Education

Education Sessions

The VCOS offers a variety of online and in-person conferences and training opportunities in support of the volunteer and combination fire and emergency service.

VCOS logo - IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section 

Beyond Hoses & Helmets

Strategy and tactics of leading a volunteer or combination fire/rescue organization, designed by practicing chief officers that delivers real world expertise through interactive education.

VCOS logo - IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section 

FROG: Organizational Guidance for Volunteer Leaders

This course is an intensive 2.5 day, hands-on workshop designed as graduate-level leadership training for leaders of volunteer and combination fire departments that picks up where VCOS's Beyond Hoses & Helmets course leaves off.

VCOS logo - IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section 

Leading the Transition in Volunteer & Combination Departments

This course is to assist departments that are changing status, whether going from an all-volunteer to a combination department, from a combination to a volunteer department, or changing from a career department to a combination department. This course can be administered as a three-hour course with one instructor or a six-hour course with two instructors.

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Member and Leadership Collaboration (MLC)

Two-day, facilitated workshop leverages behavioral analysis to address organizational conflict and create effective department communication between firefighters, officers and chiefs.

VCOS logo - IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section 

You and ISO

This course is presented around the country several times a year. This class teaches what every fire chief should know and understand about ISO in your community.

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Helping Members Find Their Spark Through Mentoring Pilot Class - Leesburg, VA

Join us for the pilot of our newly redeveloped Mentoring class in Leesburg, VA.
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Symposium in the Sun

Symposium in the Sun 2025

The Symposium in the Sun addresses the unique needs of volunteer and combination departments including transitioning from a volunteer to a combination department, recruitment and retention, leadership and management, staffing and more.
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Galleri

From fighting fires to fighting cancer: A firefighter’s story with the Galleri® test

Meet Lt. McFarland and learn about Galleri® multi-cancer early detection blood test
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Green graphic with black and white text "Coffee with SHS: A candid conversation around the world

Beyond the Mustache: Supporting Men’s Health in the Fire Service

Join us for this interactive session offering practical insights and real talk to help firefighters thrive both on and off the job.
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Technology Summit International 2025

Technology Summit International aims to bring the tech of the future to today’s fire and emergency service professionals
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Wildland Urban Interface Conference

Wildland-Urban Interface Conference 2026

Three essential tracks - Fire Adapted Communities, operations & suppression, and policy & tools - ensure you and your team get everything you need to minimize and manage threats in the WUI.
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Community Risk Reduction Leadership Conference

Community Risk Reduction Leadership Conference 2026

The CRR Leadership Conference is all new. Sponsored by the IAFC's Fire and Life Safety Section, the CRR Leadership Conference tackles CRR from the leadership perspective, highlighting best practices from concept to implementation to outcomes. Presentations will highlight the latest and greatest in CRR research.
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Fire-Rescue Med 2026

Education for fire-based EMS leaders, including new and aspiring chiefs, on hiring and retaining, public/private integration, technology, billing for services, illness prevention & more.
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International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference

International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference 2026

The training offered at the Hazmat Conference provides immediate, practical and valuable information designed to ensure you successfully meet the demands of hazmat response in today's challenging environment.
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Fire-Rescue International (FRI)

Fire-Rescue International 2026

FRI, the IAFC's annual conference and expo, provides senior-level leadership training for chiefs and officer development education for chief and company officers, new ways to connect with vendors and colleagues, and the latest solutions to today's toughest challenges.
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Symposium in the Sun

Symposium in the Sun 2026

The Symposium in the Sun addresses the unique needs of volunteer and combination departments including transitioning from a volunteer to a combination department, recruitment and retention, leadership and management, staffing and more.
Learn More