One of the most critical rules in theIncident Command System (ICS)is that personnel must be assigned to duties based on theirdemonstrated competence and training, rather than their day-to-day administrative job titles. Therefore, leaders shouldmake duty assignments only to trained individualswho have met the specific NIMS/ICS qualification requirements for that position.

Basing assignments on personal job titles (Option B) is a common mistake that leads to "Command Failure." For example, a hospital CEO might be an expert at finance and administration, but they may have no training in the "Incident Commander" role. In a disaster, it might be more appropriate for a trained Security Director or a Lead Physician with ICS 300/400 certification to take the command role. Option A (Pre-planning) is helpful for identifyingpotentialcandidates, but in a real-world disaster, the specific people available may change, and the leader must verify that whoever is assigned at that moment is currently qualified and capable.

According to theIBFCSM CEDPstandards, "Position Qualification" ensures that everyone in the response structure speaks the same language and understands the specific responsibilities of their role. If an untrained person is placed in a "Logistics Section Chief" position, they may not know the proper protocols for resource ordering and tracking, which can bottleneck the entire response. By mandating that assignments are tied to training and capability, the ICS structure remains professional, effective, and safe. This "professionalization" of disaster response is a core tenet of NIMS, ensuring that every person in the "box" on the organizational chart is there because they have the specific skills required to perform that function under pressure.