S-420, Command & General Staff (ILT)

Space and Classroom Requirements
The characteristics of the classroom and supportive facilities have a significant impact on the learning environment. The classroom should be chosen and viewed well in advance of the presentation.

A classroom that can accommodate all 24 students (in three groups), coaches, and cadre is required for the course instruction portions.

The simulation requires space for each team to operate separate from the other teams. Ideally, each team will have a separate breakout room. Two additional breakout rooms are required for the full day simulation.

Initial Cadre Call: Each student is required to submit a biography and complete the initial portion of the Student Self-Assessment and Feedback Rubric as part of the pre-course work. The information from these documents can be used when forming student teams, to ensure that the teams are well rounded and diverse. The coaches assigned to each team should become familiar with the student biographies and self-evaluations prior to the course.

A cadre meeting before each day’s course presentation is recommended because of the interrelationship of the unit material (changing instructional materials in one unit may impact a later unit or the simulation).

Simulation
The course material includes a multi-phase simulation that allows students an opportunity to exercise the materials and concepts taught in the instructional units. The simulation material, including documents, materials checklists, and organization aids, is available for the cadre to download from the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP).

The Course Coordinator and cadre can elect to create and use an alternate simulation or scenario. This may be done to reflect local fuel types, resources, and conditions where the student will likely fill incident assignments, or delivery constraints of a particular session. If this is done, the cadre should take care to ensure that the simulation objectives and intent remain intact.

These materials are needed above and beyond the usual items (pens, paper, flip charts, markers, etc.).
For Each Small Group:

50 - 4x6 index cards.
For Simulation:

See Simulation Materials Checklist and Simulation Coordinator’s Guide in the WFLP.
Optional:

Delegation of Authority, Incident Briefing (ICS 201), and Incident Action Plan from a real incident

Selection letters should be sent to students to describe the pre-course work and provide class times, dates, and location. Refer to the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1, for more information on selection letters.

The Sample Selection Letter may be augmented with the following information: