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Communications Unit Leader Training
The Communications Unit Leader (COML) plays a critical support role within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS establishes basic principles, practical tools, and a definitive nomenclature and structure for supporting incident-based emergency response. The COML is responsible for integrating communications and ensuring that operations are supported by communications. The COML must understand ICS and local response systems to support the efforts of the command team.
The COML is responsible for both operational and technical aspects of communications during an incident. Operational aspects include establishing field communications between the Incident Command Post (ICP) and dispatch center(s) using incident dispatchers, tactical dispatchers, or radio operators, monitoring field communications, and monitoring effective use of radio channels/talkgroups. Technical aspects include determining the appropriate radio channels/talkgroups to be used, programming and deployment of cache radios, interference mitigation, etc.
The role of COML was developed in response to the need for a cadre of individuals who are knowledgeable, trained, and certified to support communications during incidents managed under ICS. The position descriptions for COML and other functions within the Communications Unit (particularly the Communications Technician or COMT), were developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) over the past three decades, directed exclusively toward managing large wildfires and using equipment in the VHF and UHF bands, though NWCG resources are available for other disasters and large events if not already committed to wildfire response.
Over the past 3 years, it became apparent that the NWCG course and related certification processes needed to be expanded to include all hazards. As a first step, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the COML as a critical role within the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Through course development work funded by its Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Management Systems Integration Division (IMSID), and with direct input from the emergency response community, DHS initially identified issues that needed to be addressed prior to the successful establishment of a process to train, qualify, and credential incident communications support staff. DHS funded the initial development of the COML course in 2007.
In February 2008, 30 public safety practitioners, representing multiple disciplines across the nation, met in Seattle, Washington to discuss the COML course. Representatives from the IMSID and Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) also attended the meeting. The information below highlights the next steps and recommendations that resulted from the meeting:
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COML Training Information
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Important COML Class Updates
It is important to note that the OEC-sponsored national rollout of this training has ended and all of those classes are completed. Thus, there is no more assurance that an out-of-area student can get into a class just because there are less than the 15 students/instructor (typically 30 for a class) level that OEC originally set.
The classes referenced above have been requested by the states/territories through OEC/ICTAP as one of their five FY2010 support requests, or are being independently sponsored by a local/regional/state governmental entity and *may* be grant funded (IECGP, SHSGP or other source) to include reimbursement for class and student costs. The listed classes will be taught by OEC-approved instructors, and students successfully completing the class will receive an OEC Certificate of Completion. However, attendance at these classes must be arranged through the listed POC and may be restricted to students in that locale, region, state, etc. Also, if grant funded, class/student reimbursement is almost always restricted to at least the state where the class is being hosted, if not further (county, region, etc), unless an out-of-state student can make arrangements for support from within that student's own state as some have been able to do.
All-Hazards Type III COML Course
The All-Hazards Type III COML course will be made available for use by localities and states.
Type III COML Course Prequalifications
- A public safety communications background with exposure to field operations; this experience should be validated by the authority who supervised the student.
- Fundamental public safety communications technology, supervisory, and personnel management skills. These include, but are not limited to:
- Knowledge of local communications and communications system
- Frequencies and spectrum
- Technologies
- Knowledge of local topography
- Knowledge of system site locations including knowledge of local, regional, and state communications plans, and knowledge of local and regional Tactical Interoperable Communications Plans, if available
- Communications and resource contacts
- Completion of the following training courses:
- IS-700, IS-800b. IS-700 explains the purpose, principles, key components, and benefits of the NIMS. The course also contains Planning Activity screens, allowing participants to complete planning tasks during this course. IS-800b introduces participants to the concepts and principles of the National Response Framework.
- ICS-100, ICS-200, and ICS-300. ICS-100 introduces ICS; provides the foundation for higher level ICS training; describes the history, features, principles, and organizational structure of ICS; and the relationship between the ICS and NIMS. ICS-200 provides training on, and resources for, personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within ICS. ICS-300 covers ICS staffing and organization including reporting and working relationships and information flow, transfer of command, Unified Command functions in a multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency incident, ICS forms, resource management, and interagency mission planning and procurement.
Communications Unit Awareness Course
All ICS command and general staff positions should understand basic communications unit issues and terminology. It was determined that an awareness-level, independent study course needed to be developed. It should be available online and take 2 to 4 hours to complete, and would be based upon high-level information extracted from the COML course. Following suggestions from the meeting attendees and a review by the COML Working Group, this course was developed and is being finalized. As with the Type III COML course, the intent is to have the Communications Unit Awareness course go through IMSID review. The goal is to have the Communications Unit Awareness course included as a recommended course within the prerequisites for all ICS position-specific training.
Policy Recommendations
The following are recommendations made by the participants at the April meeting:
- A task book should be used to document qualifications and describe the functions and tasks of an ICS position. A position-specific task book for COML has been developed to serve as an Assessment Guide. Individuals may include experience within the previous 3 years to meet the task book requirements, which comprise a list of practical, hands-on experiences or skills that must be demonstrated. A task book describes functions and tasks of an ICS position or function.
- To ensure quality control of the documentation process associated with this training program, the approval authorities for related requirements should be limited to a small pool of supervisory personnel or individuals with relevant experience. To that end, only a NIMS-qualified COML, designated agency head, or Incident Commander can:
- Confirm an individual has completed the prequalifications to take the All-hazards Type III COML course.
- Approve the student’s task book once complete.
- All-hazards Type III COMLs should participate in a full-scale exercise, incident, or planned event every 3 years to keep their qualifications up to date. Currently, no refresher course is recommended to maintain All-hazards Type III COML certification.
- In lieu of a National Registry and/or federal certification body, states should collect documentation on student qualifications.
- To qualify as a lead instructor of an All-hazards Type III COML course, the candidate should be a qualified All-hazards Type III COML, have attended an All-hazards Type III COML train-the-trainer course, and have served as an adjunct instructor through at least one full All-hazards Type III COML course.
- For those who took part in the pilot COML courses conducted by SEARCH (a national consortium of the states based in Sacramento, California) as part of the OIC-funded effort, the following criteria applies:
- To be considered qualified All-hazards Type III COMLs, those who took the pilot courses and meet the previously listed prequalifications also need to complete the task book requirements detailed in the Type III COML course.
- To serve as a lead instructor for an All-hazards Type III COML course, those who attended the train-the-trainer course and meet the prequalifications also need to complete the task book requirements and serve as an adjunct instructor through at least one full course.
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