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Incident and Position Standards Committee

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Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Incident and Position Standards Committee (IPSC) provides national leadership in the development of wildland fire incident management standards and incident position standards that all NWCG agencies utilize for national mobilization while maintaining a long term strategic perspective.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Provide oversight and direction to ensure the consistent development, implementation and maintenance of incident management standards. These standards may include guidelines, procedures, processes, best practices, specifications, techniques, and methods.
  • Provide oversight and direction to ensure the consistent development, implementation and maintenance of incident position standards. These standards include incident position descriptions (duties and responsibilities) and position qualification requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.
  • Coordinate with NIMSIC on wildland fire endorsements to NIMS NQS positions.
  • Establish, implement, maintain and communicate business processes and criteria to assist NWCG committees and subgroups in performing this work.
  • Collaborate with the NWCG committees, NWCG staff and other stakeholders to prioritize development and maintenance of incident management standards, incident position standards, publications, training materials, and other position performance support content.
  • Ensure position standards and requirements are consistent with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
  • Coordinate implementation of incident position standards with the Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) and Incident Qualifications System (IQS) system managers.
  • Identify and address strategic opportunities for incident management and incident positions standards improvement, sustainability and efficiency.
  • Contribute to the standardization of information technology systems (such as FireNet, IROC, etc.) to collect and distribute data, processes, forms, and other operational elements.

A Request for Change (RFC) provides an avenue for NWCG committees or subgroups and the field to submit recommended changes to incident position qualification standards, including the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, Position Task Books, and Training Catalog updates. The Incident and Position Standards Committee (IPSC) will review, discuss, vet amongst agencies, and make a support/no support decision on the RFC. This is a transparent process intended to engage all related NWCG members in reaching a consensus decision.

An RFC is not the mechanism for providing feedback on other publications, including the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461. Instead, utilize the Publication Review Form.

Submitting a Request for Change

  • A request can be submitted from the field or an NWCG committee. Requests from NWCG subgroups must be submitted through their parent committee.
  • All requests will be issued an IPSC RFC tracking number.
  • The requestor will receive an email identifying receipt of the RFC, and an IPSC representative will contact them within 30 days.
  • An IPSC representative will be assigned to each RFC.
    • If the request is from the field, it will be assigned to the corresponding agency representative on IPSC to ensure the agency supports the request before proceeding. If not supported, the RFC will not move forward, and the requestor will be notified by the agency representative.
    • The role of the IPSC representative is to work with the requestor to produce all of the required elements for an RFC package.

RFC Package Requirements

  • An RFC Package will contain the following elements:
    • Description of the issue, proposal, proposed solution, and rationale.
    • Description of the interagency nature of the request.
    • If the RFC is intended for the PMS 310-1, ensure the RFC package contains all the required documents listed in the PMS 310-1 Review and Change Process For Position Standards.

The Review Process

  • The RFC package will be presented to IPSC to evaluate for a formal acceptance of the RFC. This is not a decision to accept/approve the RFC but an agreement to review, evaluate, and make a final decision on the request.
  • If accepted, IPSC will coordinate with relevant NWCG committees, subgroups, NWCG Training Program, and/or others to review the request. If not accepted, the requestor will be notified.
  • The assigned IPSC representative will facilitate any communication during the review process.

Final Decision

  • The IPSC representative is responsible for consolidating recommendations and/or alternatives into a final decision document for IPSC members to use in discussions with their agencies.
  • After IPSC representatives gather agency support/not support, a final decision will be made by IPSC.
  • The IPSC chair will send a decision memo to the requestor and copy all IPSC members.

IPSC Request for Change (RFC) Form

Training and Qualifications

Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS)

Incident Qualification System (IQS)

FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI)

National Wildland Fire Training

NWCG Position Task Books (PTBs)

Agency Specific Position Task Books (PTBs)

Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

FEMA National Preparedness Information

Changes to Safety Zone Calculation

Chair: Froelich, Michael

NWCG Coordinator: Lamb, Erica

Parent Committee:

Meeting Schedule:

Monthly on the second Wednesday

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025/2026 Leadership Campaign Quarter 2 Now Available!

Date: February 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

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

This quarter focuses on Leadership Level 2: New Leader (Conveying Intent). Conveying intent is a crucial leadership competency in the high-risk, dynamic environment of wildland firefighting. Months 4 - 6 will concentrate on how successfully conveying intent enhances situational awareness, promotes shared understanding, and empowers firefighters to exercise initiative and adapt to changing conditions.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Opportunity to Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date: February 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. The intent of IPTM is to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model through updated position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and updates to training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the following positions:

  • Aircraft Timekeeper (ATIM)
  • Compensation/Claims Unit Leader (COMP)
  • Cost Unit Leader (COST)
  • Crew Representative (CREP)
  • Deck Coordinator (DECK)
  • Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)
  • Field Observer (FOBS)
  • Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS)
  • Ordering Manager (ORDM)
  • Receiving/Distribution Manager (RCDM)
  • Staging Area Manager (STAM)

Projects begin April/May 2026 and require 15–20 hours per month for 6–8 months, including a five-day workshop in Boise, Idaho this May. Apply by February 27, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

NEW! M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) Course Available Now

Date: January 29, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Resource Advisor Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) course is now available. This training supports individuals working towards Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) incident qualifications.

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led) training prepares students to serve as a Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF) as defined in NWCG Incident Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112. This course presents scenarios that reflect the diverse challenges a REAF may encounter during an incident. Through these scenarios, participants gain hands-on experience and an understanding of REAF responsibilities in a controlled learning environment.

References:

Resource Advisor, Fireline Position Page

NWCG Position Standards for Resource Advisor, Fireline, PMS 350-112

M-280, Resource Advisor, Fireline (Instructor-Led)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: January 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) and Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) are also included.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

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

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

IPSC Memo 26-01: January 2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1