Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Basic Officer Certification Practice Exam

Which General Staff position in an Incident Command System directs all tactical resources?

1. Finance/Administration

2. Logistics

3. Operations

4. Planning

The correct answer is: Operations

The General Staff position in an Incident Command System that directs all tactical resources is indeed the Operations position. This role is critical during an incident, as it is responsible for implementing the incident action plan and coordinating all response activities. The Operations section oversees all operations at the incident site, ensuring that resources are effectively utilized to achieve the objectives outlined in the incident plan. In this position, the Operations Chief manages the tactical forces and plays a vital role in determining the best strategies to mitigate the incident, coordinate responders, and ensure safety for both personnel and the general public. The effectiveness of emergency response heavily relies on the Operations section's ability to execute plans and allocate resources appropriately, making it a central component of incident management. Other roles such as Finance/Administration, Logistics, and Planning focus on different aspects of incident management. Finance/Administration handles costs and resource allocation, Logistics manages the supply chain and support resources, and Planning is responsible for developing the incident action plans and anticipating future needs. While each of these roles is important, none directly oversee the tactical execution of operations like the Operations Chief does.