Within the ICS organizational structure, the leader of a group has rank equal to the leader of a:

• A. Division
• B. Strike team/task force
• C. Section
• D. Branch

Answer: (A)

In the ICS structure, Group and Division are parallel units within the Operations Section. The person in charge of a Group (Group Supervisor) and the person in charge of a Division (Division Supervisor) share the same level of authority. They are peers at the same rank, which keeps coordination smooth when multiple groups and divisions work side by side to handle different tasks or geographic areas. The next higher level could be a Branch Director if a Branch is established, or the Operations Section Chief if no Branch exists, but the leaders of Group and Division themselves occupy equal rank.

The other options don’t fit because a Strike Team or Task Force has its own designated leader for that temporary assembly, and a Section or Branch sits above Division and Group in the hierarchy, not at the same level.