1 | Page
ICS-400: Advanced ICS Command and
General Staff—Complex Incidents Questions
and Correct Answers
1. The term "major or complex incident" may have different
meanings to different agencies depending upon the size of the
jurisdiction, number of resources available, and other variables.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of major or complex
incidents:
a. Involve more than one agency and/or political jurisdiction.
b. Require numerous tactical and support resources.
c. Can be mitigated in one operational period.
d. Require extensive recovery efforts. Ans: c. Can be x in one
operational period.
2. The act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit
statutory, regulatory, or delegated authority is the definition of:
(a) Command
(b) Coordination
(c) Communication
(p. 5.4 SM, 5.9 IG) Ans: (a) Command
3. What type of ICS structure is illustrated below?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Caption: ICS organization with Incident Command, Operations
Section, Planning Section, Logistics Section, and Finance/Admin
Sections. Reporting to the Operations Section are Branch I
(Incident 1), Branch II (Incident 2), and Branch III (Incident 3).
(a) Area Command
(b) Incident Complex
(c) Unified Command
(d) Incident Command Post
(p. 3.8 SM, 3.16 IG) Ans: (b) Incident Complex
4. Which of the following is NOT a reason why a single incident
may be divided into separate incidents:
a. When an incident spreads into other jurisdiction(s) and Unified
Command is not feasible.
b. When it is difficult to manage from one location due to terrain
and access.
c. When the Planning Section, even with additional resources, can
no longer adequately provide planning services.
d. When the Communications Unit Leader says so . Ans: d. When
the Communications Unit Leader says so .
5. When Branch Tactical Planning is implemented, then:
© 2025 All rights reserved
ICS-400: Advanced ICS Command and
General Staff—Complex Incidents Questions
and Correct Answers
1. The term "major or complex incident" may have different
meanings to different agencies depending upon the size of the
jurisdiction, number of resources available, and other variables.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of major or complex
incidents:
a. Involve more than one agency and/or political jurisdiction.
b. Require numerous tactical and support resources.
c. Can be mitigated in one operational period.
d. Require extensive recovery efforts. Ans: c. Can be x in one
operational period.
2. The act of directing, ordering, or controlling by virtue of explicit
statutory, regulatory, or delegated authority is the definition of:
(a) Command
(b) Coordination
(c) Communication
(p. 5.4 SM, 5.9 IG) Ans: (a) Command
3. What type of ICS structure is illustrated below?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Caption: ICS organization with Incident Command, Operations
Section, Planning Section, Logistics Section, and Finance/Admin
Sections. Reporting to the Operations Section are Branch I
(Incident 1), Branch II (Incident 2), and Branch III (Incident 3).
(a) Area Command
(b) Incident Complex
(c) Unified Command
(d) Incident Command Post
(p. 3.8 SM, 3.16 IG) Ans: (b) Incident Complex
4. Which of the following is NOT a reason why a single incident
may be divided into separate incidents:
a. When an incident spreads into other jurisdiction(s) and Unified
Command is not feasible.
b. When it is difficult to manage from one location due to terrain
and access.
c. When the Planning Section, even with additional resources, can
no longer adequately provide planning services.
d. When the Communications Unit Leader says so . Ans: d. When
the Communications Unit Leader says so .
5. When Branch Tactical Planning is implemented, then:
© 2025 All rights reserved
