The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has mandated that all members be trained and become aware of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) National Response Plan. If the FDNY does not comply, they will lose future DHS grant funding.

Company officers and firefighters must complete course IS-700 and Chief officers must complete courses IS-700 and IS-800. The Department had intended to administer these courses and required test during the company drill period. The UFOA and UFA met jointly with Chief of Department Cassano to request additional time and compensation for this required training.

The Department has agreed to give the courses after your regular scheduled day or night tour. Company officers course (IS-700) will be a three-hour course and Chief officers courses (IS-700 and IS-800) is a combined four-hour course. All courses will be at contractual time and a half pay for company officers and time and a half comp time for Chief officers.

All of our members as well as the firefighters under your command must remain in quarters for the entire allotted time. Officers will be held accountable and must verify member's attendance. The UFOA and UFA insisted that the Department properly fund the training, and to their credit, they did.

Your unions negotiated the overtime payment for this necessary and important training. We ask all officers to fully comply with the directives of Chief of Operations McNally and Chief of Training Galvin.

We also want to thank Chief Cassano for recognizing the importance of this training and for providing the necessary funding.