Basic Incident Command System

Lesson 4: General Staff Role

FACILITATED BY: ___________________

 COURSE’S OVERVIEW
In the previous lesson, you learned that the Command Staff supports the Incident Commander who is
responsible for overall management of the incident.

This lesson introduces you to the General Staff.

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify the Incident Command System (ICS) titles used for General Staff members.

• Describe the major activities of the four general staff sections.

 General Staff

To maintain span of control, the Incident Commander may establish any or all of the following four
sections: Operations, Planning, Budget/Logistics, and Administration.

INCIDENT COMMAND

GENERAL STAFF

OPERATION PLANNING LOGISTICS FINANCE/

SECTION SECTION SECTION ADMINISTRATION
SECTION
 General Staff Overview

In an expanding incident, the Incident Commander first establishes the Operations Section.
The remaining sections are established as needed to support the operation.
.

INCIDENT COMMAND

GENERAL STAFF

OPERATION PLANNING LOGISTICS FINANCE/

SECTION SECTION SECTION ADMINISTRATION
SECTION

Directs all responses/tactical actions to

Activated as needed to support the incident
achieve the incident objectives.
response.
General Staff Overview
 Operations Section

The Incident Commander determines whether there is

a need for an Operations Section and, if so, will
designate a Chief, Operations Section.
It is up to the Chief, Operations Section to activate
any additional staffing that is needed. When the Chief,
Operations Section is designated, the staging and
management of operational resources moves from the
Incident Command to Operations/Plans Section.
Chief, Operations Section
If no Operations Section is established, the Incident
Commander will perform all operations and planning
functions.
 Operations Section Major Activities
The major operation activities of the Operations Section may include:

•Implementing strategies and developing tactics to carry out the incident objectives
•Directing the management of all tactical activities on behalf of the Incident Commander
•Supporting the development of the Incident Action Plan to ensure it accurately reflects current operations
•Organizing, assigning, and supervising the tactical response resources
 Planning Section

The Planning Section Chief is designated only after the Incident

Commander determines whether there is a need for a Planning
Section.

It is up to the Planning Section Chief to activate any additional

staffing that is needed.

Chief, Operations/Plans Section

The Incident Commander will perform all planning functions if no
Planning Section is established.

NOTE: Planning Function is embedded in Operation Function but

in some government agencies Planning Function are performed
separately from Operation Function
 Planning Section Major Activities
The major planning activities of the Planning Section may include:
•Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans
•Managing information and maintaining situational awareness for the incident
•Tracking resources assigned to the incident
•Maintaining incident documentation
•Developing plans for demobilization
 Logistic Section Major Activities

The Chief, Logistics Section is designated only after the Incident

Commander determines whether there is a need for a Logistics
Section.

It is up to the Chief, Logistics Section Staff to activate any additional

staffing that is needed.

The Incident Commander will perform all logistics functions or Chief, Logistic Section
designate one person in his Command Staff if no Chief, Logistics
Section Staff is established.
 Logistic Section Major Activities
The Logistics Section is responsible for all services and support needs, including:
• Ordering, obtaining, maintaining, and accounting for essential personnel, equipment, and
supplies
• Providing communication planning and resources
• Setting up food services for responders
• Setting up and maintaining incident facilities
• Providing support transportation
• Providing medical services to incident personnel
 Finance/Administration Section

The Incident Commander determines whether

there is a need for a Finance/Administration
Section at the incident.

If so, the Incident Commander will designate an

individual to fill the position of
Finance/Administration Section Chief.

The Time, Compensation/Claims, Cost, and Chief, Finance/Administration Section

Procurement Units may be established within
this section.
Finance/Administration Section Major Activities
The Finance/Administration Section is set up for any incident that requires incident-specific financial
management. The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for:
• Contract negotiation and monitoring
• Timekeeping
• Cost analysis
• Compensation for injury or damage to property
• Documentation for reimbursement (e.g., under mutual aid agreements and assistance agreements)
 Intelligence/Investigation Section

The Chief, Intelligence/Investigation Section is

designated only after the Incident Commander
determines whether there is a need for an
Intelligence/Investigation Staff.

Usually, using ICS in event like security coverage

does not require Intelligence/Investigation Section
but Intelligence/Investigation Function are Chief, Intelligence/Investigation Section
designated to Command Staff.
Intelligence/Investigation Section Major Activities
The major activities of the Intelligence/Investigation Section may include:

• Preparing and documenting Incident Action Plans

• Creation of multiple, conflicting investigative records
• Use of different evidence processing protocols
• Interviews of the same person multiple times by different personnel
• Use of different evidence invoicing and chain of custody procedures
• Detention or arrest of suspects
• Surveillance of suspects
• Analysis of forensic or digital and multimedia evidence using different methodologies

Intelligence/Investigation
Section
 Section Chiefs Activity 4.1

Activity Purpose: To review the General Staff responsibilities.

Instructions: Working individually:

1.Review the table in your Student Manual.

2.Identify the correct Section Chief for each statement.

3.Be prepared to share your answers in 5 minutes.

Time: 10 minutes
 General Staff Review (1 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

"In advance of severe flooding, there is a need to get generators and communications equipment to the Staging
Areas to equip advance response teams. Its my responsibility to make sure the needed equipment arrives at
the Staging Areas."
 General Staff Review (2 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

"As the response is underway, my section tracks all personnel participating in the response."
 General Staff Review (3 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

"My section conducts response activities such as search and rescue, and coordinates medical
services being provided to disaster survivors."
 General Staff Review (4 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

" My section was activated to gather significant information. I need to provide real-time information to the
command group to help them make a sound decision "
 General Staff Review (5 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

“I support the incident response activities by overseeing contracting for needed supplies and services
that are not already available."
 General Staff Review (6 of 6)

Which member of the General Staff is described below?

"Throughout the incident and during the After-Action Review process, the report that we develop
will be very useful"
 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 1

Activity Purpose: To reinforce participants understanding of General Staff functions. Instructions:

1.Working in groups, review the scenario presented in your Student Manual.

2.Use what you have learned to answer the questions for each part of the activity before proceeding to the next page.
Write your answers on chart paper.
3.When you have answered each set of questions, move on to the next page.
4.Select a spokesperson and be prepared to discuss your answers to all the questions in 15 minutes.

Time: 20 minutes

Scenario Part 1: The PNPA cadets are complaining about feeling lightheaded and seasick during lunch time. The Cadet
Mess Officer who doing a routine inspection discovers a piece of left baggage leaking a harmful-smelling chemical and
he immediately informs the Mess Officer. The mess officer consequently inform duty STO. The duty STO together with
three PNCOs thereafter establishes the initial ICS organization.

Question: In the ICS organization described above, the STO has assumed which role?
 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 2

Scenario Part 2: A team from PNPA HS arrives at the scene with an ambulance. In addition, a
team from GSSD in a patrol car with one officer has arrived to help with perimeter control. Also
arrived on the scene is a team of HAZMAT from Silang Fire Station.

Question: What must happen before the HazMat Team Leader assumes the Incident Commander
role?
 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 3

Scenario Part 3: To maintain span of control as the incident expands, the Incident Commander
establishes an Operations Section.

Question: What is the role of Operation Officer

 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 4

Scenario Part 4: After the first hour, the Incident Commander establishes a second Section that will
develop the Incident Action Plan and track the status of resources on the scene.

Question: What is the correct title of this Section?

 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 5
Scenario Part 5:

• In an interview, the mess officer mentions that he has received threats from a recently terminated
employee.

• The substance has yet to be identified.

• Considering the situation, there is a need to find witnesses and locate people who may have come
in contact with the baggage.

• Interview areas have been set up in the Lakan Museum Area.

• There are an increasing number of response personnel at the scene, creating the need for
communications support along with provision such food and drinks.

Question: Which Sections are responsible for providing these support resources?
 General Staff Functions - Activity 4.2 Part 6

Scenario Part 6: Cleanup is complete, and the few exposed cadets and staff have been located and
are undergoing treatment. The operation is now shifting to an ongoing investigation of the disgruntled
former employee.

Question: Which resources would you demobilize?

 Lesson 4 Summary

This unit introduced you to:

•The Incident Command System (ICS) roles of the General Staff.

•The major activities of the four ICS General Staff sections.

The next unit focuses on how the ICS applies to you and your agency or organization.