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Demobilization Unit Leader

Position Description

Duties

  • Develops the Demobilization Plan.
  • Implements, supervises, monitors and coordinates the demobilization process.
  • Facilitates emergency demobilization when necessitated by emergency situation.
  • Ensures agency policies regarding demobilization are followed.
  • Responsible for all safety related issues related to demobilization policies.
  • Ensures that the demobilization of suppression resources is completed in an economically conservative fashion. Involves matching of resources to home units. Involves knowledge of large air transport capabilities, location of appropriate jet ports and flight logistics.
  • Gathers and reviews resource records and information to determine the like size and extent of the demobilization efforts.
  • Obtains objectives, priorities, schedules, ongoing resources needs, and constraints for the demobilization plan, this information is gathered from the Section Chiefs, Unit leaders of each section and agency representatives of incident agency and dispatch.
  • Develops list of identified surplus resources and probable release times, travel methods, and maintains contact with agency dispatch on release schedule.
  • Develops incident check-out function for all units, evaluates logistics and transportation capabilities to support demobilization. Processes emergency release requests.
  • Prepare appropriate directories (e.g. maps, instructions, etc.) for inclusion in the demobilization plan. Ensures the ICS Form 221 is prepared for each resource prior to major demobilization.
  • Obtains review and approval of the demobilization plan, provides copies to section chiefs, agency dispatch and IC, who provides final approval upon review. Ensures all Sections/Units understand their specific demobilization responsibilities.
  • Distributes demobilization plan on and off-site to: command and general staff, appropriate unit leaders, agency representatives, check-out locations, incident agency dispatch and others who assist in the implementation plan, and posts plan in prominent locations.
  • Implements, supervises and monitors demobilization process. This involves maintaining contact with all who are responsible for implementing the demobilization plan, ensures released resources meet standards established in the demobilization plan, i.e., rest and feeding requirements, adjusts priorities and work assignments to meet schedules and management objectives, requests verification of transportation to home base, reassignment availability and other qualifications and coordinates surplus personnel and resource assignment needs with Resource Unit Leader.
  • Maintains close coordination with agency dispatch during plan implementation. This involves establishing notification procedures and time frames, verify transportation arrangements, and update/change release schedule.
  • Demobilizes resources and finalizes incident demobilization by coordinating with the agency demobilization organization to ensure all excess resources are demobilized and all issues are resolved, and advises the Planning Section Chief.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Knowledge of supervisory principles and incident practices to effectively and efficiently supervise and coordinate with other incident team sections.
  • Interpersonal skills to communicate, verbally and in writing with members of the Planning Section and other Incident Section Chiefs.
  • S-347, Demobilization Unit Leader
  • Satisfactory performance as a Resource Unit Leader and position performance as a demobilization Unit leader on a wildland fire assignment.
  • To maintain currency incumbent must have either the Resource Unit Leader or Support Dispatcher fire assignments.
Listed in 310-1
Yes

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Task Group Volunteers Needed to Update the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289

Date: February 5, 2025
Contact: Julie Bennett, Incident Business Committee Chair

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) is requesting volunteers for a new task group to revise the 1981 version of the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289 and create an incident replacement job aid. The volunteers may be recruited from within or outside the Geographic Area Incident Business Committees.

References:

IBC Memorandum 25-02

IBC Correspondence

2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: February 4, 2025
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The NWCG Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. 

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) are also included.  

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

NWCG Memo: 2025-01 January 2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01