Program of Instruction Course Syllabus Course Title: All Hazards Operations Section Chief Course : 32 Hours Program: Homeland Security, NIMS Course Prerequisites: ICS 100, 200, 300, 700, 800, ICS 400 (Recommended) Course Description: This course is designed to provide local and state-level emergency responders with a robust understanding of the duties, responsibilities, and capabilities of an effective OSC on an All-Hazards Incident Management Team. These responsibilities fall into two categories: 1) responding to the incident and the command needs of the incident, and 2) effectively fulfilling the position responsibilities of an Operations Section Chief on an All-Hazards ICS Incident Management Team. Exercises, simulations, discussions, and a final exam enable students to process and apply their new knowledge. NIMS ICS Position Specific training should be completed by personnel who are regularly assigned to functional, support, or unit leader positions on USFA or other Type III All-Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMT), or by those persons who desire to seek credentials/certification in those positions. Course Requirements: In order to receive a certificate of completion for the course, students must obtain a 70% or higher on the final exam. Course Policies: Attendance Policy: IFSI requires students to attend (100%) or make up all course content that leads to certification. Students are expected to attend on time and to remain in class for the duration of the course. Students MUST COMPLETE all portions of a certification course, both classroom and practical, to be eligible to receive their certification. If a student misses any portion of class with an accumulated absence of 20% or less of scheduled class time, it will be the student s responsibility to arrange the make-up of the missed course content with the instructor(s) or program manager. The student must make up the specific course content that s/he missed, not just the hours. Make-ups are limited to 20% of scheduled class time. Make-ups must be documented on the class roster. If a student s absence is greater than 20% refer to True Emergences section of the IFSI Examination Policy. Course Syllabus Page 1 of 5
Safety Policy: Students shall understand and follow all instructions pertaining to operational safety, as stated by instructors or as written in course materials. Instructors and students shall be mindful of safety at all times. Conduct judged to be unsafe shall be grounds for dismissal from the course. Academic Integrity Policy: IFSI has the responsibility for maintaining academic integrity so as to protect the quality of the education provided through its courses, and to protect those who depend upon our integrity. It is the responsibility of the student to refrain from infractions of academic integrity, from conduct that may lead to suspicion of such infractions, and from conduct that aids others in such infractions. Any violation of the code of conduct is grounds for immediate dismissal from the course. Grading Policy: Decisions regarding certificates of course completion shall be made solely by the lead instructor of the course. All grading of exams shall be conducted by the Curriculum/Testing Office. All grading of practical exercises shall be based upon the standards set by the regulatory agency referenced in the course material and IFSI. American Disabilities Act: As guaranteed in the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and in the American Disabilities Act, if any student needs special accommodations they are to notify their instructor and provide documentation as soon as possible so arrangements can be made to provide for the student s needs. If arrangements cannot be made at the class site, the student will test at an alternative time and place where the special accommodations can be made. Course Content: Module: 1 Title: Course Introduction Identify course objectives and position-specific resource materials for the position of Operations Section Chief. Module: 2 Title: Roles and Responsibilities Describe the roles and responsibilities of an Operations Section Chief as they apply to planning, supervision, and coordination Module: 3 Title: Management Cycle Describe incident management and the planning processes utilized by the Operations Section Chief Course Syllabus Page 2 of 5
Module: 4 Title: Information Gathering Describe how to gather, organize, and communicate information necessary to perform as an Operations Section Chief Module: 5 Title: Strategy and Planning Describe the purpose of the Strategy, Tactics, and Planning meetings and the Operations Section Chief s role and responsibilities in developing the Operational Planning Worksheet (ICS Form 215) and the Incident Action Plan. Module: 6 Title: Contingency Planning Describe the need and process for contingency planning on an all-hazard incident Module: 7 Title: Demobilization Describe the Operations Section Chief s roles and responsibilities for demobilization Module: 8 Title: Supervision & Communication Describe the principles of supervision, delegation, and communication as they relate to the Operations Section Chief Module: 9 Title: Managing & Adjusting the Operations Section Identify key strategies for managing and adjusting the Operations Section Module: 10 Title: Risk Assessment and Safety Management Describe the Operations Section Chief s roles and responsibilities for risk assessment and safety management Module: 11 Title: Personnel Interaction Describe the Operations Section Chief s role in developing and maintaining relations with people internal and external to the ICS team Course Syllabus Page 3 of 5
Course Schedule DAY ONE Module 1 Course Introductions with Operational Division/Group Supervisor Instruction Section Module 2 Roles and Responsibilities 15 minutes Module 3 Management Cycle Module 4 Information Gathering Expectations Review 15 minutes 10 minutes DAY TWO Module 4 Information Gathering (cont d) Module 5 Strategy and Planning Module 6 Contingency Planning Module 7 Demobilization Quiz 1 2 hours 15 minutes Course Syllabus Page 4 of 5
DAY THREE Module 8 Supervision & Communication Module 9 Managing & Adjusting the Operations Section 2 hours 2 hours Module 10 Risk Assessment and Safety Management Quiz 2 15 minutes DAY FOUR Module 10 Risk Assessment and Safety Management (cont d) Module 11 Personnel Interaction Course Expectations Review Course Final Course Final Review Course Syllabus Page 5 of 5