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Public Information Officer Complex

PIOC decorative banner: photos depicting PIOC position. PIOC position description: The Public Information Officer (PIOC), a member of the Command Staff, is responsible for the formulation and release of information about the incident to the news media, local communities, incident personnel, other appropriate agencies and organizations, and for the management of all Public Information Officers assigned to the incident.

The Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) participates in the collection and dissemination of incident information and may be the first public point of contact. They may be assigned to information center operations, community engagement, media relations, or other branches. The PIOC may function as a member of the Command and General Staff (C&G) and supervise the public information function of an Incident Management Team (IMT), or the PIOC may support a branch of an IMT as a single resource. The PIOC may report to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Agency Administrator (AA), or Incident Commander (IC). The PIOC works in the Command functional area.

USWDS Paragraphs

Incident Commander (ICT5) Safety Officer (SOFC) Safety Officer (SOF3) Liaison Officer (LOFR) Incident Commander (ICT4) Incident Commander (ICT3) Public Information Officer (PIO3) Agency Representative (AREP) Public Information Officer, Technician (PIOT) Incident Commander (ICCI) Public Information Officer (PIOC) Safety Officer (SOFF) Resource Advisor, Fireline (REAF)

 

The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to states under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2026

Removed: 

Required Experience

  • Public Information Officer Type 2 (PIO2)

Other

  • Public Information Officer Type 1 (PIO1) and Public Information Officer Type 2 (PIO2) removed from “These Positions Maintain Currency for PIOC”
  • PIO1 and PIO2 removed from “PIOC Maintains Currency for These Positions”
Date: Jan 2025

Removed: X-520, NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form

Date: Jan 2024

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added:

  • To PIOC Qualification Requirements:  ***S-420, Command and General Staff or L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff or O-305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team, and I-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, must be completed before initiating the NWCG Public Information Officer Complex, Position Task Book, PMS 311-106.

Updated: 

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management OR Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) OR Complex Incident Management Field Evaluation (PDF) OR a completed X-520,NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form (PDF).
Date: Jan 2023

Removed: NOTE: This qualification standard is effective until December 31, 2022, per NWCG Memorandum 22-002, Amended

Added:

To Required Training:

To Required Experience:

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Public Information Officer Type 3 (PIO3)
  • AND Completion and Certification of Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-106

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-106 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Incident Logistics Section Complex (LSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-106 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-106 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-106 (see note)

Note: Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Public Information Officer Course (E/L 952) prior to position qualification.

To These Positions Maintain Currency For PIOC:

  • Public Information Officer Type 3 (PIO3)

To PIOC Maintains Currency For These Positions:

  • Public Information Officer Type 3 (PIO3)

To Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills:

Date: May 2022

Position created.

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

Primary Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee
Steward: Public Information Officer Subcommittee
Key Stakeholder(s): Incident Command Subcommittee


Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

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 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

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

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

New Glossary Term for Review

Date:  April 15, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Data Standards and Terminology Board (DSTB)

The Data Standards and Terminology Board is requesting feedback on a new glossary term: Resource Protection Measure (RPM).

The proposed definition is: Practical guidance provided for incident personnel in a manner in which incident objectives can be achieved while reducing impacts to identified resources across the landscape. RPMs are informed by, but not restricted to, Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics (MIST).

Please review, share with your subgroups, and provide feedback as appropriate through the following form: Request Feedback The comment period will close May 10, 2026.

Thank you for your engagement in the NWCG glossary process – your participation is key to our success.

References:

Glossary Request Feedback

Quarter Three Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  April 1, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Quarter Three materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Three materials focus on Leadership Level 3: Leader of People (Develop Intent). Leadership Level 3 is where your values, your team, and your influence come together. Leaders of People put their teams first, build trust, and lead with authenticity. They mentor future leaders and shape decisions up and down the chain.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee