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Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

STEQ Qualification Requirements

Required Training

Required Experience

  • Satisfactory performance as a Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB)
    AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ) Position Task Book, PMS 311-10 (see note)

Note: The Task Force Leader (TFLD) and Strike Team Leader (STCR, STEQ, STEN) PTBs are combined. However, the positions are not combined. Strike Team Leader tasks are completed only once. The required experience for TFLD must be met before completing additional TFLD tasks.

Upon satisfactory performance in the prerequisite Single Resource Boss position, the specific Strike Team Leader PTB may be initiated. Once qualified as a Strike Team Leader, any additional Single Resource Boss qualifications will also qualify the individual in that corresponding Strike Team Leader position—without having to complete the Strike Team Leader PTB for the new position—once agency certification is documented on the PTB “verification/certification” page.

Physical Fitness Level: Moderate

Duties involve fieldwork requiring complete control of all physical faculties and may include considerable walking over irregular ground, standing for long periods of time, lifting 25 to 50 pounds, climbing, bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Occasional demands may be required for moderately strenuous activities in emergencies over long periods. Individuals usually set their own work pace.

These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ

  • Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS)
  • Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB)
  • Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO)
  • Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 1 (OSC1)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 2 (OSC2)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3)
  • Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1)
  • Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)
  • Strike Team Leader including (STCR, STEN)
  • Structure Protection Specialist (STPS)
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)

STEQ Maintains Currency For These Positions

  • Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS)
  • Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
  • Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2)
  • Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB)
  • Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
  • Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
  • Operations Section Chief Type 3, Wildland Fire (OPS3)
  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)​​​​​​​
  • Safety Officer Field (SOFF)
  • Strike Team Leader including (STCR, STEN)
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)

Other Training Which Supports Development Of Knowledge And Skills

 
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ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

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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)

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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 

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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