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NWCG Project Priorities - Option 2

NWCG Project Definition, Prioritization Criteria, Roles & Responsibilities

The project list provides a transparent snapshot of the NWCG program of work; past, current, and future. The project list is not intended to be all encompassing for daily staff work assignments and should be not assumed that projects will not move up or down in priority. The NWCG staff spreads daily work assignments across multiple priorities as the entire program of work moves forward.

What is a project?

  • Has multiple steps (tasks) and/or people involved.
  • Not day-to-day job-related work or ongoing maintenance, occurs outside daily work.
  • Has an end date, or requires significant work on a cyclical basis.
  • Requires more than a couple of days to complete.
  • Considered a significant revision or is a new publication or training course.
  • May include agency specific request that comes to NWCG due to staff skillset.

Prioritization Criteria

  • Time Sensitive: H/3 – Immediate need; timing is critical, M/2 – Some urgency, but not critical, L/1 – No urgency
  • Committee priority: H/3 – Steward has established this as a high priority, M/2 – Steward has established this as a medium priority, L/1 – Steward has established this as a low priority
  • Level of effort remaining: H/1 – Considerable level of work involved to finish project, M/2 – Moderate level of work involved to finish project, L/3 – Minimal level of work involved to finish project
  • Size of audience: H/3 – 5001-10000, M/2 – 1001-5000, L/1 – 1-1000
  • Standards tied to a position? (Y/N) – Is this project tied to existing standards and/or is an existing standard
  • Required training? (Y/N) – only applies to training courses; required the PMS 310-1
  • Existing projects that need to be finished? (Y/N) – May not be the highest priority based on new criteria, but needs to get finished
  • Current material significantly outdated or nonexistent? (Y/N) – essentially providing no or outdated information related to the training or standard.
  • Political sensitivity? Y/N – Deemed politically sensitive by NWCG Exec Board or multiple agencies

Roles & Responsibilities

  • NWCG Primary Staff (Program Mgr, Coordinators, Training Program Mgr, Publications Mgr, Web Mgr)
    • Convene monthly to update and reassess project priorities (additions, deletions, priority reassessment) (w/ IPSC & Training Delivery Committee assigned reps)
    • Present to Executive Board monthly for concurrence and maintain current priority list on website
  • NWCG Committees
    • Submit new project requests to NWCG (figure out what a project request looks like)
    • Provide input on priorities for the projects under their stewardship
  • Course Delivery Committee
    • Collaborate with NWCG Training Program Manager on course revision priorities
  • IPSC
    • Assist in setting priorities based on agency needs
  • Exec Board
    • Review priorities monthly and provide input/readjustment as necessary

Current Priorities List

[view:nwcg_project_priorities=project_priorities_block]

 

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

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:

  • Hunter Bell, U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
  • Shannon Deane, U.S. Wildland Fire Service— Initiative and Innovation
  • Chris Delaney, U.S. Wildland Fire Service — Motivation and Vision
  • Sean Peterson, U.S. Forest Service — Mentoring and Teamwork

References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Development Subcommittee

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

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.

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 (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

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

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

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

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date:  July 24, 2026
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:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

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:

  • Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

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

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

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.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

  • Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints. 
  • Consider installing a driveline loop. 
  • Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21