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Planning Section Chief Complex

PSCC decorative banner: photos depicting PSCC position. PSCC Position Description: The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident.

The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident. The PSCC supervises members of the Planning Section. The PSCC is part of the Command and General Staff (C&G) and reports to the Incident Commander (IC). The PSCC works in the Planning functional area.

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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

  • Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2)

Other

  • Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1), Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), Planning Section Chief Type 1 (PSC1) and Planning Section Chief Type 2 (PSC2) removed from “These Positions Maintain Currency for PSCC”
  • ICT 1, ICT2, PSC1, and PSC2 removed from “PSCC 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 PSCC 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 Planning Section Chief Complex, Position Task Book, PMS 311-123.

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

Added:

To Required Training:

  • ICS-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff
  • S-420, Command and General Staff OR L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff OR 0305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team

To Required Experience:

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Situation Unit Leader (SITL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Complex Incident Safety Officer (SOFC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

Note: Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Planning Section Chief Course (S-440) prior to position qualification.

To These Positions Maintain Currency for PSCC:

  • Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • Situation Unit Leader (SITL)

To PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions:

  • Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB)
  • Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)

To Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills:

  • L-480, Organizational Leadership in the Wildland Fire Service
  • L-580, Leadership is Action
  • S-440, Planning Section Chief
Date: May 2022

Added: Area Commander (ACDR), Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), and Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For PSCC ".

Added: Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1), Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), Resources Unit Leader (RESL), Situation Unit Leader (SITL), and Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN) to "PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Position created.

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Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective 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, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters