TEXTBOOK/OTHER MATERIALS 

Supplementary reading:
NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, 2003 edition, available from NFPA at www.nfpa.org.

Instructor Materials:
Teaching Outline, Workbook, and PowerPoint: Rev. 2/2005

COURSE DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES 

Description:
This course identifies the performance requirements necessary to perform the duties of a first line supervisor. This course introduces the student to the basic concepts of management and supervision.

Goals:
The purpose of this course is to specify, in terms of performance objectives, the minimum requirements for professional service as a fire officer. This course shall cover the requirements for the Fire Officer I level of progression.

Objectives:   

• Assign tasks or responsibilities to unit members, given an assignment at an emergency operation, so that the instructions are complete, clear, and concise; safety considerations are addressed; and the desired outcomes are conveyed.
• Assign tasks or responsibilities to unit members, given an assignment under non-emergency conditions at a station or other work location, so that the instructions are complete, clear, and consise; safety considerations re addressed; and the desired outcomes are conveyed.
• Direct unit members during a training evolution, given a company training evolution and training policies and procedures, so that the evolution is performed in accordance with safety plans, efficiently, and as directed.
• Recommend action for member-related problems so that the situation is identified and the actions taken are within the established policies and procedures.
• Apply human resource policies and procedures, given an administrative situation requiring action, so that policies and procedures are followed.
• Coordinate the completion of assigned tasks and projects by members so that the assignments are prioritized, a plan for the completion of each assignment is developed, and members are assigned to specific tasks and supervised during the completion of the assignments.
• Initiate action on a community need, given policies and procedures, so that the need is addressed.
• Initiate action to a citizen’s concern, given policies and procedures, so that the concern is answered or referred to the appropriate individual for action and all policies and procedures are complied with.
• Respond to a public inquiry, given policies and procedures, so that the inquiry is answered accurately, courteously, and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Deliver a public education program, given the target audience and topic, so that the intended message is conveyed clearly.
• Recommend changes to existing departmental policies and/or implement a new departmental policy at the unit level, given a new departmental policy, so that the policy is communicated to and understood by unit members.
• Execute routine unit-level administrative functions, given forms and record-management systems, so that the reports and logs are complete and files are maintained in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Prepare a budget request, given a need and budget forms, so that the request is in the proper format and is supported with data.
• Evaluate available information, given a fire incident, observations, and interviews of first-arriving members and other individuals involved in the incident, so that a preliminary cause of the fire is determined, reports are completed, and, if required, the scene is secured and all pertinent information is turned over to an investigator.
• Secure an incident scene, given rope or barrier tape, so that unauthorized persons can recognize the perimeters of the scene and are kept from restricted areas, and all evidence or potential evidence is protected from damage or destruction.
• Develop a pre-incident plan, given an assigned facility and preplanning policies, procedures, and forms, so that all required elements are identified and the approved forms are completed and processed in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Develop an initial action plan, given size-up information for an incident and assigned emergency response resources, so that resources are deployed to control the emergency.
• Implement an action plan at an emergency operation, given assigned resources, type of incident, and a preliminary plan, so that resources are deployed to mitigate the situation.
• Develop and conduct a post-incident analysis, given a single unit incident and post-incident analysis policies, procedures, and forms, so that all required critical elements are identified and communicated, and the approved forms are completed and processed in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Apply safety regulations at the unit level, given safety policies and procedures, so that required reports are completed, in-service training is conducted, and member responsibilities are conveyed.
• Conduct an initial accident investigation, given an incident and investigation forms, so that the incident is documented and reports are processed in accordance with policies and procedures.
   

Instructional methods: Classroom instruction

COURSE SCHEDULE 

(Tentative, subject to change depending on the progress of the class)

Day One:
Introduction, Assuming the Role of Company Officer, Fire Department Structure (Exercise 1), The Company as A Group, Elements of Supervision and Management (Skill 1), Company Level Training (Skill 2 & 3 for homework)

Day Two:
Class discussion of Skill 2 & 3, Company Level Training (Skill 4), Community Awareness (Skills 5, 6, & 7), Community Awareness/Public Education (Skill 8), Labor Relations

Day Three:
Budget Process (Skill 9), Information Management (Skill 10), Fire Department Communications (Skill 11), Fire Investigations (Skill 12), Pre Incident Planning

Day Four:
Incident Scene Communications, Incident Scene Management, Size-Up and Incident Plans, Action Plan Implementation (Skill 14), Fire Fighter Safety and Health

Day Five:
Skill 13 (Pre-incident survey field work) Performance and class discussion, Skill 15 performance and class discussion, Review, Course Critique, Certification Exam

 COURSE POLICIES 

Tardiness:
Students must adhere to class schedules. Students are required to be punctual for all classes and class activities. Classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time unless specific instructions are given otherwise.

Class participation:
This course will involve discussion, questions and answers on the materials, and case study. Class participation is expected from all students.

Safety:
Safety of the students is top priority to the Alabama Fire College. Students must adhere to safety regulations while attending a class on or off the Fire College campus. At the Fire College campus, safety instructions are posted in every classroom, as well as escape routes and tornado actions.

Academic misconduct:
Academic misconduct or dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism is not permitted in class. Suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Executive Director. Conduct detrimental to the fire service on or off campus will not be tolerated. We will investigate any complaints, and if the complaint is valid the student will be dismissed and his/her agency will be notified.

Grading:
Letter grades are assigned according to the following system for all certification courses for which students have registered.
A – Excellent (90-100)
B – Good (80-89)
C – Average (70-79)
Satisfactory grades for certification are A, B, or C. A mark of AU is assigned for course work performed as an audit.

Certification:
There will be an examination for state certification provided by the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission. An overall score of 70% is required to the successful completion of this examination. Re-tests may be taken after 30 days and within 12 months of the date of course completion. The Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission is accredited by the National Professional Qualifications System (NPQS). The Executive Director has generously decided to fund national registration and certification for all successful students, so each student will automatically receive certification from the NPQS upon successful completion of the course and exam.

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