How do you prepare your team for the Incident Command System?

1 Assess your team's needs

Before you train your team for the ICS, you need to assess their current knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as their potential roles and functions in an emergency. You can use various tools, such as surveys, interviews, or self-assessments, to identify the gaps and strengths of your team members. Based on the results, you can tailor your training plan to address the specific needs of your team and the expected level of involvement in the ICS.

2 Provide basic and advanced training

The next step is to provide your team with the basic and advanced training on the ICS, depending on their roles and responsibilities. The basic training covers the core concepts, principles, and components of the ICS, such as the organizational structure, the common terminology, the incident action plan, and the span of control. The advanced training focuses on the specific functions and tasks of each ICS position, such as the incident commander, the operations section chief, or the public information officer. You can use various methods, such as online courses, workshops, or simulations, to deliver the training and evaluate the learning outcomes.

3 Establish policies and procedures

Another important step is to establish clear and consistent policies and procedures for your team to follow when using the ICS. These policies and procedures should cover the aspects such as the activation and deactivation of the ICS, the reporting and communication channels, the resource management and accountability, and the documentation and record-keeping. You should also ensure that your team is familiar with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards that govern the ICS, such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) or the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).

4 Conduct exercises and drills

To reinforce the learning and practice the skills of your team, you should conduct regular exercises and drills that simulate realistic emergency scenarios and test the application of the ICS. These exercises and drills can range from tabletop discussions to full-scale operations, depending on the objectives, scope, and complexity of the situation. You should also involve other stakeholders, such as other emergency responders, government agencies, or community organizations, to enhance the coordination and collaboration among the ICS participants. After each exercise or drill, you should conduct a debriefing and an after-action review to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team and the ICS, and to implement the necessary improvements.

5 Promote a learning culture

Finally, you should promote a learning culture among your team members, so that they can continuously improve their knowledge and skills on the ICS. You can do this by providing them with feedback, recognition, and support, as well as by encouraging them to seek new information, resources, and opportunities related to the ICS. You can also foster a culture of trust, respect, and teamwork among your team members, so that they can communicate effectively, share ideas and experiences, and resolve conflicts constructively when using the ICS.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?