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Field Coordinator Promotion and Qualification Policy
As published by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Search and Rescue, 8/21/2010
Basic Requirements For Field Coordinator / Incident Commander
By Type For Search And Rescue Missions
All promotions are subject to approval by the Resource Officer and the New Mexico State Police Chief.
The training and standards are cumulative and appropriate equipment and supplies should be maintained and added to with each promotion.
Individual performances will be evaluated yearly using the following factors: Availability, Communication, Competence, Coordination of Incident Activities, Delegation of Authority, Documentation, General Behavior on Missions, Operational Readiness and Stress Management.
Dismissal of a Field Coordinator may result at any time from lack of compliance, inferior performance, or improper conduct as established by the Resource Officer.
Any Field Coordinator missing two Field Coordinator Rendezvous in a row will be removed from the roster.
Should a Field Coordinator take a leave of absence from Search and Rescue duty, the duration of that leave shall be no longer than one year in order to be reinstated at the same level. In addition, said Field Coordinator must participate in Field Coordinator training, Rendezvous or ESCAPE during that year. In the event that these requirements are not met, the said Field Coordinator must attend Field Coordinator School before being reinstated one level down.
Certain basic requirements for Field Coordinators may be waived for any type, provided all the current Area Commanders and the Resource Officer agree and these requirements are completed within one year of the amended promotion.
Every Field Coordinator must be available for week-long rotation of Incident Command duty or must provide a substitute during that week.
Type IV
Initial Attack Incident Commander
Must be certified as per NM SAR Basic Field Certification program.
Must have successfully completed ICS 100 & 200.
Must have successfully completed the Operations or the Planning Section Chief class.
Must successfully complete the Field Coordinator School.
Must have been part of a Search and Rescue team.
Must have participated in two missions as an Operations and/or Planning Section Chief during the year prior to application.
Must have management experience in Search and Rescue or other field.
Must be willing to manage local district missions.
Must be prepared to stay in the field for one operational period.
Must be recommended by a minimum of one current Field Coordinator.
Must be willing to be mentored by another Field Coordinator.
Must have all required components of the Basic Field Coordinator Kit (see Appendix A) and all required mission paperwork (see Appendix B).
Must have access to a cell phone while on-call and during Missions.
Must have a hand-held radio with a high-gain antenna programmed to the New Mexico Search and Rescue frequencies and the State car-to-car frequency.
Type III
Extended Attack Incident Commander
Must have successfully completed the Planning and the Operations Section Chief classes.
Must have completed eight hours of Search and Rescue and/or Incident Command System training per year.
Must have managed at least five missions, which can include state sanctioned training missions as Incident Commander or Section Chief and have a minimum of two years field experience as a Type IV Incident Commander.
Must be willing to manage local and adjacent districts missions.
Must be prepared to stay in the field more than twelve hours.
Must be recommended by one current Area Commander. Must have the Type III equipment of the Basic Field Coordinator Kit.
Type II
State-wide Incident Commander
Must have successfully completed all Section Chief classes and the Safety Officer class.
Must have successfully completed ICS 300.
Must have completed eight hours of Search and Rescue and/or Incident Command System training per year.
Must have successfully completed Air Operations Branch Director training.
Must have participated in at least ten missions, which can include state sanctioned training missions as Incident Commander or Section Chief and have a minimum of two years field experience as a Type III Incident Commander.
Must be willing to manage missions anywhere in New Mexico.
Must be prepared to stay in the field more than twenty-four hours.
Must be recommended by two or more current Area Commanders.
Must have the Type II equipment of the Basic Field Coordinator Kit.
Must own a mobile radio for both Search and Rescue and Amateur frequencies.
Should have a 3-watt cell phone or a cell phone amplifier with an external antenna.
Type I
Area Commander
Must have completed Liaison and /or Public Information Officer classes.
Must have successfully completed ICS 700.
Must have completed sixteen hours of Search and Rescue and/or Incident Command System training and/or instructing per year.
Must have participated in at least fifteen missions which can include state sanctioned training missions as Incident Commander or Section Chief and have a minimum of two years field experience as a Type II Incident Commander.
Must be able to manage missions anywhere in New Mexico.
Must be prepared to stay in the field for multiple operational periods.
Must be available for week-long rotation of Area Commander duty.
Must be recommended by all current Area Commanders.
Must attend at least half of the Area Commander meetings per year, whether in person or through conference calls.
Must be willing to teach Search and Rescue and/or Incident Command System classes.
Must have all required Area Commander forms.
Must be able and willing to hold any Incident Command System position on incidents other than Search and Rescue.
Appendix A
Recommended Equipment List
Multiple copies of required SAR ICS forms (Appendix B)
Current NMSAR Resource Directory
ICS SAR Field Operations Guide (Firescope / NASAR, Incident Command Field Handbook)
FC notebook from FC class
Radio frequency lists
IC vest and FC uniform shirt/black pants
Maps:
Type IV and above - All home district USGS topos, 1:24,000 scale, and local forest, park and other recreation area maps
Type III and above – All adjacent district’s USGS topos, 1:24,000 scale, and local forest, park and other recreation area maps (computer software is acceptable)
Type II and above – Maps for entire State, USGS topos, 1:24,000 scale, and local forest, park and other recreation area maps (computer software is acceptable)
Office supplies:
Writing pads
Pens and pencils
Multiple color permanent markers and dry-erase markers
Tape (transparent, masking, duct)
Paper clips, stapler and staples
Several file folders
Several large envelopes (9x12)
Graph paper (optional)
Carbon paper (optional)
2 Clipboards
Message board and its writing material
Measuring tape, various lengths
Map board, plastic sheeting
Flagging tape, several colors
Flashlight/headlamp and spare batteries/bulbs, lantern and spare batteries/fuel
GPS unit and spare batteries
Clock or watch (with alarm function)
Camera, film and spare batteries (single use cameras acceptable)
Tape recorder and extra batteries (optional)
Clinometer or Abney Level (optional)
Thermometer and wind gauge or belt weather kit (optional)
Pack or other container
Eye protection
Hiking boots
Knife
Compass with 5-degree accuracy
Whistle
Signal mirror
Personal first aid kit
Space blanket
Fire starter
20 ft of 1” tubular webbing
1 Pair sturdy work gloves
Food for 24 hours
Water (1 gallon or more)
Overnight gear:
Personal shelter
Sleeping gear (bag, pad, pillow, etc.)
Camp stove/fuel (optional)
Personal toiletry kit, towel
Extra clothing (No cotton or cotton-blend clothing):
Head cover
Gloves or mittens
Socks
Inner layer (basic underwear, long underwear – bottoms and tops)
Middle layer(s) for warmth and wind protection (bottoms and tops)
Outer layer for wind and water protection (bottoms and top with hood)
NOTE: Although cotton clothing may be included for hot weather, 3 non-cotton or cotton-blend clothing layers (1 each inner, middle and outer layer) must be available.
Appendix B
SAR ICS FORMS
| FORM # | FORM | ICS POSITION |
| - | Mission Maps | IC, Plans, Ops |
| - | Injury and Liability Release | ICS or EMS |
| 201 (doc) (pdf) | Incident Briefing | MI or IC |
| 202 (doc) (pdf) | Incident Objectives | IC, Plans |
| 203 (doc) (pdf) | Organization Assignment | Plans, Logs |
| 204 (doc) (pdf) | Task Assignment | Plans, Ops |
| 205 (doc) (pdf) | Communication Plan | Logs |
| 206 (doc) (pdf) | Medical Plan | Logs |
| 209 (doc) (pdf) | Incident Status Summary | IC, SCs |
| 211 (doc) (pdf) | Check-in List | Logs |
| 213 (doc) (pdf) | Safety Message | Safety |
| 214 (doc) (pdf) | Unit Log | All |
| 215A (doc) (pdf) | Incident Safety Analysis | Safety |
| 215 (doc) (pdf) | Operational Planning Worksheet | Plans |
| 220 (doc) (pdf) | Air Operations | Ops |
| 300 (pdf) | SAR Incident Report | IC |
| 301 (doc) (pdf) | MI Questionnaire | MI or IC |
| 302 (doc) (pdf) | IC Questionnaire | IC |
| 303 (doc) (pdf) | ICS Operational Period Cover Sheet | IC |
| 305 (doc) (pdf) | Area Commander Log | AC |
| 306 (doc) (pdf) | Area Commander Report | AC |
| 307 (doc) (pdf) | Mission Scenario Worksheet | Plans |
| 308 (doc) (pdf) | Incident Action Plan Worksheet | Plans |
| 309 (doc) (pdf) | Aircraft Request Form | IC, Plans |
| 310 (doc) (pdf) | Communication Log | Logs (Comm) |
| 311 (doc) (pdf) | Mission Clue Log | Logs (Comm) |
| 312 (doc) (pdf) | POA Consensus Worksheet | Plans |
| 313 (doc) (pdf) | Observer Report | All |
| 314 (doc) (pdf) | Resource Tracking Worksheet | Logs (Comm) |
NOTE: FCs should have several copies (5 or more) of all forms and at least 2 dozen (or more) of each of forms 204, 211, 214 and 310 (form 305 for ACs). The forms used during a mission should be replaced as soon as possible.
