By Marc Pellegrino

Building a high-performing Incident Management Team (IMT) requires more than just an introductory foundation; it demands continuous progression and the refinement of complex coordination skills. Recognizing a critical gap in the national training curriculum for teams seeking the “next step” after the USFA O-305 course, EMSI developed the ICS-

320: Intermediate Incident Management Team course to bridge that divide.

We recently had the privilege of delivering this specialized training to the Oakland County IMT in Pontiac, Michigan, from February 24-26, 2026. The results were nothing short of exceptional.

 Filling the Gap in IMT Training

While the USFA O-305 provides a vital introduction to IMTs, many teams find themselves searching for additional training to further their operational maturity. EMSI’s ICS-320 was specifically designed to be that bridge, with a deeper focus on practical application and team dynamics. The course focuses on the “intermediate” level of incident management, pushing teams to move beyond basic concepts and into the nuances of managing expanding incidents.

EMSI developed ICS-320 in the early 2000s as part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) national ICS training program.  The course has undergone numerous revisions and updates over the last twenty years and remains a staple in the EMSI training catalog.  The EMSI ICS-320 became the first Type 3 level all-hazards IMT training course, pre-dating FEMA position-specific curriculum and the USFA O-305 course.  The ICS-320 was delivered to the USCG hundreds of times and spread to other government and private sector IMTs.  In the oil and gas sector, EMSI delivers ICS-320 worldwide and it is a core component of many corporate IMT training and development programs.  For state and local all-hazards IMTs, the ICS-320 is a unique training option to advance individual ICS skills and IMT performance.

Unanimous Excellence: Evaluation Highlights

The feedback from the Oakland County participants speaks to the quality and impact of the curriculum. The student evaluations confirm the program’s effectiveness:

• 100% Satisfaction: Every category—from the logical order of the presentation to the realism of the learning objectives—received a perfect score of 5.0 (Excellent).
• Practical Application: Students felt the course provided superior opportunities to apply what they learned directly to their response-related duties.
• Instructor Expertise: The instructors were lauded for their ability to relate content to student needs and supplement the material with deep personal knowledge.

In the Words of the Responders

The most powerful testament to the course’s value comes from the students themselves:

“Fantastic class. I leave here feeling much more prepared to fulfill my duties during any future deployments.”

“This was a great class. I appreciated the one on one feedback from the instructors. The instructors made me think about different perspectives of an incident and improve myself as a responder.”

The instructors were also highlighted for their mentorship and real-world insight:

“Ron was a great mentor. He gave me realistic and relevant feedback as an incident commander.”

“Great presentation. Enjoyed how class material was presented with some of your real-life scenarios.”

Bring ICS-320 to Your Team

As IMTs across the country look to bolster their capabilities, EMSI is ready to help you take that next step. Our ICS-320 course ensures your team isn’t just “introduced” to incident management, but is prepared to master it.

Ready to elevate your team’s performance?

Explore the full ICS-320 course description and contact us today to schedule a session for your organization.
Email: info@emsics.com
Phone: (540) 423-9004