What is the recommended practice for establishing a transfer-of-command time?

• A. Announce the transfer time during the next briefing.
• B. Document the exact time of transfer and ensure both outgoing and incoming ICs acknowledge it.
• C. Trust that both ICs know the time.
• D. Record the transfer time only in the incident log.

Answer: (B)

When a transfer of command happens, the key is a precise, verifiable handoff that both commanders confirm in real time. The best practice is to document the exact moment command transfers and have both the outgoing and incoming ICs acknowledge it, creating a clear, auditable record for continuity and accountability during dynamic operations. This ensures everyone knows precisely when leadership changed hands and who is in command at that moment.

Announcing the transfer at the next briefing can leave crews uncertain about the exact moment of handoff, introducing delay and ambiguity. Simply trusting that both ICs know the time relies on memory and can lead to miscommunication. Recording the time only in the incident log misses the critical real-time acknowledgment by both parties and doesn't provide an explicit, immediate confirmation of who is in command.

So the strongest approach is to document the exact transfer time and obtain explicit acknowledgment from both the outgoing and incoming ICs.