The Incident Management Systems Division Releases the Finalized ICS Core Competencies 
 
As part of our Nation’s efforts to strengthen catastrophic response capabilities in line with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), FEMA’s Incident Management Systems Division has released the finalized Incident Command System (ICS) Core Competencies. 
 
In February 2005, the Incident Management Systems Division (IMSD) gathered together several emergency management organizations to begin collaborating on NIMS implementation.  From that meeting it became clear that core competencies for Incident Command System (ICS) positions were necessary.  The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) took the lead to develop competencies for all ICS positions.  In fall of 2005, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) added the development of wildland fire specific position competencies.  USFA and NWCG prepared the ICS Competencies for release.  These competencies were announced online by FEMA for public comment in April of 2007.  The public comment period ended on March 25, 2007. 
 
In the spring of 2007 the NWCG brought together numerous interagency subject matter expert groups to review the competencies and behaviors and begin revision of NWCG position task books.  During these workshops additional edits to the competencies and behaviors were discovered and were proposed and accepted by the Competency Change Management Board (CCMB).  A need was identified to create the CCMB.  They met in August 2007 for adjudication of all comments.   
 
The ICS Core Competencies can be found at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/ics_competencies.shtm.  This link also includes important CCMB documents that provide general information, processes, and key messages.