The primary goal of the NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program has always been to provide additional training that may be needed by personnel responsible for managing incidents of greater complexity than those typically encountered during routine operations. The training is designed to provide all-hazards competencies and behaviors for command, general staff and selected unit leader positions within a Type III or IV Incident Management Team (IMT) environment. Competencies in the training are focused around the ability of the student to assume specific position responsibilities, lead assigned personnel, communicate effectively, and to ensure the completion of assigned tasks in order to meet identified objectives for the position.

The need for a standardized approach to all-hazards training was first recognized in the mid-1980’s. This recognition was underscored by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, in addition to the natural disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. These incidents reinforced the need for the nation’s emergency managers and first responders to develop an improved posture for preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery through an “all hazards” strategy. At the core of this realization is the need for standardized training in systems and performance competencies that enable emergency management and response personnel to execute the essential tasks needed to overcome any challenge.

The establishment of a comprehensive training program that could ultimately serve as one of the requirements for a national credentialing system also requires the establishment of a national database for record keeping.

Today, the courses in the traditional “L-900’ series continue having gone through several revisions to reflect the understanding of increasing incident complexity and lessons learned from exercise and real-world events. Private sector and other entities have also joined in the need for comprehensive training moving forward into the future.