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NWCG Positions

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Position Catalog

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

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History by Year

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Prevention and Investigation

Alternative Pathways to NWCG Qualification

Planning

NWCG positions enable consistent and uniform performance by personnel mobilized by position under NIMS-ICS principles. The position catalog provides comprehensive information about each NWCG position, those for which NWCG establishes qualifications standards. Agency-specific positions such as those located in the Federal Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement are not included in this catalog.

Positions denoted with an asterisk (*) use the established FEMA National Qualifications System all-hazard position as the baseline for the NWCG wildland fire position.

Note: Filter all IPDs using the IPD Status column to quickly see which ones are under review.

Position Title Position Code Functional Area Steward Key Stakeholders IPD Status ID IDQR
Assistant Area Commander, Planning ACPC Planning IPS Approved 29580 32929
Demobilization Unit Leader* DMOB Planning IPS Approved 29530 32926
Display Processor DPRO Planning IPS Approved 29531 32920
Documentation Unit Leader* DOCL Planning IPS Approved 29533 32923
Field Observer FOBS Planning IPS Approved 29534 32917
Fire Behavior Analyst FBAN Planning FBSC Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29535 33018
Fire Effects Monitor FEMO Planning FMC Incident Planning Subcommittee, Smoke Committee Approved 29536 33024
Geographic Information System Specialist* GISS Planning GSC Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29537 32791
Human Resource Specialist HRSP Planning HRSPU Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29612 32914
Incident Training Specialist TNSP Planning IPS Approved 29635 32889
Infrared Interpreter IRIN Planning GSC Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29616 32794
Interagency Resource Representative IARR Planning NCSC Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29613 32911
Long Term Fire Analyst LTAN Planning FBSC Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29617 33021
Planning Section Chief Complex PSCC Planning IPS Approved 36927 36934
Planning Section Chief Type 1* PSC1 Planning IPS Approved 29581 32908
Planning Section Chief Type 2* PSC2 Planning IPS Approved 29630 32904
Planning Section Chief Type 3* PSC3 Planning IPS Approved 29631 32901
Resources Unit Leader* RESL Planning IPS Approved 29632 32898
Situation Unit Leader* SITL Planning IPS Approved 29634 32892
Status/Check-In Recorder SCKN Planning IPS Approved 29633 32895
Strategic Operational Planner SOPL Planning FMC Fire Environment Committee, Incident Planning Subcommittee Approved 29582 32867
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NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids 

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page 

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page