Wildland and
Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide
PMS 310-1 (NFES 1414)
January 2000
APPENDIX D
GLOSSARY
Additional Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and
Skills - Additional training which supports development of knowledge
and skills are training courses or job aids which can help to support
a position performance assignment. The knowledge and skills necessary
for successful completion of tasks in the position task book are provided
in the identified courses, but may also be acquired in a variety of ways,
including on-the-job training, work experience, identified formal training
as determined by one’s agency.
Agency Equivalence - Agency specific training curriculum
or position skills, as determined by an individual agency, which meet
or exceed the learning and performance objectives set forth in NWCG curricula
or job aids.
Certification - The process whereby an appropriate agency
official confirms through the issuance of an incident qualification card
that an individual is qualified to perform in a specified position.
Certifying Official - The agency official at the home
unit that is responsible for authorizing and granting certification by
signing the “Agency Certification” on the inside front cover
of the PTB. Only the home unit has the authority to certify an individual’s
qualifications.
Currency Requirement - The requirement to perform satisfactorily
in a specified position within the last five (5) years (three (3) years
for aviation and expanded dispatch positions) to maintain qualification
for the position.
Evaluator - A person who is certified in the position
the trainee is being evaluated in and who is assigned to evaluate a trainee’s
performance against tasks listed in a PTB. The position qualified evaluator
makes a determination as to whether the individual successfully performs
a task; signs off on the task in the PTB, if the task is performed correctly;
or determines what remedial actions are necessary if the task is not performed
correctly. When all tasks in the PTB are successfully completed, (including
successful position performance if required), the position qualified evaluator
may recommend that the trainee receive certification from their designated
agency official.
EXCEPTION: An agency may designate subject matter experts not qualified
in the target position to do task evaluations for specific tasks coded
“O”. An example would be an agency administrative officer
could sign off on a Compensation/Claims Unit Leader completing compensation
and claims documents.
Final Evaluator - The evaluator and the final evaluator
share the same responsibilities. The term, “final evaluator”,
is used to describe the evaluator on the final position performance assignment.
This evaluator checks to ensure that all tasks have been completed and
signed off properly and makes recommendation for certification by completing
the “Final Evaluator’s Verification” on the inside front
cover of the PTB.
Fire Use - The use of naturally ignited wildland fire
or the application of prescribed fire to meet resource objectives.
Geographic Area - An operational boundary designated
by the wildland fire agencies, where these agencies work together in the
coordination and effective utilization of resources within their boundaries.
The National Interagency Mobilization Guide in Chapter 20, section 21.1,
identifies the area encompassed by the eleven Geographic Areas.
Home Unit - The home unit is the designated agency that
employs the individual. This could be a district, county, state, park,
reservation or similar entity, and/or the administrator who manages the
qualification system.
ICS Positions - Any position found on the ICS organizational
chart in the Operational System Description (OSD), PMS 120-1.
Initiated Position Task Book(PTB) - “Initiating”
a PTB is accomplished by the appropriate agency official of the home unit,
whereby that individual signs on the front cover that the trainee is ready
for on-the-job training, task evaluation, and/or position performance
evaluation. All required training courses must be completed prior to initiation.
A PTB may be initiated by a training specialist on an incident with concurrence
by the home unit.
National Mobilization - The mobilization of resources
beyond those boundaries established in Chapter 20, section 21.1, of the
National Interagency Mobilization Guide, through established ordering
channels, exclusive of any agreements established by local cooperating
agencies.
On-The-Job-Training - A training assignment by an individual
who has completed required training, has met prerequisite experience for
a position, and may not yet be ready for a position performance assignment
as outlined in Appendix A, Position Task Book Evaluation.
Other Position Assignments That Will Maintain Currency -Positions
at a higher or specified lower level that will meet the currency requirements
for a given position (see Section L).
Position Performance Assignment - An assignment in which
an individual is being evaluated for tasks found in the position task
books as described in Appendix A. Exceptions to the Single Resource Boss
and Strike Team Leader positions are identified in Appendix A.
Prerequisite Experience - Documented, satisfactory performance
in a specified position needed to qualify for another (usually higher
level) position.
Private Contractors - Includes individuals, companies,
educational institutions and corporations who provide training, suppression
or prescribed fire services for financial reimbursement.
Qualification - Meeting the established standards for
a position in order to achieve certification.
Re-certification - Confirmation, through the re-issuance
of an incident qualification card, that an individual has regained qualification
for a specified position that was lost through a lack of current experience.
A key component in the certification or re-certification process is the
subjective evaluation by the appropriate agency official of an individual’s
capability to perform in a position.
Required Training - A course or courses that must be
completed prior to initiating a position task book. Training which has
been identified as required cannot be challenged. An agency equivalent
course may be used as a substitute when the course meets or exceeds a
required course’s learning and performance objectives.
Task Evaluation - Rating the performance of a trainee
against the tasks listed in the PTB. During the assignment a trainee is
required to perform the tasks under the supervision and observation of
a position qualified evaluator, who signs the task off and completes the
“incident experience record.”
Technical Specialist - Personnel with special skills.
These specialists may be used anywhere within the organization. Most technical
specialists are certified in their field or profession.
Trainee - An individual, approved by their agency, who
is preparing to qualify for a position. Trainee status requires that all
required training courses and prerequisite experience has been completed
prior to initiation of a position task book by the appropriate agency
official of the home unit. The trainee is then eligible for on-the-job
training, task evaluation and/or position performance evaluation.
Trainer/Coach - The trainer/coach is a position qualified
individual who provides instruction to a trainee. This may be in the classroom,
on-the-job or on an incident. While many of the requirements of the trainer/coach
are similar to the evaluator, it is important that the roles of training
and evaluation remain separate as described in this guide.
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