Background…
Leadership, or problems associated with its practice
on the fireline, has been cited as a factor contributing to
wildland fire accidents for many years. The importance of leadership
on fires has been echoed time and again. In recent years the
1995 South
Canyon Fire Interagency Management Review Team Report, the
1998 Wildland Firefighter Safety Awareness Study, and the
2001 Thirtymile Fire Documents have all identified leadership
as an issue that wildland fire agencies need to address.
The members of the National Wildfire Coordinating
Group (NWCG) have recognized that a strategy is needed for improving
the ability to develop new leaders in wildland fire management.
No leadership training is currently required for any position
in the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide
(PMS 310-1). In September 2000, the NWCG Training Working Team
commissioned an interagency task group to analyze the existing
wildland fire training curriculum for leadership content, identify
alternatives, and make recommendations. In February 2001 that
task group provided
their report to the Training Working Team. The report contained
14 specific recommendations regarding leadership development
for wildland fire agencies. In November 2001, the NWCG gave
the Training Working Team the approval to charter a committee
to implement those 14 recommendations. In January 2002, the
Leadership Committee of the Training Working Team began the
process of implementing a wildland fire leadership development
program.
Program Components…
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Formal curriculum path that provides leadership
skills training at all stages of an individuals career.
In conjunction with this training curriculum, leadership
skills will be integrated into the NWCG Position Task Book
performance assessment system.
-
Value set that supports principle-centered
leadership actions in a high-risk work environment.
-
Non-traditional leadership development opportunities
that allow individuals to strive for a higher performance
level as a leader through self-directed continuous learning.
This program is being developed with support from
the participating agencies of the National Wildfire Coordinating
Group; the U.S. Marine Corps
University in Quantico, Virginia; and the
Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management at the
University of Pennsylvania.
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