Date: April 27, 2026 :: 27-30 April 2026

Time: 0800-1600

Course Description: The purpose of this professional development course is to prepare local, state, tribal, and Federal emergency responders to function in the role of a T-III OSC after obtaining adequate experience. The OSC will be part of an all-hazards T-III IMT Operations Section Chief (OSC) Type III in a Type III All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT).

The learner must achieve a minimum passing score of 75% on final knowledge assessments or demonstrate mastery on performance assessments or research assignments to earn the IACET CEU.

Selection Criteria: NIMS ICS Position Specific training shall be completed by personnel who will be required to gain a certificate of training and the credentials to function in an ICS Organization, such as an IMT, as a member of the Command, General Staff or as a Unit Leader. These criteria will be verified on the student enrollment request by endorsement of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) such as the State/Tribal Training Officer or the course manager.

ACE: Level: Lower Division/Associate

ACE: Credit Hours: 2

Course Objectives

• Describe how to gather, organize, communicate, and share information necessary to perform as an Operations Section Chief.
• Describe the purpose of the Strategy, Tactics, and Planning Meetings and the Operations Section Chief's roles and responsibilities in developing the Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS Form 215) and the Incident Action Plan.
• Describe the principles of supervision, delegation, and communication as they relate to the position of the Operations Section Chief.
• Identify key strategies for managing and adjusting the Operations Section.
• Describe the Operations Section Chief's role in developing and maintaining relations with people internal and external to the ICS Team.
• Describe the Operations Section Chief's roles and responsibilities for risk assessment and safety management.
• Describe the need and process for contingency planning for an all-hazards incident.
• Describe the Operations Section Chief's roles and responsibilities for demobilization.

Prerequisites:  Applicant may be required to submit proof if the State Training Supervisor does not have record of completion.  You will be notified upon registration.

The required prerequisites to this course are: MUST BE THE MOST RECENT VERSIONS OF 100, 200, 700 AND 800.

• IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
• IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
• IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• IS-800.d: National Response Framework (NRF), An Introduction
• ICS 300: Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents
• ICS 400: Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents, ICS 400

Other recommended (not required) courses:

• E/L/G 0191 Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command System Interface
• O 305 Type 3 AHIMT Training Course (US Fire Academy)
• O 337 Command & General Staff Functions for Local Incident Management Team (US Fire Academy)

If interested in attending, you MUST do the following:

1. Register via the Wufoo link, https://riema.wufoo.com/forms/l0958-operations-section-chief/ this does not mean you have a seat in the training. 
    
2. Email your prerequisite certificates to Michelle.Russo@ema.ri.gov
   Must be most recent versions of 100, 200, 700 and 800

If accepted into the training, you will be required to complete the FEMA Application which will be sent to you along with a Course Coupon Code.  You will also be required to download the course materials and bring an electronic device to the training.

For more information, contact:

• Michelle Russo
• michelle.russo@ema.ri.gov