Answers about schedule, facilities requirements, certifications, student qualifications, and more.
How many students can enroll in a course?
The recommended number of students per course is 18. Students are organized into three teams, and simulations are structured to provide roles and responsibilities for six people on each team. Conducting a course with fewer than 18 students alters its overall effectiveness, so we advise clients to have contingency plans to ensure a full class.
How long is the course?
The course is 38 hours over five days. In addition, the prework assignment requires roughly 4 to 6 hours.
Typically, the course is conducted Monday through Friday; however, MCS has been able to conduct the course over non-consecutive days to accommodate clients with special requirements – such as shift schedules – or the needs of volunteer organizations.
Following is the normal course schedule:
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How much of the course is spent in hands-on activities versus lecture?
Time spent in the real-time simulation, including planning and debriefings following the nine simulation blocks, amounts to approximately 80 percent of the program. The remainder of the program is a combination of short lectures and case studies.
For Federal Government clients, is this program available through GSA Advantage?
No, this course is no longer available through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
How do I enroll in this course?
Course delivery is usually arranged at the organizational level, with clients sponsoring each week-long program for their workforce and cooperators. MCS does not normally offer open enrollment at this time; however, a number of clients have worked with other agencies to offer seats in a course to qualified candidates from other jurisdictions.
Where are courses located?
MCS conducts Incident Leadership at the location specified by the client, often the organization’s local or regional training facilities. The client is responsible for the cost of procuring the facility. MCS arranges for all training materials to be delivered to the training site.
What are the facilities requirements?
Facilities need to include four rooms: main classroom, ICP room, simulation room, and DIVS area.
The following specifications describe the necessary size of each room:
- Main Classroom – approximately 1000 square feet (30’ x 35’)
- Simulation Room – approximately 600 square feet (25’ x 25’ or 20’ x 30’)
- ICP Room – approximately 625 square feet (25’ x 25’ or 20’ x 30’)
- DIVS Area – approximately 144 square feet (12’ x 12’)
The Simulation Room, ICP Room, and DIVS Area need to be in close proximity (across from each other or down the same hallway). These rooms, however, do not need to be co-located with the main classroom, which can be on a different floor or, in the worst case, a building next door. One large room can be partitioned off into two of the rooms as long the divider between rooms provides a good sound barrier.
All rooms need sufficient wall space to hang posters and maps.
Is any funding is available?
Because Incident Leadership (CA-010-PREV) is listed in FEMA’s federal/state-sponsored catalog of training, clients can use State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) or Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) training grants for costs such as overtime, backfill, and tuition.
What is included?
A standard program includes the following:
- Three-person cadre
- Instructional materials, such as student reference guide, exercise handouts, feedback forms, case study materials
- Simulation materials, such as laminated maps, role player inputs, costumes (Clients are asked to provide costume components readily available, such as turn-out gear jackets and helmets or hard hats.)
- Case study prework
- Graduation certificates.
The course is priced per session, not per student; however, a number of clients have arranged to share costs with other agencies based on a per-student cost.
What is not included?
A standard program does not include the following:
- Expenses for students
- Facility costs, including cost of flip charts and presentation screens
- Equipment, such as two-way radios, required for the simulation
Does the client provide any personnel for the course?
Yes. The client provides role players for the simulation and a Site Logistics Coordinator.
- Role Players — The client provides two role players to depict characters that participate in simulation blocks through the entire week. These role players have assignments from 1000 on Day 1 through 1200 on Day 5 with roughly a one-hour lunch break each day. When played well, these characters provide fidelity and continuity from simulation to simulation and are important to students’ learning. Ideally, both role players are Incident Leadership graduates so they are familiar with the scenario and the framework of the program. As a minimum, role players should be familiar with the Incident Command System, adaptable, and enthusiastic.
- Site Logistics Coordinator — The client designates a site logistics coordinator to assist with course setup and execution. MCS staff work closely with this person to ensure that client-provided facilities, supplies, and equipment are in place for the start of the course. The site logistics coordinator receives all course materials shipped to the training location and makes sure that the materials are available to cadre members upon arrival. The coordinator also makes sure that cadre members have access to the training location for setup prior to the start of the course.
What departments or agencies are using Incident Leadership?
The following clients have sponsored courses in recent years:
- Bureau of Land Management, Great Basin Training Center
- Department of Sustainability & Environment, Victoria,Australia
- Fire & Emergency Services Authority, Western Australia
- Fire Department New York (FDNY)
- Fremont Fire Department (California)
- Gloucester County Emergency Management (New Jersey)
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
- Northern Rockies Training Center
- Northwest Fire District (Tucson,Arizona)
- San Diego Fire-Rescue
- Seattle Fire Department
- San Francisco UASI Region
- U.S. Coast Guard
- USDA Forest Service
- Utah Fire and Rescue Academy
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