UNIFIED COMMAND OBJECTIVES MEETING

Overview: The Unified Command Objectives Meeting provides Unified Command (UC) officials with an opportunity to assess progress, hence review, identify, and prioritize objectives for the next operational period. Decisions and directions from this meeting are communicated to the entire incident response organization during the subsequent Command & General Staff Meeting.

Schedule: The Unified Command Objectives Meeting is typically scheduled during the early morning hours at the onset of the operational period, prior to the Command & General Staff Meeting.

Attendees: Attendees for the Unified Command Objectives Meeting potentially include the following:

Federal OSC.
State OSC.
Local OSC.
Responsible Party IC.
Planning Section Chief (PSC).
Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL).

Facilitator: Planning Section Chief (PSC).

Duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Room Layout: The recommended room layout and seating arrangement for the Unified Command Objectives Meeting is illustrated below:

RECOMMENDED AGENDA

1. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Bring the meeting to order, by stating “Good morning/afternoon. It’s [time and date] and I’d like to call the Unified Command Objectives Meeting to order.”

2. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Conduct roll call for the various ICS positions/functions listed below:

Roll Call

Incident Commander (RPIC).
Federal OSC.
State OSC.
Local OSC.
Planning Section Chief (PSC).
Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL).

3. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Announce ground rules, as follows:

Example Ground Rules

Silence all electronic devices.
Respect the meeting agenda.
Be mindful of time.
Presenters front and center.
Limit interruptions and side conversations.
Table discussions unrelated to the meeting.

4. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Briefly review the agenda, noting the purpose of the meeting is to with provide Unified Command (UC) officials with an opportunity to assess progress, hence review, identify, and prioritize objectives for the next operational period.

Agenda Overview

Review/update response priorities, limitations, and constraints.
Finalize incident objectives for the next operational period.
Note timeframe for the next operational period.
Evaluate critical information requirements (CIRs).
Examine/update key procedures.
Review/amend tasks for the Command & General Staff.

5. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Confirm the Documentation Unit is taking meeting minutes and tracking action items that could potentially arise during the meeting, using Meeting Summary (ICS-231) and Open Action Tracker (ICS-233), respectively.

6. Unified Command (UC): Review/adjust incident objectives. Make any changes on ICS-202.

7. Unified Command (UC): Validate previous decisions, priorities, and procedures, as documented on Command Direction (ICS-202a).

8. Unified Command (UC): Analyze critical information requirements (CIRs) (ICS-202b), information flow, and time-critical expectations.

9. Unified Command (UC): Assign or review/update tasks for members of the Command & General Staff, while referencing ICS-233.

10. Unified Command (UC): Review any open actions from previous meetings.

11. Unified Command (UC): Prepare for the Command & General Staff Meeting.

12. Planning Section Chief (PSC): Adjourn meeting.