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Incident Position Performance Cycle

NWCG accomplishes its core mission – to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners – primarily through the establishment and support of nationally common standards for wildland fire operations. The Incident Position Performance Cycle outlines the key components and processes used to achieve this for NWCG positions.

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Incident position cycle graphic

NWCG Standards

  • Requirements, guidelines, procedures, processes, best practices, specifications, techniques, and methods

Position Analysis

  • Systematically identify training and performance support needs using the Performance Support Analysis Tool (PSAT)
  • Identify areas across multiple positions where knowledge, skills, and abilities overlap

Position Qualification Requirements

  • Training, experience, physical fitness, position currency, and incident position descriptions (duties and responsibilities)

Position-Specific Standards

  • Specify the tasks and behaviors that make up the incident position's duties and responsibilities

Training and Performance Support

  • Tools to support successful performance
  • Training courses, position task books (PTBs), job aids, etc.

The NWCG provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. The primary way this is accomplished is by establishing national interagency wildland fire position performance requirements, position-specific standards, and associated support materials.

NWCG standards establish common practices that enable efficient and coordinated national interagency wildland fire operations. These standards may be comprised of requirements, guidelines, procedures, processes, best practices, specifications, techniques, and methods. NWCG standards are interagency by design; however, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems. NWCG standards are developed by the NWCG committees and their subgroups and NWCG publications and web portals are the primary vehicles by which NWCG standards are transmitted.

NWCG standards are the key component of the Incident Position Performance Cycle. They inform the development of position-specific standards and associated performance support capabilities. And ultimately, they guide operations.

The position analysis process is intended to:

  • Systematically identify training and performance support needs for each incident position.
  • Identify areas across multiple positions where knowledge, skills, and abilities overlap.
  • Create position-specific plans that identify performance support needs such as job aids, amount and type of training, position task books (PTBs), and other support materials.
  • Enable training and performance support content to be developed and/or revised at the same pace as evolving operational and position-specific standards.

The position analysis process evaluates each duty and responsibility of the IPD for the following:

  • Frequency performed.
  • Difficulty/complexity of performance.
  • Consequence of error if performed below standard.
  • Prior knowledge/experience of performance element.

This information is used to establish a position-specific Performance Plan. The plan will recommend the type and amount of performance support needs such as job aids, training, and other capabilities necessary to develop and support individuals in each position.

The position analysis process will be initiated by the NWCG Training Development Program. The resulting Performance Plan will be finalized by position steward and/or parent committee.

Position qualification requirements are a component of NWCG standards. They enable consistent and uniform performance by personnel mobilized by position under NIMS-ICS principles. Position qualification requirements include training, experience, physical fitness, position currency and IPDs.

Position-specific standards are derived from the IPDs and are a component of NWCG standards. Position-specific standards specify the tasks and behaviors that make up the incident position’s duties and responsibilities.

The Training and Performance Support phase is to create the incident position performance support tools identified in the previous phases. These can be job aids, PTBs, training, and other tools to support individuals in each position.

NWCG training supports position performance for personnel mobilized by NWCG position under NIMS-ICS principles. Training and performance support capabilities enable consistent and uniform position performance in support of nationally interoperable wildland fire operations.

The Course Steward Training Revision Process allows courses to be updated prior to the scheduled position analysis. Stewards should contact their NWCG Coordinator if interested in pursuing this option.

Virtually all wildland fire operations in the United States are conducted according to NWCG standards adopted by the member agencies through their respective directives systems. Individual training, qualification, mobilization, equipment standardization, operational practices, business management – all are impacted by NWCG standards.

Post-operation evaluations, ranging from daily, crew-level after action reviews to comprehensive large-incident analyses, inform the evolution of NWCG standards and generate changes to the Incident Position Performance Cycle components.

Positions Highlights

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

Date: September 19, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee has updated the NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934. This update expands the provisions for hiring emergency personnel.

References:

NWCG Single Resource Casual Hire Information, PMS 934

IBC Memorandum 24-03

NWCG 2024 Spring/Summer Highlights

Date: September 13, 2024

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Forest Service Logo
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Bureau of Indian Affairs Logo
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Bureau of Land Management Logo
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National Park Service Logo
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Fish & Wildlife Service Logo
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State Foresters Logo
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U.S. Fire Administration
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Intertribal Timber Council Logo
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International Association of Fire Chiefs
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Department of Defense Logo

Welcome to our latest highlights from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, where we explore the latest updates, insights, and efforts that develop interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.
 

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NASA Logo

NASA JOINS NWCG!

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is officially an associate member of NWCG. As such, NASA is beginning to collaborate with wildland fire management agencies with the goal of increasing collaboration across agencies and leveraging NASA data, technology, and innovation for nation-wide efforts in wildland fire management. NASA has a rich history of research, development, and technology transfer in the areas of Earth science, space technologies, and aeronautics that support the NWCG mission.

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NWCG new website look.

WWW.NWCG.GOV HAS A NEW LOOK AND DESIGN

The NWCG web team dedicated the past two years to making a significant upgrade to the www.nwcg.gov site. This upgrade involved a comprehensive redesign of over 7,700 web pages.

The modernization of NWCG’s website involved migrating to Drupal 10, a cutting—edge content management system, and leveraging Amazon Web Service GovCloud for secure and efficient hosting. These upgrades help ensure that the NWCG website remains current in content management practices, offering enhanced customization, improved performance, and an overall superior user experience.

NWCG Leadership Committee

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WFLDP Professional Reading Program logo
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WFLDP PRP book covers

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program announced the Professional Reading Program’s 2024 list!

The years books include:

  • Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean
  • The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven
  • The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee
  • Emotional Agility by Susan David
  • Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall

Learn more at the NWCG Leadership Committee

INCIDENT PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING MODERNIZATION

In 2023, NWCG kicked off the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. A training system overhaul focused on developing a performance-based training system designed to shift training to on-the-job when appropriate.

Over the next five years, NWCG intends to analyze all positions within the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. To date we are currently working on 30 incident positions, and planning for 20+ in calendar year 2025.

Subject Matter Experts from a variety of geographical areas and agencies recently completed the position analysis for 16 positions. From this analysis, Incident Positions Standards and a Next Generation Position Task Book will be developed for each position.

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Incident Performance and Training Modernization

NEXT GENERATION POSITION TASK BOOK

In April 2024, NWCG launched the new Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB) which is a key component of the IPTM effort. This revised evaluation tool is designed to work in conjunction with the newly developed Incident Position Standards.

Major Next Gen PTB changes:

  • Structured to improve constructive conversations between evaluators and trainees.
  • Reference new Incident Position Standards.
  • Include only tasks required to be evaluated for successful performance.
  • Trainees will be rated on their performance vs. initialing whether a task was completed.
  • Must include written feedback when trainee does not meet the standard.
  • Will be position specific (no combined PTBs).
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Screen shot of the Next Gen Position Task Book
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Banner image of the Wildland Fire Learning Portal website

NWCG’s training course catalog is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

To access the training course catalog, visit WFLP and either set up an account or login as a guest.

 

 

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO)

Date: September 12, 2024
Contact: Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87 and NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO), PMS 311-87 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for ABRO includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Base Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 350-87

NWCG Position Task Book for Aircraft Base Radio Operator, PMS 311-87

NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee Recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month

Date: September 9, 2024
Contact: Mental Health Subcommittee 

The NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee (MHSC) is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health within our wildland fire community. This year’s Suicide Prevention Month theme, “Stronger Together,” underscores the importance of unity and support in every facet of our lives — at work, with family, and among friends.

As we recognize Suicide Prevention Month, including Suicide Prevention Week (September 8 – September 14, 2024) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2024), we encourage you to share resources and engage in meaningful conversations within your teams.

Remember: We are Stronger Together, and help is always available. Let’s continue to support one another and foster an environment where mental health is a priority.

References:

NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline