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Decision-Making for Initial Company Operations F0457

Training Specialist


Richard Sexton
301-447-7687

Delivery type


2-day off-campus

Continuing education units


1.4

ACE recommendation


In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1 semester hour in fire science or firefighting.

This 2-day course is designed to develop the decision-making skills needed by Company Officers (COs) to accomplish assigned tactics at structure fires. All activities and scenarios used in this course are based on structure fires. With the real possibility of being the first to arrive at an incident, the CO’s initial decisions will have an impact throughout the entire incident. It is vital that COs be able to make good management decisions that have a favorable impact on the eventual outcome.

In addition to a possible role as the initial Incident Commander, the CO may well be assigned a subordinate position within the Incident Command System (ICS) organization. COs need to have a clear understanding of the system, the position that they are assigned to, and their role in the organization if they are to function effectively and help make the system work.

This course is an excellent review for experienced COs.

Pre-course materials and course syllabus

Instructions to Download Student Manual: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/BYOD_Instructions_0457.pdf PDF 189KB
Syllabus: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_f0457.pdf PDF 68KB

This course is specifically designed for newly appointed COs and for firefighters who may have acting CO responsibilities or who want to become a CO.

ICS-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Preferred courses are Q462 and Q463, available through NFA Online. Chief's signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training.

Upcoming offerings

Email or call the official under Contact(s) if you are interested in attending a course.
Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP
June 10 - 11, 2023 Bend, Oregon
Julie Olsen
Fire Program Manager
DPSST
503-378-2297
julie.olsen@dpsst.oregon.gov
Kayla Ballrot
Certifications Specialist
DPSST
503-378-2596
kayla.ballrot@dpsst.oregon.gov
Hayden Jones
Fire Training Coordinator
DPSST
503-779-5744
hayden.jones@dpsst.oregon.gov
CCP
June 24, 2023 - October 25, 2023 Cancelled Rapid City, South Dakota
Michael Jones
Deputy Fire Marshal
DPS State Fire Marshal
605-280-8165
Michael.Jones@state.sd.us
Jason White
Chief
North Haines Fire Department
605-391-6283
white77jason@hotmail.com
CCP
July 15 - 16, 2023 Cancelled Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Kilatha Hargiss
Statewide Training
Arkansas Fire Training Academy
870-574-4760
khargiss@sautech.edu
Tate Chanler
OEM Director
Clark County Emergency Management
870-246-0013
tatec@clarkcountyarkansas.com
CCP
September 23 - 24, 2023 Clatskanie, Oregon
Julie Olsen
Fire Program Manager
DPSST
503-378-2297
julie.olsen@dpsst.oregon.gov
Kayla Ballrot
Certifications Supervisor
DPSST
503-378-2596
kayla.ballrot@dpsst.oregon.gov
Aaron Bielemeier
Fire Training Coordinator
DPSST
503-302-5523
aaron.bielmeier@dpsst.oregon.gov
CCP
October 26 - 27, 2023 Bluemont, Virginia
Kristoffer McAlister
Training and Safety Officer
Mount Weather Fire Department
540-542-2660
kristoffer.mcalister@fema.dhs.gov
CCP
December 2 - 3, 2023 Columbia, South Carolina
Mike Dunlap
Education Specialist, NFA State Coordinator
South Carolina Fire Academy
803-896-9842
mike.dunlap@llr.sc.gov
Bonita Watters
Curriculum Manager
South Carolina Fire Academy
803-896-4074
bonita.watters@llr.sc.gov
CCP
December 4 - 5, 2023 Dallas, Texas
Michael W. Cole
Regional Training Manager
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
979-500-6807
michael.cole@teex.tamu.edu
Darren Smith
Training Director - Extension Program
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
979-500-6812
darren.smith@teex.tamu.edu
Micah Manshardt
In-Service Training Lieutenant
Dallas Fire-Rescue
214-670-1530
micah.manshardt@dallasfire.gov
CCP
January 6 - 7, 2024 Warren, Vermont
Jessica Pomainville
Administrative Services Coordinator
Vermont Fire Academy
802-798-9389
jessica.pomainville@vermont.gov
William Jones
Training Coordinator
Vermont Fire Academy
802-483-2751
William.Jones@vermont.gov
Jessica Pomainville
Administrative Services Coordinator
Vermont Fire Academy
802-798-9389
Jessica.Pomainville@vermont.gov
CCP
January 13 - 14, 2024 Rosemount, Minnesota
Jared Rozeboom
Fire Service Specialist
Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division
507-456-0907
jared.rozeboom@state.mn.us
Dan Buchholz
Training Specialist
Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division
612-505-3323
daniel.buchholz@state.mn.us
Jeff Feeder
Lieutenant
Rosemount Fire Department
507-202-1061
jeff.feeder@rosemountmn.gov
CCP
January 16 - 17, 2024 Houston, Texas
Jason Jackson
Regional Training Manager
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
979-500-6839
jason.jackson@teex.tamu.edu
Darren Smith
Training Director - Extension Program
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
979-500-6812
darren.smith@teex.tamu.edu
Jason Corthell
Division Chief - Training
Cypress Creek Fire Department - Harris County ESD13
281-894-0151
jason.corthell@hcesd13.org
CCP
February 24 - 25, 2024 Owensboro, Kentucky
Jimmy VanCleve
Coordinator
State Fire Rescue Training
270-273-3187
jimmy.vancleve@kctcs.edu
Marc Rudder
Director
State Fire Rescue Training
859-256-3189
marc.rudder@kctcs.edu
CCP
February 24 - 25, 2024 Salem, Oregon
Julie Olsen
Fire Program Manager
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
503-378-2297
Julie.Olsen@dpsst.oregon.gov
Kayla Ballrot
Certification Supervisor
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
503-378-2596
Kayla.Ballrot@dpsst.oregon.gov
Aaron Bielemeier
Regional Training Coordinator
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
503-302-5523
Aaron.Bielemeier@dpsst.oregon.gov
CCP
March 9 - 10, 2024 Batesville, Arkansas
Kilatha Hargiss
Fire Division Manager
Arkansas Fire Training Academy
870-574-4760
khargiss@sautech.edu
Mark McCollum
Fire Chief
Batesville Fire Department
870-698-2439
firechief@batesvillearkansas.gov
CCP
April 9 - 10, 2024 Greenville, Mississippi
David Pitts
Instructor Advanced
Mississippi State Fire Academy
601-932-2444
dpitts@msfa.ms.gov
Luke Smith
Instructor Advanced
Mississippi State Fire Academy
601-932-2444
jsmith@msfa.ms.gov
Lonagcio Smith
Division Chief of Training
Greenville Fire Department
662-378-1616
lsmith@greenvillems.org
CCP
June 4 - 5, 2024 Stow, Massachusetts
Alanna Malatos
Program Coordinator
Department of Fire Services Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
978-567-3210
alanna.malatos@mass.gov
Heather Antell
Registration Assistant
Department of Fire Services Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
978-567-3201
heather.antell@mass.gov
CCP
July 15 - 16, 2024 Las Vegas, Nevada
Tom Martinez
Training Officer
State Fire Marshal Division
775-684-7529
tmartinez@dps.state.nv.us
Gary Stevenson
Fire Training Officer
Clark County Fire Department
702-455-7760
garys@clarkcountynv.gov
CCP
September 21 - 22, 2024 Brunswick, Maine
James A. Graves
Director
Maine Fire Service Institute
207-844-2078
jgraves@smccme.edu
James Roy
Deputy Director
Maine Fire Service Institute
207-844-2076
jroy2@smccme.edu
CCP