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November 18

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Title: NWCG logo - Description: NWCG logo of three chain links superimposed over a red flame.NWCG Executive Board

Meeting Minutes – 18 November 2015

 

Participants

Participants name followed by agency

 

 

NWCG
Participants

 

Executive Board:  Dalan Romero for Bob Roberts (BIA), Dan Smith, Chair (NASF), Chuck Wamack for John Glenn, Vice-Chair (BLM), Russ Babiak for Chris Wilcox (FWS), Mark Koontz (NPS), Russ Johnson for Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison), Will May (IAFC).  Not present:  Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Frank Guzman (USFS), Jim Erickson (ITC), Tim Sexton (RD&A).

 

NWCG Staff:  Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager), Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator), Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager) Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Mark Cantrell (Instructional Systems Specialist)

 

 

Other
Participants

 

 

Meeting handouts are available upon request via email at blm_fa_nwcg_executive_secretary@blm.gov

 

Item

Topic

Presenter

Action Taken

1

FMB/NWCG Coordination Update

Bill Kaage

Sean Cross

Reviewed and validated the working relationship between NWCG and FMB Executive Board(s) and Committees. 

2

Welcome, Agenda Review and Active Tasking Review

Paul Schlobohm

N/A

3

Request:  Training Assessment Action Plan and S-520 Objectives/Steering Committee

Mark Cantrell

Sean Cross

Board members given an update on the progress toward accomplishing elements of the action plan wherein a transition from a course to position perspective occurs.  These elements will include: 1) Position Analysis; 2) Training Needs Assessment; 3) Development of a Training Package; 4) Post-Qualification Continuing Education; and 5) Continual Training & Qualification System Improvement.

 

Eight NWCG courses, including S-520, are currently managed by NAFRI-based course development subcommittees. Board supports establishing these as NWCG subgroups under the NWCG organizational structure. NWCG and NAFRI leadership will work together to make this happen.

4

Status Report:  Wildland Fire Safety Training update

 

Deb Fleming

Board received an update on position hiring and plans for upgrading core components.

5

Request:  Endorsements Tasking Deliverable

Tim Blake

Accepted deliverable and closed TM 14-04.

6

Status Report:  NWCG Action Items on IMT Succession Planning

Paul Schlobohm

Board members reviewed IMT Succession Table.  Changes to each item include: 1) 15-07:  Change timing of ISOG Red Book update to 2017; 2) 15-10: Update to reflect work still being accomplished; 3) 15-11:  No change; and 4) 15-12: Dan Smith to bring back to OG for clarification and or reassignment.

7

Request:  Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee (IEMS) Awards

Tim Blake

Approved.

8

Status Report:  Annual Meeting Update

Paul Schlobohm

Board reviewed a rough draft of the Annual Meeting agenda with a final draft to be vetted via email 15 December 2015.

9

Status Report:  End of Year 2015 Budget Summary

Elaine Waterbury

N/A

 

10

Status Report:  Lightning Round

All

Roshelle Pederson renewed as Chair, Data Management Committee (DMC).

 

Jamie Parker replaced Ron Shilz as Chair, Incident Business Committee (IBC).

 

Board approved the word document files of the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) to be sent to Germany for translation.

 

Date
Participants

<p>
<strong>Executive Board:&nbsp; </strong>Dalan Romero for Bob Roberts (BIA), Dan Smith, Chair (NASF), Chuck Wamack for John Glenn, Vice-Chair (BLM), Russ Babiak for Chris Wilcox (FWS), Mark Koontz (NPS), Russ Johnson for Rod Bloms (DOI OWF Liaison), Will May (IAFC).&nbsp; Not present:&nbsp; Aitor Bidaburu (USFA), Frank Guzman (USFS), Jim Erickson (ITC), Tim Sexton (RD&amp;A).</p>

<p>
&nbsp;</p>

<p>
<strong>NWCG Staff:&nbsp; </strong>Deb Fleming (Training Development Program Manager), Elaine Waterbury (Planning Branch Coordinator), Krysta Shultz (Executive Secretary), Sean Cross (NWCG Program Manager) Tim Blake (Operations Branch Coordinator), Paul Schlobohm (NWCG FMB Liaison), Mark Cantrell (Instructional Systems Specialist)</p>

Other Participants

NULL

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EB Item

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Date:  August 13, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Development Subcommittee

The NWCG Qualifications Management Committee (QMC) and Leadership Development Subcommittee (LDSC) are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision.

Congratulations to the awardees:

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Date:  July 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

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Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more. 

References:

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Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

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Questions? 
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

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If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

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NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

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Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
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The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

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