In response to the Chair of the Southwest Geographic Area Coordination Group who inquired about the use of trainees on fires and how cost containment goals might affect the number of trainees assigned, the Chair of the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group responded in a letter dated July 1, 2009. Here is an excerpt:
Large fire cost reviews examine guidance and direction, social factors, risk management, strategic and tactical decisions that influence incident management effectiveness and cost. The NMAC supports the purpose of these reviews to provide oversight and identification of strengths and opportunities for improvements in large fire management operations. However, in close examination of NWCG #003-2009, nowhere does it state or imply that the number of trainees on Incident Management Teams (IMT) should be limited in order to contain costs.
It is important that Geographic Area Coordinating Groups conduct strategic planning to identify current and future needed skill sets and ensure development of skilled, qualified individuals to staff IMTs. Opportunities for providing trainee assignments should be regularly assessed with emphasis placed on utilizing agency employees in trainee positions, rather than Administratively Determined (AD) employees. Using trainees and ADs to fill positions on IMTs should be an exception when no qualified agency personnel are available or to enable our cooperators that can only participate as ADs.
NMAC supports assignment opportunities for trainees as per guidance in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide and the Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations.
