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Situation Unit Leader*

NWCG Committee Realignment Website Updates: Content will continue to be updated over the coming days as we work through final reviews and adjustments, and all publications and products are currently under revision.

SITL decorative banner: photos depicting SITL position. SITL Position Description: The Situation Unit Leader (SITL) is responsible for collecting and organizing incident status and information and evaluating, analyzing, and displaying that information for use by ICS personnel and agency Dispatchers.

The Situation Unit Leader (SITL) is responsible for overseeing map production, and for fire behavior, fire weather, and incident status inputs on wildland fire incidents. The SITL supervises any configuration of Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Analyst (LTAN), Field Observer (FOBS), Infrared Interpreter (IRIN), and Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS). The SITL reports to a Planning Section Chief (PSC) and works in the Planning functional area.

USWDS Paragraphs

Planning Section Chief (PSC3) Resources Unit Leader (RESL) Status/Check-in Recorder (SCKN) Situation Unit Leader (SITL) Field Observer (FOBS) Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO) Infrared Interpreter (IRIN) Display Processor (DPRO) Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) Strategic Operational Planner (SOPL) Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN) Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS) Document Unit Leader (DOCL) Demobilization Leader (DMOB) Interagency Resource Representative (IARR) Human Resource Specialist (HRSP) Incident Training Specialist (TNSP) Planning Section Chief (PSCC)

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 2026

Added:

Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills

  • S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams

Removed:

  • Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) and Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2) removed from “These Positions Maintain Currency for SITL”
  • PSC2 removed from “SITL Maintains Currency for These Positions” 
Date: Jan 2023

Added: 

  • Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) to  "SITL Maintains Currency For These Positions."
Date: Jun 2021

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Date: Oct 2019

Added: to Qualification Requirements:  Note: Once qualified as a SITL, the PSC3 qualification may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented on a “verification/certification” page of the PSC3 Position Task Book (311-55).

Date: Oct 2015

Updated: Prerequisite experience modified as follows:
Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (311-24) as a Situation Unit Leader (SITL).

Date: May 2008

Updated: The prerequisite Required Experience for Situation Unit Leader (SITL) is Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4).

Date: Oct 1984

Position created.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Fire Planning Management Committee
Steward: Fire Planning Management Committee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Date:  July 9, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Staff

NWCG is excited to announce the publication of the NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900.

The new publication establishes general, consistent, and uniform standards for conducting business with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Quarter Four Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  July 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Fourth Quarter materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Four materials focus on Leadership Level 4: Leader of Leaders (Provide Direction). Leadership Level 4 is where you are setting the conditions for others to do things well, even when you are not present. This quarter focuses on equipping experienced leaders with skills to provide direction, build trust across teams, and foster strong decision making. 

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Development Subcommittee

2026 Week of Remembrance

Date:  June 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2026 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on past incidents from 2016 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2026 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch