S-300 may be delivered as instructor-led (classroom) training.
Course coordinators and instructors should be thoroughly familiar with the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1. The NWCG Standards for Course Delivery establishes standards for all aspects of NWCG training course management and delivery. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, and the course-specific guidance stated in the NWCG Training Catalog.
See S-300 minimum instructor qualifications.
Recommended class size should be limited to 24 students. Instructors should maintain a 6:1 ratio of students to instructors/coaches to facilitate exercises and discussion and to enable strong mentorship to the students.
Conduct initial, pre-course, daily, and close-out instructor cadre meetings. These provide opportunities to plan, organize, preview materials, review training and exercises, and identify and address concerns and issues. Consider using an informal After Action Review process. Instructor cadre meetings are critical for instructors who do not have previous experience with the course. Additional information is located in the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1.
Each student must be provided the following:
All presentations should be downloaded and tested before the start of class to ensure compatibility with software.
PowerPoint presentations are built in an older version of Microsoft Office. Some features may not work correctly with newer software or systems.
For help, visit the Microsoft Office website or contact your local IT support personnel.
Use the NWCG Course Evaluation Feedback form to collect information critical to future training improvements.
Students and cadre members are asked to contribute course evaluations. Input is welcome on all aspects of the training course, including course content, pre-course work, reference materials, quality of instruction, delivery methods, and testing procedures.
Both the Fireline Handbook, PMS 410-1, and the Wildland Fire Incident Management Field Guide, PMS 210, are now discontinued. Existing references to these documents will need to be removed from course materials and exams. Any existing paper copies of exams are now outdated. Course Coordinators, Lead Instructors, or Unit Training Officers may request access to the final exam and answer key by emailing blm_fa_nwcg_training@blm.gov. All emailed requests must come from an official NWCG partner email address.
The following update is suggested for the S-300 final exam:
Answer: The fourth suggested answer in the answer key is: "Utilize references such as IRPG, Red Book, and Fireline Handbook." Delete the reference to the Fireline Handbook. The revised answer should now read: "Utilize references such as the NWCG IRPG and Red Book."
All radio equipment and radio frequency use for the course (classroom simulations, field exercises, course logistics, etc.) requires specific authorization and must be coordinated and assigned through the local agency frequency coordinator or the Communications Duty Officer at the NIFC National Interagency Incident Communications Division, as appropriate. Radio equipment and frequencies for training should be requested well in advance of course start date (at least two months) and shall be released/returned to the issuing entity upon course conclusion.
The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, replaced the NWCG Complexity Analysis and NWCG Organizational Needs Assessment. The following table illustrates the changes to this course.
Optional materials have been developed to enhance the students understanding of the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) relative to the Extended Attack Incident Commander position. Instructors who choose to use the optional materials to enhance the course should be familiar with the lesson and its contents and determine how it will be used in the course. The materials are available here: http://wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_NWCG_WFDSS.shtml.