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Position History By Year

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, establishes minimum NWCG position qualification standards for training, experience, physical fitness, and currency for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. And position qualification standards are located in the NWCG Position Catalog. Each NWCG Position includes a record of all qualifications changes. A historical record of all changes is found here, organized by position. It includes positions which have been removed from the NWCG Position Catalog. An historical record of all changes is found here, organized by update year. A consolidated Position History is also available.



Year: 1984

Position Position Code Change Functional Area
Firing Boss, Single Resource FIRB

Added:  NWCG Position Task Book for Firing Boss, Single Resource
(FIRB), PMS 311-105

Removed: from "These Positions Maintain Currency For FIRB":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Added: to "These Positions Maintain Currency For FIRB":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added to "These Positions Maintain Currency For FIRB":

  • Safety Officer Field (SOFF)

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Added: Field Observer (FOBS) to "FIRB Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Updated: The Ignition Specialist positions (RXI1& RXI2) have been replaced with the Firing Boss (FIRB) position.

Added: S-230, Crew Boss (Single Resource) (24 hrs.) and S-234 (24 hrs.) to Single Resource Boss Firing Required Training.

Position created. Single Resource Boss in 1984 PMS 310-1.

Operations
Division/Group Supervisor* DIVS

Added: 

  • Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) and Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency for DIVS."
  • Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) and Safety Officer Complex (SOFC) to "DIVS Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Added: to Qualification Requirements:  Note:  Once qualified as a DIVS, the OPS3 qualification may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented.

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Added: Crew Representative (CREP) to "DIVS Maintains Currency for These Positions".

Added: Required Experience option which includes satisfactory performance as an Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
+
Satisfactory performance in any two Strike Team Leader positions (one must be either Strike Team Leader Engine [STEN] or Strike Team Leader Crew [STCR]). 

Added: Required training: S-339, Division/Group Supervisor (20 hrs).

Position created.

Operations
Staging Area Manager STAM

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Added: Basic Firefighter Training (L-180, S-130, S-190, RT-130) to Required Training.

Position created.

Operations
Task Force Leader TFLD

Removed: from "These Positions Maintain Currency For TFLD":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Removed: from "TFLD Maintain Currency For These Positions "":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Added: to "These Positions Maintain Currency For TFLD":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Added: to "TFLD Maintain Currency For These Positions ":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added to "TFLD Maintains Currency For These Positions":

  • Safety Officer Field (SOFF)

Added: Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For TFLD."

Added: to Qualification Requirements:  If a TFLD meets the prerequisite experience and qualifications of a STL, the appropriate STL qualification may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented on a ‘verification/certification’ page of the TFLD Position Task Book (311-10).

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: Tactical Decision Making in the Wildland Fire (S-336) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills."

Added: Crew Representative (CREP) to "TFLD Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Added: the following qualification pathway for required experience:
Satisfactory performance in any two Strike Team Leader positions (STCR, STEQ, STEN).

Updated: The Task Force Leader (TFLD) and Strike Team Leader (STDZ, STEN, STCR, STPL) Position Task Books (PTB)(311-10) have been combined. However, the positions have not been combined. Strike Team Leader tasks are completed only once. The Required Experience for TFLD must be met prior to completing additional TFLD tasks. Upon satisfactory performance in the prerequisite single resource boss position, the specific strike team leader task book may be initiated. Once qualified as a Strike Team Leader, any additional single resource boss qualifications will also qualify the individual in that corresponding strike team leader position—without having to complete the Strike Team Leader PTB for the new position—once agency certification is documented on the PTB Certification page.

Deleted: S-330 (24 hrs.) and S-390 (16 hrs.) from Required Training.

Position created.

Operations
Receiving/Distribution Manager RCDM

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Deleted from "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM":

  • Service Branch Director (SVBD)
  • Support Branch Director (SUBD)

Added: Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills." 

Added: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) to Required Training.
Added: Transition Plan:

  • All qualified individuals will remain qualified. Individuals will be granted ICS-200 in responder’s records.
  • All trainee RCDM will be required to complete ICS-200 prior to position qualification.

Position created.

Logistics
Tractor Plow Operator TPOP

Position archived. Active as an agency specific position. 

Position created. 

Operations
Tractor Plow Boss TRPB

Position archived. Replaced with HEQB.

Position created. 

Operations
Security Manager SECM

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Position created.

Logistics
Operations Branch Director OPBD

Added:

  • Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For OPBD."
  • Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) TO "OPBD Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Added: NWCG Position-Specific Standards for Operations Section Chiefs, PMS 350-8 to Position-Specific publication under Standards and References.

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

 Removed: “*designates agency established position qualifications.”

Position created.

Operations

Year: 2025

Position Position Code Change Functional Area
Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader UASL

Added:

  • NWCG Position Task Book for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL), PMS 311-128
    • Replaces NWCG Unmanned Aircraft System, Module Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-79
  • NWCG Incident Position Standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader, PMS 350-128

Added: Satisfactory performance as any Single Resource Boss position (CRWB, ENGB, FELB, FIRB, HEQB, HMGB) to Required Experience.

Position created.

Air Operations
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 RXB1

Updated:

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Updated: RX-510 course name.

Position created. Part 2.

Prescribed Fire
Compensation/Claims Unit Leader* COMP

Updated:

  • NWCG Compensation/Claims Unit Leader Position Task Book, PMS 311-47. Procurement Unit Leader (PROC) and Time Unit Leader (TIME) have been removed.

Added: 

  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency for COMP."
  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC) to "COMP Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Removed:

  • Claims Specialist (CLMS) and Compensation-for-Injury Specialist (INJR) from "These Positions Maintain Currency for COMP."
  • Claims Specialist (CLMS) and Compensation-for-Injury Specialist (INJR) from "COMP Maintains Currency for These Positions."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Added: To Required Experience: Note: Once qualified as a COMP, the CLMS and INJR qualifications may be granted by the certifying official. Certification must be documented. 

Added: Introduction to ICS (ICS-100) and NIMS — An Introduction (IS-700) to Required Training.

Removed:
Satisfactory performance as a Compensation-for Injury Specialist (INJR) from Required Experience.
Satisfactory performance as a Claims Specialist (CLMS) from Required Experience.

Added: Completion and Certification of Position Task Book (311-47) as a Compensation/Claims Unit Leader (COMP)* to Required Experience.

Added: The following language: *Certification as COMP will allow certification as CLMS and INJR.

Position created.

Finance/ Administration
Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher EDSP

Added: NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher, PMS 350-57

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (6 hrs).

Position created.

Dispatch
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 RXB2

Updated: 

Updated: Prescribed Fire Manager (RXMG) replaces Prescribed Fire Manager Type 1 (RXM1) and Prescribed Fire Manager Type 2 (RXM2) as "These positions maintain currency for RXB2." 

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Added: Smoke Management Techniques (RX-410) to Required Training.

Position created. Part 2.

Prescribed Fire
Receiving/Distribution Manager RCDM

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Deleted from "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM":

  • Service Branch Director (SVBD)
  • Support Branch Director (SUBD)

Added: Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For RCDM."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills." 

Added: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) to Required Training.
Added: Transition Plan:

  • All qualified individuals will remain qualified. Individuals will be granted ICS-200 in responder’s records.
  • All trainee RCDM will be required to complete ICS-200 prior to position qualification.

Position created.

Logistics
Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment STEQ

Removed: from "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Removed: from "STEQ Maintain Currency For These Positions "":

  • Safety Officer, Line (SOFR)

Added: to "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Added: to "STEQ Maintain Currency For These Positions ":

  • Safety Officer Type 3 (SOF3)

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added to "STEQ Maintains Currency For These Positions":

  • Safety Officer Field (SOFF)

Added: Operation Section Chief Complex (OSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For STEQ."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: Tactical Decision Making in the Wildland Fire (S-336) from "Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills."

Position created.

Combined STDZ and STPL positions into a Strike Team Heavy Equipment (STEQ) position.

Operations
Documentation Unit Leader* DOCL

Added:

  • NWCG Incident Position Standards for Documentation Unit Leader, PMS 350-25
  • NWCG Position Task Book for Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), PMS 311-25

Added: Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency for DOCL."

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Position created.

Planning
Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1* FSC1

Removed:
Required Training

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management or CIMC, Complex Incident Management Course

Required Experience

  • Satisfactory performance as a Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 2 (FSC2)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 (FSC1) Position Task Book, PMS 311-46

Added:

The qualification pathway for this position is discontinued per NWCG direction on January, 2025. Responders with an active PTB will transition to the corresponding complex position PTB.

Added: Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For FSC1" and "FSC1 Maintains Currency For These Positions".

Added: Incident Position Description (IPD) approved.

Removed: Finance Section Chief Type 3 (FSC3) from "These Positions Maintain Currency for FSC1" and from "FSC1 Maintains Currency for These Positions".

Position created.  

Finance Section Chief (Multi-Branch), Finance Section Chief  (Multi-Division) and IFinance Section Chief  (Multi-Leader) in 1984 PMS 310-1.

Finance/ Administration
Position Position Code Change Functional Area
Logistics
Operations
Planning
Prescribed Fire
Prevention and Investigation
Position Catalog
Finance Administration
Dispatch
Command
Air Operations
Incident Position Management
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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

  • Aircraft Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
  • Expanded Dispatch Recorder
  • Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
  • Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
  • Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their 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.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page 

NWCG Job Aids