Become a Certified Response Leader
Built by veteran incident managers.
Designed to help you lead with clarity, speed, and confidence under pressure.



“These courses helped me shift from doing the job to leading the response.”
~ Public Safety Supervisor, California
Lead with Purpose. Respond with Confidence.
The Response Leadership Essentials Certification is designed for those ready to lead when others hesitate.
Think strategically. Communicate clearly. Coordinate under pressure.
This online program builds the mindset, structure, and skills to lead dynamic responses - whether you're stepping into a formal leadership role or want to bring clarity to chaos. It's FEMA-aligned, built by incident-tested leaders, and made to be applied immediately.
What You'll Learn Inside the Response Leadership Essentials Certification Program
What Do Your Peers Say?
John D.
Invaluable Training
This program provided exactly what I needed to lead my team in high-pressure scenarios. The content is practical, and the leadership tools are invaluable for anyone stepping into a command role. The simple explanations and usage of ICS alone made the whole program worth it!
Sarah L.
A Game-Changer
The leadership strategies for dynamic incidents shared here are a game-changer. The materials are clear and actionable, helping me make better, more confident decisions under stress and lead my team effectively in crisis situations.
Michael E.
Very Informative.
These are very informative courses.
I'm recommending them as continuing ed to all SAR and CERT members, plus those intending to join the SAR team and those needing a refresher course.
What This Certification Does - and Doesn’t - Do
TEAM Solutions equips you with the essential skills and leadership mindset to manage dynamic incidents and lead with clarity - whether you’re coordinating at the scene or supporting from a command post.
It gives you the structured approach, language, and tools that experienced response leaders use - all grounded in FEMA-aligned doctrine and ICS practices.
Important: The Response Leadership Essentials Certification does not grant legal authority, official ranking, or ICS position qualification. Your leadership impact depends on your team, agency policies, and how you apply what you learn in real-world situations.
What You Get


TEAM Solutions training is built by experienced instructors - including former incident commanders, EOC coordinators, and developers of FEMA-aligned leadership programs. The courses reflect FEMA’s NIMS framework, ICS doctrine, and operational best practices drawn from multi-agency crisis response.
“Built for leaders. Grounded in experience. Consistent with national standards.”
NOTE: Completing these courses does not grant official command status or ICS role qualification. Leadership authority and operational assignments are always determined by your organization, evaluator, or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Choose the Certification Path That Matches Your Leadership Journey
Practical. Strategic. Built for Real-World Leadership.
Start your leadership certification journey for just $27.
From focused modules to full-access certification, choose the path that fits your role, goals, and availability.
Every option includes immediate access to core leadership courses, FEMA-aligned tools, ICS templates, and a certificate you can put to use right away.
FAQ
Only if you want to retain access to ongoing updates. The one-time option gives you lifetime access.
Yes. The content is aligned and integrated with ICS principles, responder safety, and practical doctrine.
Your progress will transfer. Completing the full track will earn your certification.
You’re Closer to Confident Leadership Than You Think
The hardest part of leading under pressure is knowing how to prepare. With this certification, the path is laid out - grounded in real-world experience and designed for leaders like you.
Step up with clarity and earn the trust your team deserves.

See What is Included
Browse the 4-phase progression below. Each course builds your capabilities and confidence for real-world operations. Click the title to reveal courses.
Phase 1: Mindset Foundation
- Leadership Fundamentals
- SAR Certification Essentials: Training, Certification & Standards
- The Response Leadership Sequence ™ – Part 1
- Developing a Leader’s Mindset
- Understanding and Using Mental Models
- Strengthening the Leader’s Mindset
- Emotional Intelligence
- Understanding and Improving Self-Esteem
- Receiving and Managing Criticism
- Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Awareness for SAR Responders
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Types of Leaders
- 7 Overlooked Instructor Skills
- 4 Insights of the Visionary Crisis Leader
- R.O.C.K.: Developing a Leader’s Mindset
Phase 2: Planning & Readiness
- Readiness to Act and the D.U.F.F.E.L. B.A.G.
- [D] Developing the Plan
- Intelligent Decision-Making and the 4AID Framework
- [U] Unifying the Plan
- The TEAM Solutions Wheel of Engagement™
- Team Engagement
- Volunteer Engagement
- Millennial Engagement
- [F] Forecasting a Crisis
- Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
- [F] Funding
- [E] Equipping – Group
- [L] Learning
- [B] Boosting via Simulations
- Briefing and Debriefing for Better Communication
- [A] Assessing and Evaluating
- [G] Getting Ready to Act
- R.O.C.K.: Readiness to Act and the D.U.F.F.E.L. B.A.G.
Phase 3: Initial Response
- Command Posts v. Operations Centers
- Developing the Crisis Response Organization
- Crisis Leadership Functions 1
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Fundamentals
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Intermediate
- Creating a Situation Unit
- Crisis Leadership Functions 2
- Resource Tracking
- Planning Tactics for People, Things, and Places
- Resource Ordering Principles
- 4 Objectives of Disaster Search
- Resource Management
- Response Sequence Meetings
- Forms Used for Response Planning
- Action Plans
- Resource Types and Kinds
- Event Facility Management
- Communication Essentials
NOTE:
- Included Courses can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
- Course Notes can be accessed here.
- Transcripts can be accessed here.
- Members: Login to see your discounts.
NOTE:
- Toolkits obtained from the store can be accessed HERE.
- Members: Login to see your discounts.
Showing all 8 resultsSorted by popularity
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Toolkit: Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit [BUNDLE]: Communication Skills
$100.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Communication Essentials
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Emotional Intelligence
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Giving and Receiving Feedback
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Receiving and Managing Criticism
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Understanding and Improving Self-Esteem
$20.00 Add to cart -
Toolkit: Briefing and Debriefing for Better Results
$20.00 Add to cart
NOTE:
- Downloads obtained from the store can be accessed here.
- Members: Login to see your discounts.
Showing all 8 resultsSorted by popularity
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AAR Readiness Checklist
$0.00 Add to cart -
Mission Planning Worksheet
$0.00 Add to cart -
Mass Casualty Disaster Planning Medical Scenarios
$0.00 Add to cart -
Instructor Activity Tracking Workbook
$0.00 Add to cart -
Resident Accountability Form and Instructions
$0.00 Add to cart -
Preliminary Damage Assessment Pocket Card v1.1
$0.00 Add to cart -
Search & Rescue Pocket Card v1.1
$0.00 Add to cart -
Incident Action Plan (IAP) ICS Forms Workbook
$0.00 Add to cart
NOTE:
- All Products can be browsed here.
- Members: Login to see your discount.
Showing 1–8 of 41 resultsSorted by popularity
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S-CAPEPLUS Premium Evacuation Mattress
$1,078.92 Add to cart -
Skedco Kiddie Litter Insert with HMH Sked
$799.00 Add to cart -
HMH Haz-Mat Hospital Sked
$499.00 – $4,999.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Evacuation Sheet S-CAPEPOD
$430.92 Add to cart -
AlbacMat Holder for 4 Mats
$150.00 – $1,936.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
NOTE:
- Members: Login to see your discounts.
BOOKS by Mike McKenna
Showing all 6 resultsSorted by popularity
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So That Others May Serve by Mike McKenna
$20.00 Add to cart -
Crisis Recovery Planning NFT
$0.00 Explore NFT Options -
Book Bundle by Mike McKenna
$60.00 Add to cart -
Crisis Recovery Planning book by Mike McKenna
$10.00 Add to cart -
Legacy of Leadership book Vol 1 by Mike McKenna
$20.00 Add to cart -
The Response Leadership Sequence book by Mike McKenna
$20.00 Add to cart
ARTICLES
“I tried and tried, but failed to bring him back to life. It was clear he was gone. ...
Lost Little Timmy Deserves Our Best: Why SAR Training and Certification Matter More Than EverWhen someone goes missing, ...
Tornado Response – Lessons from an Emergency Management AARBackgroundOn May 10, 2024, a category EF-4 tornado tore through ...
Cyber Intrusion – Responding to a Data Breach in a Financial InstitutionBackgroundOn September 8, 2024, a major financial ...
Pandemic Exercise – Enhancing Public Health PreparednessBackgroundOn April 12, 2024, a public health agency conducted a pandemic preparedness ...
CASE STUDY:Communication Breakdown in Crisis ResponseCopyright TEAM-Solutions.US All Rights ReservedBACKGROUNDThe Westfield Emergency Operations Center (EOC) [named changed for privacy] ...