ALCOAST 143/18 - APR 2018 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM LOGISTICS SECTION CHIEF AND FINANCE SECTION CHIEF (ICS-351) COURSE UPDATE

R 161148 APR 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N03120//
ALCOAST 143/18
COMDTNOTE 3120
SUBJ:  INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM LOGISTICS SECTION CHIEF AND FINANCE SECTION CHIEF (ICS-351)
COURSE UPDATE
A. Contingency Preparedness Planning Manual, Volume 4: Incident Management and Crisis
Response, COMDTINST M3010.24 (series)
B. All-Hazard National Incident Management System Performance Qualification Standard
Guide November 2014
C. Financial Resource Management Manual (FRMM), COMDTINST M7100.3 (series)
1. All scheduled ICS-351 courses for FY18 were cancelled due to a shortage of available
subject matter experts at TRACEN Yorktown to teach the course. At this time, staffing
shortfalls remain a concern. COMDT (CG-CPE) is actively working on a long-term solution
with TRACEN Yorktown.
2. Feedback from the field indicates there are a significant number of members who have
completed their PQS and only need the ICS-351 course to complete their certification.
Per REF (A), COMDT (CG-CPE) is authorized to allow units to grant interim certifications
when courses are unavailable.
3. Until further notice Sector Commanders and Commanding Officers are authorized to grant
interim Type 3 Logistics Section Chief, Finance Section Chief,and Unit Leader certifications
that require the ICS-351 course. The interim certification will expire after 2 years or upon
departure from the unit. Interim certifications are not entered in TMT/DA, do not count
towards unit readiness metrics (CGBI or number of WQSB certified members) and do not count
towards Officer Specialty Code requirements. The interim certification may be included in
the OER/EER. The interim certification memo shall indicate that the member must complete
the required course to attain the permanent certification. Members names and interim
certification date shall be forwarded to COMDT (CG-CPE) for tracking purposes.
4. Members are able to obtain a permanent certification by attending an approved equivalent
FEMA NIMS ICS course listed in REF (B). If a member believes they have found an equivalent
course that is not listed, they shall request approval from COMDT (CG-CPE) (via their
District/Area/DOL ICS Coordinator) to consider the training equivalent. They must submit
the course documents (curriculum, block plan) to indicate the topics covered and length of
training. Pages 7-8 of REF (B) provide a list of FEMA NIMS ICS equivalent courses by title
and course code that are accepted by the Coast Guard. Many of these courses are offered
within each FEMA region by state and/or local agencies. It is the member’s responsibility
to complete all portions of the CG PQS that are not covered by the non-Coast Guard course.
5. Per REF (C), units are not authorized to expend AFC-30 funds (for travel or registration)
to send members to courses equivalent to those offered in the C-school system.
6. COMDT (CG-CPE) POC is LCDR Jeanita Jefferson, Jeanita.A.Jefferson@uscg.mil, (202) 372-2261.
7. Ms. Dana Tulis, Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy, sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.