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October 21

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Item Topic Presenter Action Taken 1 Welcome and Agenda Review Paul Schlobohm N/A 2 Request: Approval of draft Shared Funding MOU Sean Cross Board members were briefed on the purpose of the proposed MOU which includes both the PMU and the NWCG Training staff. MOU proposes one split for ALL NWCG staff based on the amounts each agency is currently paying. The funding split for projects will not change and remain separate since project funding fluctuates annually. Approved. Sean will work with FS to finalize the MOU. Once approved it will be effective immediately. 3 Status Report: Executive Board Off-Site Meetings Paul Schlobohm Since meetings are now agenda driven, it is proposed that meeting locations be decided on a case-by-case basis. If there is a need/desire to travel for a specific purpose, it will be proposed and discussed amongst the board. Attention will need to be paid to timing if there is intent to travel, additional time will be needed to arrange logistics and prepare an agenda. Approved. All NWCG Committees should be following this protocol; website guidance will be adjusted accordingly. 4 Status Report: IMT Succession Next Steps Dan Smith The IMT Succession Planning Oversight Group released actions for the National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC), National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) and the Fire Management Board (FMB) on 9 October 2015. Board reviewed continuing progress on the next steps for NWCG. OTC is continually engaged and the Training Assessment is underway. NMAC/CGAC is working on refining their tasking items to assign leads and deadlines. NWCG will do the same. Agenda Item for November meeting. 5 Status Report: S-520 Survey Request from FS All Tom Harbour has requested a review of S-520; NWCG needs to engage and be in the loop since OTC has stewardship of this course. OTC is working on documenting the process and expectations of maintaining courses under OTC stewardship which should help clear up NWCG’s role. Set up a conference call to further discuss NWCGs level of engagement with the S-520 review. (Sean Cross – lead, Dan Smith, Frank Guzman, OTC rep, Deb Fleming, Curtis Heaton, Mike Ellsworth) 6 Status Report: Lightning Round Branch Coordinators New Chair Recommendations: Fuels Management Committee – Kim VanHemelryck (NPS) Wildland Urban Interface Committee – Jon Skinner (BLM) Incident Business Committee – Jamie Parker (FS) Approved. 7 Request: Position Management Sean Cross The NWCG plans to consolidate the writer editor/editorial assistant positions currently located in the Program Management Unit (PMU) and the Training Development Program (TDP). The NWCG manager requested that the vacant TDP FS GS-7 editorial assistant position be converted to and filled by the encumbered BLM GS-9 writer editor position that was recently filled in the PMU. This would enable the program to permanently fill the vacant publications manager, which has been filled by a contractor for the past year.

Date
Participants

<p>
NWCG Participants Executive Board: Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Bob Roberts (BIA), Dan Smith, Chair (NASF), Jeff Arnberger for John Glenn (BLM), Kevin Conn for Chris Wilcox (FWS), Kim Christensen &amp; Curtis Heaton for Frank Guzman (USFS), Mark Koontz (NPS), Will May called in (IAFC), Tim Sexton (RD&amp;A) Not present: Jim Erickson (ITC), Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison) NWCG Staff: Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager), Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager) Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison) Not present: Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary)</p>

Other Participants

<p>
Other Participants Grant Beebe and Lori Streeter (representing BAU)</p>

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 NEW Aquatic Invasive Species – Golden Mussels

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-004, notifying the wildland fire community about a newly discovered invasive species and actions to take if found. Golden mussels, a highly invasive species recently identified in California, pose a significant risk to native ecosystems, infrastructure, and fire equipment. These mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos and location details.

Read the complete ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-004

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for ICT5 and FFT1

Date: July 29, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Command Subcommittee
Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) and Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization 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, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Incident Commander Type 5 Position Page

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page