Course Name:Decision Making for Initial Company Operations (DMICO)

Date(s)/Time(s):

April 7th & 8th, 2016 0830 to 1700

Location: Burlington Fire Protection District

6050 Firehouse Dr, Burlington, KY 41005

Instructor(s): Todd Schulkers Lead

Course Code/Name: AA0000 ~ Decision Making for Initial Company Operations (DMICO)

Sponsoring Agency(s): Burlington Fire Protection District and Kentucky Fire Commission’s State Fire Rescue Training Area 7.

Registration: Please email Todd Schulkers at . Please carbon copy your training officer or chief in on your registration. Complete the attached “Work Force Application” and submit on the day of the course offering (leave the social security line blank).

Cost: Free

Course Description:

(Formally Managing Company Tactical Operations - Decision Making MCTO-DM) Decision Making for Initial Company Operations 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. As a Company Officer (CO) 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 they 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 (IC), the CO may well be assigned a subordinate position within the ICS organization. COs need to have a clear understanding of the system, the position they are assigned, and their role in the organization if they are to function effectively and help make the system work.

Pre-requisites:There are no pre-requisites to attend this course.

Selection criteria: Company officers, acting officers, or senior firefighters who command a fire company during emergency operations. Those officers who are responsible for maintaining skills and company readiness.

Additional Materials Needed:

  • Students will need a Pen and paper
  • Students will need their State Firefighter number, Fire Department number, and County Code number.
  • Provided by instructor
  • NFA DMICO Student Manual
  • Hand-outs
  • NIOSH reports; case history

Attendance/Certification Policy:

  • 100% attendance and participation required.
  • Students must pass a written test with a minimum score of 80%. After successful completion, students will receive a National Fire Academy certificate.

The Company Officer:

In many departments, the promotion from firefighter to officer involves being issued a badge and receiving a handshake from the chief. Often the training needed to handle the new responsibilities is obtained through the trial-and-error process known as "on-the-job" training. Decision Making for Initial Company Operations (DMICO)is designed to provide the new or prospective Company Officer (CO), in a more formal way, with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform effectively at an incident scene.

Many inexperienced CO's assume that all they need to be successful is a basic knowledge of tactics and a good foundation of firefighting methods. In fact, performance at emergency incidents is based on the numerous roles that the CO plays, both on and off the incident scene. This course provides general background information on CO roles and responsibilities, with particular emphasis on those used to prepare for actual incident operations.

Contact Information:

Contact SFRT Area 7 Coordinator Chief Bill Birkle or myself should you have any further questions. Feel free to share this course offering with your contacts.

Kentucky Fire Commission

State Fire Rescue Training Area 7

Coordinator Bill Birkle

KCTCS/Gateway Community Technical College

PO Box 76488

90 Campbell Drive

Highland Heights, KY 41076

Office: 859-441-6859 Fax 859-441-1158

NFA Course descriptions

PICO (Formerly Managing Company Tactical Operations: Preparation (MCTO:P)) This course is designed to develop a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Company Officer in preparing their company for incident operations. In addition, to clarify the transition from firefighter to company officer and the new roles relating to leadership and safety. This course is designed for company officers, acting company officers, or senior firefighters responsible for the management of a single fire company at an emergency incident. Those officers who are responsible for company readiness, personnel safety, and leadership as it relates to company operation.

DMICO (Formally Managing Company Tactical Operations - Decision Making MCTO-DM) Decision Making for Initial Company Operations 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. As a Company Officer (CO) 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 they 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 (IC), the CO may well be assigned a subordinate position within the ICS organization. COs need to have a clear understanding of the system, the position they are assigned, and their role in the organization if they are to function effectively and help make the system work.

STICO (Formally Managing Company Tactical Operations Strategy/Tactics MCTO-T) is designed to meet the needs of Company Officers responsible for managing the operations of one or more companies during structural firefighting operations. STICO is designed to develop the management skills needed by company officers to accomplish assigned tactics at structure fires.