[ARRL-OK] NIMS Alert--The NIMS Introductory Course

[ClayMayrose at aol.com]

NIMS Alert
IS-700 The NIMS Introductory  Course - Who Needs to Take It?  
Last September when the Secretary of  Homeland Security sent a letter to the 
nation's governors, he outlined a series  of steps that must be taken and 
actions that should be taken in FY 2005 to  become compliant with the National 
Incident Management System (NIMS).  
Specifically the letter said that state, territorial, tribal and local level  
jurisdictions should support NIMS implementation by completing the NIMS  
awareness course National Incident Management System, An Introduction - IS 700.  
This independent study course explains the purpose, principles, key components  
and benefits of NIMS. The Secretary clearly intended to provide discretion to 
 state, territorial, tribal and local governments in deciding who should take 
the  course. 
As further guidance, the NIMS Integration Center encourages all  emergency 
personnel with a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident  management or 
response to take the NIMS course by Oct. 1, 2005. It is offered  
free-of-charge through the Emergency Management Institute at  
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp. 
Who should take the course  in FY'05? 
Executive Level - Political and government leaders, agency and  organization 
administrators and department heads; personnel that fill ICS roles  as Unified 
Commanders, Incident Commanders, Command Staff, General Staff in  either Area 
Command or single incidents; senior level Multi-Agency Coordination  System 
personnel; senior emergency managers; and Emergency Operations Center  Command 
or General Staff. 
Managerial Level - Agency and organization  management between the executive 
level and first level supervision; personnel  who fill ICS roles as Branch 
Directors, Division/Group Supervisors, Unit  Leaders, technical specialists, 
strike team and task force leaders, single  resource leaders and field 
supervisors; midlevel Multi-Agency Coordination  System personnel; EOC Section Chiefs, 
Branch Directors, Unit Leaders; and other  emergency management/response 
personnel who require a higher level of ICS/NIMS  Training. 
Responder Level - Emergency response providers and disaster  workers, entry 
level to managerial level including Emergency Medical Service  personnel; 
firefighters; medical personnel; police officers; public health  personnel; public 
works/utility personnel; and other emergency management  response personnel. 
The NIMS introductory course very likely will be  required in FY'06 for 
state, territorial, tribal and local personnel who have  emergency assignments at 
any level of government. Full NIMS compliance is  required by Oct. 1, 2007. 
NOTE:  We recognize that some online  independent study participants are 
experiencing delays in gaining access to the  IS-700 course. The Emergency 
Management Institute is addressing this and the  problem will be alleviated. 

The NIMS Integration Center
March  5, 2005