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Planning Section Chief Complex

PSCC decorative banner: photos depicting PSCC position. PSCC Position Description: The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident.

The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident. The PSCC supervises members of the Planning Section. The PSCC is part of the Command and General Staff (C&G) and reports to the Incident Commander (IC). The PSCC works in the Planning functional area.

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The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to States under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2025

Removed: X-520, NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form

Date: Jan 2024

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added:

  • To PSCC Qualification Requirements: ***S-420, Command and General Staff or L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff or O-305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team, and I-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, must be completed before initiating the NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex, Position Task Book, PMS 311-123.

Updated: 

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management OR Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) OR Complex Incident Management Field Evaluation (PDF) OR a completed X-520,NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form (PDF).
Date: Jan 2023

Added:

To Required Training:

To Required Experience:

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Situation Unit Leader (SITL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Complex Incident Safety Officer (SOFC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

Note: Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Planning Section Chief Course (S-440) prior to position qualification.

To These Positions Maintain Currency for PSCC:

  • Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • Situation Unit Leader (SITL)

To PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions:

  • Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB)
  • Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)

To Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills:

Date: May 2022

Added: Area Commander (ACDR), Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), and Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For PSCC ".

Added: Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1), Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), Resources Unit Leader (RESL), Situation Unit Leader (SITL), and Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN) to "PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Position created.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions

Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog

Updated, NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412

Date: April 8, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

PMS 412 provides guidance for wildland fire investigations. This guide outlines recommended procedures, practices, techniques, and methods to promote a systematic approach. The last update to this publication was in 2016.

References:

NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination PMS 412

Updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508

Date: March 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Airtanker Base Operations Unit

The updated NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508