2016 ICS 300 & 400

On June 8-9 and 27-28, 2016 Region 7 Healthcare Coalition hosted the ICS 300 and 400 courses, respectively. The courses were taught by Gary Rapelje, R7 HCC Regional Coordinator and Matthew Blythe, All Hazards Training and Planning. The courses were open to people in Emergency Response, Emergency Management, Healthcare, Hazardous Materials, Administrative Staff, Frontline Staff, and Government and Community Leaders.

When people from these areas of expertise sign up for the ICS 300 and 400 courses, they can expect to learn “how the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Command and Management component supports the management of expanding incidents and describe the Incident/Event Management process for supervisors and expanding incidents as prescribed by the Incident Command System (ICS).  Also covered is the implementation of the Incident Management process on a simulated Type 3 incident and development of an Incident Action Plan for a simulated incident.” 1

This course provides training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS).  This course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100, ICS-200, and ICS-300 courses. The target audience for this course is senior personnel who are expected to perform in a management capacity in an area command or multi-agency coordination entity. 2

ICS 300 and 400 act as Introductory and Refresher training opportunities specific to NIMS incident command positions. By the end of each course, students should have learned 3 main concepts.

​Students of the 300 level course should be able to

• describe how the NIMS command and management component supports the management of expanding incidents.
• describe the incident or event management process for supervisors and expanding incidents as prescribed by ICS.
• implement the incident management process in a simulated Type 3 incident and develop an incident action plan for a simulated incident.

Student of ICS 400 should be able to

• explain how major incidents engender special management challenges.
• describe the circumstances in which an area command is established and
• describe circumstances in which multiagency coordination systems are established.​
  

Overall, the courses went well and students who started with only a basic understanding of ICS levels reported on their feedback forms an increase in understanding for each course and its components. Most students also reported the content of the course was informative and educational and they were very likely to recommend the courses to others interested in ICS 300 and 400 training. 

1. ICS 300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
2. ICS 400 Advanced ICS Command and General Staff Complex Incidents