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Air Tactical Group Supervisor*

ATGS decorative banner: photos depicting ATGS position. ATGS Position Description: The Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) reports to the Air Operations Branch Director on Type 1 and Type 2 incidents and to the Incident Commander or Operations on initial attack or Type 3 incidents. The ATGS is responsible for managing the incident airspace and coordinating the fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft operations over an incident. (See NWCG Interagency Aerial Supervision Guide, PMS 505. Note: Aerial Supervision Modules (ASM) can function as an ATGS.)

The Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) coordinates incident airspace, manages incident air traffic, and is the link between ground personnel and incident aircraft. The ATGS is an airborne firefighter who coordinates, assigns, and evaluates the use of aerial resources in support of incident objectives. The ATGS supervises the Leadplane Pilot (LPIL), Aerial Supervision Module (ASM), and Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) positions when activated. The ATGS reports to an Incident Commander (IC) on initial attack and the Operations Section Chief (OSC), Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD), or operational designee on extended attack and complex incidents (Type 1, 2, or 3). The ATGS works in the Air Operations functional area.

USWDS Paragraphs

Operations Section Chief (OPS3) Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Structure Protection Specialist (STPS) Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS) Task Force Leader (TFLD) Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) Heavy Equipment Boss, Single Resource (HEQB) Engine Boss, Single Resource (ENGB) Felling Boss, Single Resource (FELB) Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) Helicopter Manager, Single Resource (HMGB) Operations Section Chief (OSC2) Staging Area Manager (STAM) Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS) Helibase Manager (HEBM) Deck Coordinator (DECK) Aircraft Base Radio Operator (ABRO) Helicopter Crew Member (HECM) Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR) Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ) Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN) Operations Section Chief (OSC1) Advanced Faller (FAL1) Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Basic Faller (FAL3) Fixed Wing Base Manager (FWBM) Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM) Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT) Mixmaster (MXMS) Retardant Crew Member (RTCM) Single Engine Air Tanker Manager (SEMG) Aircraft Time Keeper (ATIM) Ramp Manager (RAMP) Operations Section Chief (OSCC) Crew Representative (CREP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 2023

Added: Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) to "ATGS Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Date: Jun 2022

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Oct 2018

Updated: Modified Agency Approved Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training to Required Training.

Date: Oct 2013

Added: Agency Approved (CRM) Training and Triennial Air Tactical Group Supervisor refresher training (RT-378).

Date: Oct 1984

Position created.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: National Interagency Aviation Committee
Steward: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee


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The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) recognizes July 2, 2025, as National Wildland Firefighter Day (NWFFD). Established in 2022, NWFFD honors the dedication of wildland firefighters and support personnel. This day falls within the 2025 Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), providing an opportunity to renew our commitment to wildland firefighter safety while remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty.

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NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
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The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

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