to ensure a smooth transfer, the outgoing incident commander should provide a ___________ to the new incident commander.

The correct word to fill in the blank is “briefing.”
To ensure a smooth transfer, the outgoing Incident Commander should provide a briefing to the new Incident Commander, summarizing current incident status, actions taken, resource assignments, and any safety or operational concerns so the incoming leader can assume command effectively.
In many ICS (Incident Command System) training materials, this is often referred to as a transfer-of-command briefing , and it is emphasized as the key step for maintaining continuity and avoiding confusion during a change in command.
Answer: briefing ✅