Welcome to the Third Edition of The Tactical Brief

The mission of this newsletter is simple: to provide timely information, leadership resources, training opportunities, and industry updates that help firefighters and fire officers continue to grow professionally. Whether you're looking to advance in your career, improve your department's training program, or simply stay informed on changes affecting today's fire service, I hope you'll find something valuable in each edition.

We've packed a lot into this edition. We'll take a look at what Division Command Training has been up to around New Jersey, along with important updates from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, including the Training & Certification Portal and the extended deadline for the RIC Member Challenge Exam.

In our Standards Spotlight, we'll look at the growing role of thermal imaging within NFPA 1010, 1400, and 1930, as well as the command and control concepts found in NFPA 1550. We'll also highlight the Fall 2026 Kean University Fire Safety Training Program, including two upcoming offerings of our division supervisor program, and the launch of Kean's new Fire Safety Training mobile app.

On the professional development side, I'll share an update on the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program, which is currently accepting applications, along with a few thoughts after officially completing and graduating from the program earlier this month.

We'll round things out with what's next for Division Command Training, an overview of the programs we can bring to your department, new video content and interviews, our Watch Desk with links and resources, and the latest DCT merchandise.

There's plenty to cover, so let's get into it.

It has been a busy summer for Division Command Training, with opportunities to work with firefighters and fire officers throughout New Jersey.

On July 13, Division Command Training was at the Cranford Fire Department for a full-day delivery of The Missing Tactical Layer: Why Firegrounds Break Down. Thank you to Chief Dan Czeh and the members of the Cranford Fire Department for having us in and for a great day of discussion and training.

On August 10, we traveled to the Scotch Plains Fire Department for an evening drill night presenting Decoding the Thermal Environment: Tactical Thermography for the Fire Service. We started in the classroom before moving outside for a Palmer dollhouse burn, giving members an opportunity to better understand the thermal imaging cameras carried on their apparatus and see some of the newer TIC technology currently available to the fire service. Thank you to Chief John Lestarchick and the members of the Scotch Plains Fire Department for having us and for an engaging night of training.

This month also marked a first for Division Command Training as we completed our first ever “Summer School” open-enrollment program at the Berkeley Heights Fire Department. Eleven students spent three consecutive weekends with us completing Fire Instructor I, with firefighters representing the Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, Irvington, Passaic, and South Bound Brook Fire Departments.

A special thank you to Berkeley Heights Fire Company President Mike Tomich and Chief Jim Hopkins for once again partnering with Division Command Training and providing us with a home for our open enrollment programs. Their continued support allows us to bring firefighters from departments throughout the state together in one classroom to learn, share experiences, and continue their professional development.

Most importantly, thank you to the students who gave up three summer weekends to invest in themselves and their organizations. They were an engaged group from start to finish and made our first Summer School offering a success.

From Cranford to Scotch Plains to Berkeley Heights, we appreciate every department that opens its doors to Division Command Training and every firefighter and officer who chooses to spend their time training with us. We don't take those opportunities for granted.

The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety recently announced an important change regarding licensing and certifications.

Beginning September 1, 2026, all applications and renewals for Division of Fire Safety licenses and certifications must be submitted electronically through the My New Jersey Training & Certification Portal. Paper applications, emailed forms, scanned documents, and mailed submissions will no longer be accepted.

If you're a firefighter in New Jersey, now is the time to create your My New Jersey account and make sure your Division of Fire Safety Training & Certification profile is properly linked. The portal provides access to your certifications, course completion certificates, historical training records, and future certification applications.

For Training Officers within Division of Fire Safety eligible organizations, verify that you have administrative access to the Training Portal. Administrative access allows departments to schedule courses, manage training records, and assist members with certification and licensing activities.

Taking a few minutes to verify your account today can save a great deal of frustration when certification renewals and applications become portal-only later this year.

For Training Officers and representatives of New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Eligible Organizations, here's an opportunity to stay informed and connected.

Kean University's Fire Safety Training Program has announced an upcoming Eligible Organization (EO) meeting at the Toms River Fire Academy.

If your department is an Eligible Organization, these meetings are an important opportunity to stay current on information affecting the delivery and administration of New Jersey Division of Fire Safety training programs.

There are a lot of questions out there about changes to training, certification, the portal, course administration, and what is happening at the state level. Staying engaged with the EO program and attending these meetings is one of the best ways to make sure your organization is receiving information directly from the source.

If you're responsible for training within an Eligible Organization, mark your calendar and make an effort to attend.

Location:
Toms River Fire Academy
1780 Church Road
Toms River, NJ 08753

Meeting Date & Time: 8/28/2026 @ 10:00

RIC Member Challenge Exam Update!

The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety recently announced an important extension for firefighters seeking to complete the RIC Member Written Challenge Exam.

The deadline to complete the challenge exam has been extended from June 30, 2026, to December 31, 2026. According to the Division, this is the final extension, and no additional challenge exams will be scheduled after December 31.

For members who may be eligible, there are several important requirements to be aware of. The RIC Member Written Challenge Exam can only be completed at a Tier 1 County Fire Academy, and exam requests must be submitted through the portal by the Tier 1 academy.

Anyone wishing to challenge the exam must possess, at minimum, a New Jersey Firefighter I state certification. Candidates must also provide copies of their RIC/RIT/FAST Awareness and Operations course completion certificates in order to be admitted to the exam.

One other important point: this is a one-time challenge exam intended to demonstrate equivalency. There are no retests.

If you or members of your department have completed previous RIC/RIT/FAST training and are looking to obtain the current RIC Member certification through the challenge process, don't let this deadline pass. Review the attached Division of Fire Safety memo, verify that you meet the requirements, and work with a Tier 1 County Fire Academy well before December 31.

A copy of the official Division of Fire Safety memorandum is included below for additional information.

Fire service standards continue to evolve, and staying current has never been more important.

Many firefighters and officers may not realize that the newest editions of the NFPA standards place a much greater emphasis on thermal imaging than ever before.

NFPA 1010 identifies thermal imaging as requisite knowledge for firefighters. NFPA 1400 incorporates thermal imaging and thermal imaging camera training into the fire service training standard, while NFPA 1930 establishes the performance requirements for thermal imaging cameras used by the fire service.

The reality is that very few departments fully comply with every applicable NFPA standard, and that's understandable. Budgets, staffing, and operational priorities all influence how quickly departments can implement new recommendations.

What's important is demonstrating a commitment to meeting the recognized standard of care. Whether you agree with every provision contained within an NFPA standard or not, these documents are frequently referenced as nationally recognized benchmarks for training, equipment, and operational practices. Departments should understand what the standards require, evaluate where they currently stand, and continue moving forward.

At Division Command Training, we've intentionally aligned our programs with current industry standards.

The Missing Tactical Layer: Why Firegrounds Break Down examines the command and control concepts found within NFPA 1550 and provides practical methods for departments to strengthen incident command while exceeding the minimum expectations.

Likewise, Decoding the Thermal Environment takes an in-depth look at the thermal imaging requirements outlined in NFPA 1010, NFPA 1400, and NFPA 1930, helping firefighters understand not only how to operate a thermal imaging camera, but also how to build a comprehensive training program that keeps their department ahead of the curve.

The Fall 2026 training brochure is now available, with online registration scheduled to open September 2, 2026. Take some time to review the upcoming course offerings and start planning your fall training schedule.

Kean has also announced the launch of its new Fire Safety Training Program mobile app. The app provides another way for students to access their training information, including enrolled and completed courses, upcoming tests, announcements, and the course catalogue.

Whether you're looking for continuing education, certification-related training, or simply an opportunity to expand your knowledge, keep an eye on the Fall 2026 offerings and be ready when registration opens September 2.

I'll include links to the Fall Semester brochure and the new mobile app below.

Applications are now open for the National Fire Academy’s next Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program cohort. The application period will remain open through August 31, 2026, or until the first 500 applications are received, whichever comes first.

Earlier this month, I returned to the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg for my final residency and officially graduated from the Executive Fire Officer Program. After two years, four residencies, countless hours of coursework and research, and a lot of work in between, I couldn't be happier to have completed the program.

What an experience.

The coursework is demanding, the expectations are high, and the program requires a significant commitment. But what you gain in return makes that investment worthwhile. The opportunity to learn alongside fire and emergency service leaders from across the country, challenge the way you think about leadership and your organization, and build relationships with fellow officers is truly second to none.

If you're considering the next step in your leadership journey and meet the program prerequisites, I highly recommend taking a serious look at the Executive Fire Officer Program. Don't wait until August 31 to make that decision, the application period will close early if 500 applications are received.

It's an investment in yourself, your organization, and ultimately the future of the fire service.

Additional information and application details can be found in the Watch Desk section below.

Division Command Training is proud to partner with the Berkeley Heights Fire Department to offer open enrollment programs throughout the year, providing firefighters and officers from across New Jersey with accessible, high-quality training opportunities.

In addition to our open enrollment courses, we also bring our programs directly to your department. Whether you're looking to strengthen your officer development program, satisfy New Jersey Division of Fire Safety prerequisite requirements, or provide continuing education for your members, we're here to help.

Our offerings include:

If your department is pursuing New Jersey Division of Fire Safety certifications, it's important to ensure your organization is recognized as a Division of Fire Safety eligible organization with an approved classroom. Doing so allows students to receive the appropriate course credit and continuing education units (CEUs) in house with qualified instructors while working toward their certifications.

Whether you're looking to host a single class, build a comprehensive officer development program, or strengthen your department's training division, Division Command Training is committed to providing practical, standards-based education that prepares today's firefighters and tomorrow's leaders.

Proactive. Engaged. Committed.

If you've ever thought about writing an article for a fire service publication, I encourage you to give it a shot.

Write about something you're passionate about. More importantly, write about something you know.

I'm not going to write an article about forestry operations because that's not my area of expertise. But I do go to a fair amount of fires, and I've spent a lot of time studying two things that I believe can make a significant difference on the fireground: decentralizing command and effectively utilizing thermal imaging.

Those are subjects I'm passionate about because I believe they can make our operations more effective, help protect our firefighters, and ultimately save lives.

The fire service is built on passing along what we've learned. Sometimes those lessons come from a classroom or a book. More often, they're the product of years of experience, mistakes, successes, conversations, and fires that made us look at something differently.

There are plenty of things I know today that I wish I had understood 10 or 15 years ago. That's part of professional growth. The important thing is that once we learn those lessons, we don't keep them to ourselves.

You don't have to be an expert on everything. Find the thing you know. Find the thing you're passionate about. Study it, challenge your own thinking, and then share what you've learned.

Someone coming up behind you might need to hear it.

If only we knew then what we know now.