Emergency Services

What is NIMS/ICS?

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

NIMS works hand in hand with the National Response Framework (NRF). NIMS provides the template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management. One component of NIMS is the Incident Command System (ICS).

ICS is a standardized on-scene emergency management construct specifically designed to provide for the adoption of an integrated organizational structure that reflects the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. It is used for all kinds of emergencies and is applicable to small as well as large and complex incidents.

Civil Air Patrol is committed to being NIMS compliant like all other response agencies across the United States. In order to be NIMS compliant CAP members participating in emergency services will need to complete ICS training in accordance with guidance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and CAP will need to meet other NIMS guidelines established by DHS as they are announced.

What Training is Required?

The current required NIMS / ICS training for CAP emergency services personnel are listed in the following chart:

Where can I get ICS Training?

Most personnel will only need to complete a few courses online, but depending on which specialty qualifications a member holds, they may have to take several courses:

ICS-100 - Introduction to the Incident Command System is available online at: FEMA

ICS-200 - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents is available online at: FEMA

ICS-300 - Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents is only available in classroom format.

ICS-400 - Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff is only available in classroom format.

ICS-700 - National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction is available in classroom or online at: FEMA

ICS-800 - National Response Framework, An Introduction is available in classroom or online at: FEMA

Personnel completing Incident Command System training must provide a copy of the course certificate to their unit emergency services officer, commander, or the commander's designee for entry into Ops Quals and placement into the member’s emergency services qualification folder. Unfortunately, completion of these courses cannot be automatically loaded into Ops Quals in e-services as this is not supported by DHS.

When training is not completed online, NIMS-compliant training must be provided by appropriately trained and qualified instructors in accordance with established Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies and objectives.

Where do I find the classroom ICS courses?

NIMS-compliant ICS-300 and IC-400 classroom courses are offered from time to time in Minnesota by HSEM. The Minnesota Wing ES Training Officer periodically will publish announcements with the dates and locations of these classes.