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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

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Date: November 14, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention. Misaligned toolless fuel caps on Stihl chainsaws have led to recurring fuel spillage, fuel ignition, and burn injuries during wildland fire management operations.

This Safety Warning is intended to highlight the details and recommended procedures for the installation of a Stihl chainsaw toolless fuel cap, as well as how to identify and correct a misaligned, damaged, or broken fuel cap to help prevent fuel spillage.

References:

NWCG Safety Warning: 24-001 Stihl Chainsaw Toolless Fuel Cap Spill Prevention

Advertencia de equipos 24-001: Prevención de derrames de la tapa de combustible sin herramientas de la motosierra Stihl

NWCG Alerts

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51 and NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for EQTR, 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 Equipment Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Equipment Time Recorder, PMS 350-51

NWCG Position Task Book for Equipment Time Recorder (EQTR), PMS 311-51

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC)

Date: November 13, 2024
Contact: Incident Business Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53 and NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for PTRC, 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 Personnel Time Recorder Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Personnel Time Recorder, PMS 350-53

NWCG Position Task Book for Personnel Time Recorder (PTRC), PMS 311-53

NWCG Risk Management Committee Releases Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

Date: November 7, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has released Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires. As wildland fire respirators are available through several established vendors, wildland fire personnel need to understand regulations and limitations of respirator use in the workplace.

Safety Bulletin 24-001 outlines the following topics regarding respirator use for wildland fires:

  • Requirements for Respirator Use
  • Voluntary Respirator Use
  • Current Respirator Options
  • Unknown Risks of Respirator Use

This bulletin also provides mitigation recommendations to help reduce smoke exposure for wildland firefighting efforts.

References:

NWCG Safety Bulletin: 24-001 Use of Respirators on Wildland Fires

NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed Fire, PMS 420-3

VIDEO: Protecting Wildfire Personnel from Smoke - How Incident Management Teams Address Smokes Risks

VIDEO: Smoke, Knowing the Risks