose.  
 Communications Unit: Describe responsibilities and purpose. 
 Responsibilities: Describe necessary equipment. Define the role of initial briefings and the IAP and responsibilities in developing them. 
 Planning and Activating the Section: Identify briefing components; describe how to assess capabilities and limitations. 
 Coordination: Describe how to work with Command and General Staff; describe the role and responsibility in planning meetings and developing IAPs. 
 Managing and Directing Staff and Contractors: Describe how to manage personnel, assign work, and monitor progress. 
 Demobilization and Evaluation: Describe how to evaluate personnel and conduct debriefings.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
I Preparedness  
I.A Preparedness Concepts and Principles 
I.A.2 Relationship of NIMS to the National Response Framework  
I.B Achieving Preparedness 
III Resource Management 
III.A.1 Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2 Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.1.f Incident Facilities & Locations 
IV.A.1.g Comprehensive Resource Management 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.5  Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
 

IV.B.2 System Elements 
Minimum Course Contact Hours: 40 total hours 

IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.B.1 MACS Description 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
 
IV.B.4 Primary Functions of MACS 
 
Still in development 
P460: All-Hazards Finance Section Chief 

 Audience 
Individuals who would fill the role of Finance Section Chief 
Course Objectives 
 Information Gathering and Sharing: Identify required reference materials, forms, and supplies. Describe the contents of the Finance Section Chiefs kit. Describe use of the unit log. 
 Section Management: Describe staffing and ordering needs. Define the initial briefing, section operating plan, performance requirements, and standards. 
 Interaction and Coordination: Identify information to exchange. Define the role of the planning meeting, IAP, and operational period briefing. 
 Demobilization and Closeout: Describe responsibilities in closeout and the demobilization plan. Identify information to include in the briefing for replacement.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
III Resource Management 
III.A.1 Underlying Concepts of Resource Management  
III.A.2 Five Basic Principles of Resource Management 
III.B Resource Management Process 
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.1 Management Characteristics 
IV.A.1.f Incident Facilities & Locations 
IV.A.1.g Comprehensive Resource Management 
IV.A.2 Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
 
IV.A.5 Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
 

IV.B.3 Examples of System Elements  
Instruction Standards 

IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
IV.B Multiagency Coordination Systems 
 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
IV.B.3 Examples of System Elements  
 
Instruction Standards 
Still in development 

P480: All-Hazards Intelligence/Investigations Function 

 Audience 
Individuals who would fill a leadership role within the Information and Intelligence Function 
Course Objectives 
 Nature of Intelligence: Describe the nature of intelligence as it relates to the responsibilities of the Intelligence/Investigations Function. Define the difference between intelligence, information, and investigations and provide examples. 
 Developing Intelligence: Identify sources of intelligence and National Security Classification Level and determine what type of information should be included in the intelligence file.  
 Organizational Implications: Identify each of the four organizational structures of the Intelligence/Investigations Function as well as the benefits and challenges of each. Identify members of IMT to interact with most frequently. 
 Preplanning for Intelligence: Describe the importance of preplanning activities.  
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.1 Management Characteristics 
IV A.1.a Common Terminology 
IV.A.1.n Information and Intelligence Management 
IV.A.2 Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
 

IV.B.1 MACS Description 

IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
 
Instruction Standards 

Still in development 

P402: All-Hazards Liaison Officer 

Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Liaison Officer 

 Course Objectives 
 Position Concept: Understand the roles and responsibilities of the Liaison Officer as a member of the command staff.  
 Agency Representatives: Understand the function of an agency representative.  
 Stakeholders: Define, identify, and profile stakeholders. Understand their roles and responsibilities regarding stakeholders and evaluate Liaison Officers success. 
 Incident Communications and Work Location: Identify types of communication and work location needs for a given incident. 
 Information Flow and Use of Assistants: Understand the process and relevant parties involved in incident information flow, including the role of Assistant Liaison Officers. Know how to obtain status of and information about cooperating agencies. 
 Planning Process: Know how the Liaison Officers fits into the planning process. 
 Special Situations: Determine the proper steps to follow in the event of a special situation. 
 Demobilization: Understand the demobilization process as it relates to the duties of the Liaison Officers. Describe Liaison Officers responsibilities throughout demobilization. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV Command and Management 
IV A Incident Management  
IV.A.1 Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2 Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV A.2.b Command Staff 
IV.A.2.c Incident Command Organization 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.3.a Operations Section 
IV.A.3.b Planning Section 
IV.A.3.c Logistics Section  
 
IV.A.3.e Intelligence/Investigations Function 
IV.A.5  Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
 

IV.A.5 Incident ComplexMultiple Incident Management with a Single ICS Organization 
IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 

IV.A.3.d Finance/Administration Section 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.A.6.b Area Command Responsibilities 
 
IV.B.1 MACS Description 
IV.B.2 System Elements 
 
IV.B.4 Primary Functions of MACS  
Instruction Standards 

Minimum Course Contact Hours: 16 total hours 

P403: All-Hazards Public Information Officer 

Audience 

Individuals who would fill the role of Public Information Officer 

 Course Objectives 
 Roles and Responsibilities: Describe the role of the PIO position in incident operations and the elements of an incident information strategy.  
 Incident Information Operations: Describe the fundamentals of information operations during incident management. List elements of an operations plan for information function, and the types of information the PIO will provide at a planning meeting and shift briefings. 
 Developing a Communications Strategy: List four elements of a communication strategy; describe the importance of coordination and addressing long-term needs. 
 Effective Media Relations: Describe the importance of effective media relations and the role of the PIO in developing and maintaining such relationships.  
 Assistant PIO Tasks and Assignments: Describe the roles and responsibilities of Assistant Public Information Officers for internal and external communication and information coordination. 
 Effective Community Relations: Identify principles of positive community relations, key individuals and organizations, and understanding when and how to use information and formal meetings. 
 Special Situations: Describe the role of the PIO as it pertains to handling special situations within incidents.  
 Creating a Safe Environment: Identify sources of safety hazard information and techniques to communicate the hazards to internal and external groups.  
 Demobilization Summary: Define the PIO's roles and responsibilities during incident transition and demobilization. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
II Communications and Information Management 
II.A Underlying Concepts of Communications and Information Management 
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2  Incident Command (IC) and Command Staff  
 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.C Public Information 
 

IV.B  Multiagency Coordination Systems 
IV.B.3 Examples of System Elements  

IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV.C.1 Public Information Overview  
IV.C.2 System Description and Components  
 
IV.C.2.b Joint Information System (JIS) 
IV.C.2.c Joint Information Center (JIC) 
 
IV.C.2.e Information Flow to Stakeholders and the Public  
IV.C.3 Public Information Communications Planning  

Instruction Standards 

Still in development 

P404: All-Hazards Safety Officer 

Audience 

Individuals who would fill a role of Safety Officer 

 Course Objectives 
 Position Role: Materials for Safety Officer kit, unit log. 
 Incident Overview: Information sources, laws, regulations and policies, and technical specialists. 
 Hazards and Risks: Hazard and safety risks, prioritize mitigation, mitigation and accident prevention methods. 
 Incident Safety Analysis, ICS Form 215A: The purpose, components, and use of Form 215A. 
 Site Safety and Control Plan, ICS208HM: The purpose, use, and components of Form 208HM. 
 Incident Safety Action Plan: Elements of a safety plan, safety message, safety briefing, and assistant safety officers. 
 Coordination with Logistics: Interaction with the Medical Unit, Ground Support Unit, and local health department. 
 
 Special Situations: Describe the role of critical incident stress management, accident investigations, and special reports. 
 Demobilization and Closeout: Describe demobilization checkout procedures. 
 

IV.C.2.a Public Information Officer (PIO) 
IC.C.2.d Organizational Independence 

 Operations and General Health and Welfare: Promote general health and welfare, describe work/rest guidelines, identify authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts. 
Relation to NIMS Document  
IV Command and Management 
IV A  Incident Management  
IV.A.1. Management Characteristics 
IV.A.2  Incident Command and Command Staff  
IV A.2.a Incident Command 
IV.A.3 General Staff 
IV.A.6 Area Command 
IV.B Multiagency Coordination Systems 
Instruction Standards 
Still in development 
 

Appendix D: References 
National Incident Management System. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, March 2004. 
National Incident Management System, revision. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, FEMA 501, Draft August 2007. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-nims.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007). 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Incident Management System (NIMS)National Standard Curriculum Training Development GuidanceFY07, Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, March 2007. 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NIMS Guide: National Credentialing Definition and Criteria, Washington, DC, Department of Homeland Security, FEMA NG0002, March 2007.  http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/ng_0002.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007). 
National Strategy for Homeland Security. Washington, DC: White House, July 2002.  
National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets. Washington, DC: White House, February 2003. 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5: Management of Domestic Incidents. Washington, DC: White House, February 2003. 
HSPD-7: Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection. Washington, DC: White House, December 2003. 
HSPD-8: National Preparedness. Washington, DC: White House, December 2003. 
United States House of Representatives. 107th Congress, 2nd Session. Homeland Security Act of 2002. Congressional Bills, GPO Access.  
National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, 2006. 
National Response Framework. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, Draft, XX 2007. 
Emergency Responder Field Operating Guide. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, Draft, 24 May 2007. 
Joint Field Office Activation and Operations: Interagency Integrated Standard Operating Procedure. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, Interim Approval April 2006. http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NRP_JFO_SOP.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007). 
Joint Field Office Field Operations Guide. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, June 2006. 
National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide. PMS 310-1. Boise, ID: National Interagency Fire Center, April 2006. http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/docs/PMS310-1.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007). 
National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Agency Administrators Guide to Critical Incident Management. Boise, ID: National Interagency Fire Center, January 2005 (draft). http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/PMS926-DRAFT.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007). 
National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook. Boise, ID: National Interagency Fire Center, April 2004. Accessible via: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/large.html, (last access 09/04/2007). 
National Wildfire Coordinating Group. GIS Standard Operating Procedures on Incidents. PMS-936. Boise, ID: National Interagency Fire Center, June 2006. http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/GSTOP7.pdf, (last access 09/04/2007).