Skip to main content

Incident Position Performance Cycle

NWCG accomplishes its core mission – to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners – primarily through the establishment and support of nationally common standards for wildland fire operations. The Incident Position Performance Cycle outlines the key components and processes used to achieve this for NWCG positions.

Image
Incident position cycle graphic

NWCG Standards

  • Requirements, guidelines, procedures, processes, best practices, specifications, techniques, and methods

Position Analysis

  • Systematically identify training and performance support needs using the Performance Support Analysis Tool (PSAT)
  • Identify areas across multiple positions where knowledge, skills, and abilities overlap

Position Qualification Requirements

  • Training, experience, physical fitness, position currency, and incident position descriptions (duties and responsibilities)

Position-Specific Standards

  • Specify the tasks and behaviors that make up the incident position's duties and responsibilities

Training and Performance Support

  • Tools to support successful performance
  • Training courses, position task books (PTBs), job aids, etc.

The NWCG provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. The primary way this is accomplished is by establishing national interagency wildland fire position performance requirements, position-specific standards, and associated support materials.

NWCG standards establish common practices that enable efficient and coordinated national interagency wildland fire operations. These standards may be comprised of requirements, guidelines, procedures, processes, best practices, specifications, techniques, and methods. NWCG standards are interagency by design; however, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems. NWCG standards are developed by the NWCG committees and their subgroups and NWCG publications and web portals are the primary vehicles by which NWCG standards are transmitted.

NWCG standards are the key component of the Incident Position Performance Cycle. They inform the development of position-specific standards and associated performance support capabilities. And ultimately, they guide operations.

The position analysis process is intended to:

  • Systematically identify training and performance support needs for each incident position.
  • Identify areas across multiple positions where knowledge, skills, and abilities overlap.
  • Create position-specific plans that identify performance support needs such as job aids, amount and type of training, position task books (PTBs), and other support materials.
  • Enable training and performance support content to be developed and/or revised at the same pace as evolving operational and position-specific standards.

The position analysis process evaluates each duty and responsibility of the IPD for the following:

  • Frequency performed.
  • Difficulty/complexity of performance.
  • Consequence of error if performed below standard.
  • Prior knowledge/experience of performance element.

This information is used to establish a position-specific Performance Plan. The plan will recommend the type and amount of performance support needs such as job aids, training, and other capabilities necessary to develop and support individuals in each position.

The position analysis process will be initiated by the NWCG Training Development Program. The resulting Performance Plan will be finalized by position steward and/or parent committee.

Position qualification requirements are a component of NWCG standards. They enable consistent and uniform performance by personnel mobilized by position under NIMS-ICS principles. Position qualification requirements include training, experience, physical fitness, position currency and IPDs.

Position-specific standards are derived from the IPDs and are a component of NWCG standards. Position-specific standards specify the tasks and behaviors that make up the incident position’s duties and responsibilities.

The Training and Performance Support phase is to create the incident position performance support tools identified in the previous phases. These can be job aids, PTBs, training, and other tools to support individuals in each position.

NWCG training supports position performance for personnel mobilized by NWCG position under NIMS-ICS principles. Training and performance support capabilities enable consistent and uniform position performance in support of nationally interoperable wildland fire operations.

The Course Steward Training Revision Process allows courses to be updated prior to the scheduled position analysis. Stewards should contact their NWCG Coordinator if interested in pursuing this option.

Virtually all wildland fire operations in the United States are conducted according to NWCG standards adopted by the member agencies through their respective directives systems. Individual training, qualification, mobilization, equipment standardization, operational practices, business management – all are impacted by NWCG standards.

Post-operation evaluations, ranging from daily, crew-level after action reviews to comprehensive large-incident analyses, inform the evolution of NWCG standards and generate changes to the Incident Position Performance Cycle components.

Positions Highlights

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431

Date: May 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Fire Use Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431 serves as a supplemental resource for wildland fire module operations, providing information frequently used in the field.

PMS 431 defines the organizational structure, staffing, and qualifications for Type 1 and Type 2 Wildland Fire Modules, outlining their roles in wildland fire suppression, prescribed fire, and resource management. The NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431, should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430.

References:

NWCG Guide for Wildland Fire Modules, PMS 431

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 Now Includes Off-Highway Vehicle Typing Standards

Date: May 13, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee 

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 has been updated to include newly developed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) typing standards. These standards organize OHV information into logical categories and outline key safety requirements for occupants.

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200 establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment used in national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Typing designations are assigned based on measurable capability and performance criteria.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing, PMS 200

NEW! S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers Now Available

Date: May 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Risk Management Committee

The S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers self-directed online course is now available! Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) incident qualifications.

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers focuses on facilitating hazard mitigation conversations and building trust to influence safety-related decisions. Individuals can self-enroll through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

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:

S-204, Interpersonal and Critical Thinking Skills for Safety Officers 

NWCG Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Great Basin Cache Upgrading to New Inventory System

Date: May 7, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Great Basin Cache
Phone: (208) 387-5104
Fax: (208) 387-5573

The Great Basin Cache (GBK) is transitioning to a new inventory system to better serve the wildland fire community. During this upgrade, GBK will be unable to process standard orders from Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment and Part 2: Publications between May 8-20, 2025, with exceptions made for emergency fire orders. Orders will be accepted through close of business May 7.

To browse the latest available items, please refer to the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) catalogs. 

References:

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 1: Fire Supplies and Equipment, PMS 449-1

NWCG NFES Catalog-Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2