WFCA – Communications Unit Leader Training (COML)

The All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader (COML) course trains emergency responders to serve as radio communications unit leaders during all-hazards emergency operations. COML responsibilities include developing plans to effectively use incident communications equipment and facilities, managing distribution of communications equipment to incident personnel, and coordinating the installation and testing of communications equipment. Since 2008 the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has conducted COML courses across the nation and trained more than 3,900 public safety responders in this course.

Description
This course is designed for all Federal, State/Territory, tribal, regional, and local emergency response professionals and support personnel who have an emergency communications background. It is designed to familiarize them with the role and responsibilities of a COML under the National Incident Management System Incident Command System (NIMS ICS). CISA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute have integrated the COML curriculum to jointly offer a standardized All-Hazards COML course.

This course provides DHS-approved and NIMS-compliant instruction with a goal of ensuring Federal agencies and State/Territory organizations have trained personnel capable of coordinating on-scene emergency communications during a multi-jurisdictional response or a planned event. CISA instructors are approved by DHS and have extensive experience both as emergency responders and as COMLs. The course is presented with facilitated lecture, hands-on activities, and extensive interactive discussions. Instructors work through the discussions and activities to explain the processes used to achieve communication operability, interoperability, and how to incorporate additional communications solutions.

This course is four days long and is limited to 30 students.

Class Prerequisites
To attend this course, applicants must have the following prerequisites:

In addition, ICS-400, Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents, is recommended, but not required.

Course Dates and Location
This COML course is offered 25-28 September 2023 2023 at the SouthPoint Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, NV. There is no charge for this training, and course materials will be provided by CISA. All travel/per diem costs are the responsibility of the individual student’s agency.

Registration
Students must obtain a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number from the Center for Domestic Preparedness in order to complete the online prerequisites and register for this COML course. To register for a SID, applicants should go to https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register. Applicants will receive the SID via email.

Applicants should submit the signed copy of the FEMA General Admissions Application form with scanned copies of all prerequisite Certificates of Completions, for IS/ICS prerequisite courses, to jaimie.l.flowers.civ@us.navy.mil. The only required signatures on this form are the student’s (below paragraph 21d.) and their supervisor’s (in block 22a.) before submitting it to the above e-mail address. Any additional questions should be directed to Jamie Flowers at the email address noted above.

Copies of prerequisite documentation which verify applicants have met the prerequisites and are eligible to participate in the course must be submitted and reviewed at least fourteen (14) days prior to the course start date.

Registration is not complete until all documentation has been received and verified. Admittance is limited to the first 30 qualified applicants. Jamie Flowers will notify applicants they are registered as soon as their prerequisites are verified but no later than fourteen business (14) days prior to the start of the course.