The Department of Homeland Security published the National Incident Management System (NIMS) on March 1st, 2004. The main goal of the NIMS structure was to provide a universal incident command guideline so that all organizations, both public, private, or governmental can cooperate with each other across various jurisdictions, including Federal, State, local, and tribal, in the event of a disaster or crisis. Disasters included as possible reasons for implementing the NIMS guidelines are natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, and terrorist attacks, no matter how big or complex they are.

The biggest tool for promoting the nationwide implementation of NIMS and its incident command structure is through a NIMS training program that helps train management and emergency responders across the nation for using NIMS protocol. Proficiency in the NIMS training program is largely based on qualifications of personnel and the ability to develop core competencies within the NIMS training program.

The National Integration Center (NIC):
The National Integration Center is responsible for the implementation of NIMS incident command training programs, including core competencies, training courses, and personnel qualification evaluations. The NIC and its training program is designed with the general notion that properly trained and qualified individuals in emergency management, incident command, and response are vital to not only the NIMS structure, but the safety of the nation during an emergency situation.

The Goal of NIC:
NIC has implemented a five year NIMS training program to create and maintain properly trained and qualified personnel for incident command and emergency management and response. The National Training Program for NIMS has three underlying objectives:

* The spread of NIMS education and training for all emergency management and response personnel;
* Help personnel adapt the capabilities defined by NIMS training into guidelines and courses that train personnel to develop desired capabilities;
* Develop a minimum set of specifications that personnel are required to have for service in complex incidents that may transcend several jurisdictions within a given region.

The Five Year NIMS Training Plan has several objectives:

1. Establishment of goals and objectives to guide the NIC as it implements the National Training Program.
2. Give proper planning and documentation to guide training plans, budgets, and schedules.
3. Establish a core curriculum for NIMS training and incident command and the guidelines for each of the NIMS courses in the core curriculum.
4. Provide universal guidelines for emergency management and response qualifications based on the development of core competencies of individuals within the NIMS training program.

The core curriculum for the NIMS training plan contains courses found to be critical to ensure that personnel are trained properly and are capable of emergency management, incident command and response. Some of these courses include (in order from beginner to advanced):

* National Incident Management System (NIMS) Introduction
* Introduction to the Incident Command System
* Intermediate ICS
* Advanced ICS
* NIMS Resource Management
* NIMS Preparedness
* All-Hazards Finance Section Chief
* All-Hazards Public Information Officer

The Two Main Goals of the NIMS Training Plan are:

* To provide guidance and support so that all personnel can be properly trained in all aspects of NIMS;
* Provide maintenance to the plan and update it as needed.