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NWCG Positions

Positions Highlights

Position Catalog

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

History by Position

History by Year

Committee Assignments

Air Operations

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Finance/Administration

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Planning

Prescribed Fire

Prevention and Investigation

Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification

Position History By Year

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, establishes minimum NWCG position qualification standards for training, experience, physical fitness, and currency for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. And position qualification standards are located in the NWCG Position Catalog. Each NWCG Position includes a record of all qualifications changes. A historical record of all changes is found here, organized by position. It includes positions which have been removed from the NWCG Position Catalog. An historical record of all changes is found here, organized by update year. A consolidated Position History is also available.



Year: 2025
Position Position Code Change Functional Area
Receiving/Distribution Manager RCDM

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Deleted from "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM":

  • Service Branch Director (SVBD)
  • Support Branch Director (SUBD)

Added: Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills." 

Added: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) to Required Training.
Added: Transition Plan:

  • All qualified individuals will remain qualified. Individuals will be granted ICS-200 in responder’s records.
  • All trainee RCDM will be required to complete ICS-200 prior to position qualification.

Position created.

 Logistics
Documentation Unit Leader* DOCL

Added:

  • NWCG Incident Position Standards for Documentation Unit Leader, PMS 350-25
  • NWCG Position Task Book for Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), PMS 311-25

Added: Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency for DOCL."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Position created.

 Planning
Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher EDSP

Added: NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher, PMS 350-57

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (6 hrs).

Position created.

 Dispatch
Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment STEQ

Removed: from "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Removed: from "STEQ Maintain Currency For These Positions "":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Added: to "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Added: to "STEQ Maintain Currency For These Positions ":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added to "STEQ Maintains Currency For These Positions":

  • Safety Officer Field (SOFF)

Added: Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: Tactical Decision Making in the Wildland Fire (S-336) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills."

Position created.

Combined STDZ and STPL positions into a Strike Team Heavy Equipment (STEQ) position.

 Operations
Position Position Code Change Functional Area
Operations
Planning
Prescribed Fire
Prevention and Investigation
Position Catalog
Logistics
Finance Administration
Dispatch
Command
Air Operations
Incident Position Management
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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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National Park 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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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 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