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Planning Section Chief Complex

PSCC decorative banner: photos depicting PSCC position. PSCC Position Description: The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident.

The Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) manages all aspects of incident planning, situation and resource status, and demobilization of an incident. The PSCC supervises members of the Planning Section. The PSCC is part of the Command and General Staff (C&G) and reports to the Incident Commander (IC). The PSCC works in the Planning functional area.

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The Forest Service and Department of Interior are enabled by Administratively Determined Pay Plans (AD Pay Plans) to hire persons for temporary duration for the following reasons:

  1. To cope with a sudden and unexpected emergency caused by a fire, or extreme fire potential, flood, storm, or any other all-hazard emergency that threatens damage to federally protected property, has the potential to cause loss of life, serious injury, public health risk, or damage to natural or cultural resources unless brought under immediate control.
  2. To provide emergency assistance to States under formalized agreements.
  3. To meet mission assignments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Incident Business Committee (IBC) reviews positions annually and establishes pay rate classifications for each position.

For more information on the AD Pay Plans, visit Incident Business Committee.

Date: Jan 2025

Removed: X-520, NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form

Date: Jan 2024

Updated Positions Qualification Requirements as follows:

Added:

  • To PSCC Qualification Requirements: ***S-420, Command and General Staff or L-481, Advanced Leadership for Command and General Staff or O-305, Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Team, and I-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, must be completed before initiating the NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex, Position Task Book, PMS 311-123.

Updated: 

  • S-520, Advanced Incident Management OR Complex Incident Management Course (CIMC) OR Complex Incident Management Field Evaluation (PDF) OR a completed X-520,NWCG CIM Field Evaluation Form (PDF).
Date: Jan 2023

Added:

To Required Training:

To Required Experience:

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Situation Unit Leader (SITL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

OR

  • Satisfactory performance as a Complex Incident Safety Officer (SOFC)
  • AND Completion and Certification of NWCG Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC) Position Task Book, PMS 311-123 (see note)

Note: Individuals utilizing this pathway must complete the Planning Section Chief Course (S-440) prior to position qualification.

To These Positions Maintain Currency for PSCC:

  • Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)
  • Resources Unit Leader (RESL)
  • Situation Unit Leader (SITL)

To PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions:

  • Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB)
  • Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL)
  • Planning Section Chief Type 3 (PSC3)

To Other Training Which Supports Development of Knowledge and Skills:

Date: May 2022

Added: Area Commander (ACDR), Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), and Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1) to "These Positions Maintain Currency For PSCC ".

Added: Assistant Area Commander, Planning (ACPC), Incident Commander Complex (ICCI), Incident Commander Type 1 (ICT1), Incident Commander Type 2 (ICT2), Resources Unit Leader (RESL), Situation Unit Leader (SITL), and Status/Check-In Recorder (SCKN) to "PSCC Maintains Currency For These Positions."

Position created.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Next Generation Position Task Book and Updated Incident Position Description Now Available for Operations Section Chief Complex

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) has a Next Generation NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 and an updated Incident Position Description.

These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

References:

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Position Page 

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Incident Position Description 

NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 

2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Now Available

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the 2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, is now available. Visit NWCG's website to learn about the major updates and changes in the 2025 version of the IRPG. The NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES is available electronically and will be available from Great Basin Cache by early summer 2025.

All hard copy materials, including the IRPG, are ordered through the Great Basin Cache (GBK). Information on the ordering process can be found in the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Catalog.

References:

2025 IRPG Information 

NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 

NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES 

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2 

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Task Group Volunteers Needed to Update the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289

Date: February 5, 2025
Contact: Julie Bennett, Incident Business Committee Chair

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) is requesting volunteers for a new task group to revise the 1981 version of the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289 and create an incident replacement job aid. The volunteers may be recruited from within or outside the Geographic Area Incident Business Committees.

References:

IBC Memorandum 25-02

IBC Correspondence