Braker-Switcher Job in Southport, NC

Vacancy No. MCGT-26-13051391-MP Department ARMY TRANSPORTATION
Salary $26.96 to $31.41 Grade 7 to 7
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/1/2026 Close Date 9/11/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Southport, NC


Braker-Switcher

Department of the Army
ARMY TRANSPORTATION
596th U.S. Army Transportation Surface Brigade

Summary

About the Position: This position is with the US Army Transportation Command, 596th U.S. Army Transportation Surface Brigade, 832nd US Transportation Battalion, Rail Operations Division, located in Southport, North Carolina.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Family of overseas employees

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

Clarification from the agency

See "Who May Apply" in the "Qualifications" section for more information on who is eligible to apply for this position.

Duties

  • Monitor the safe movement of trains and railcars.
  • Give and respond to signals and instructions in routine and emergent situations.
  • Set out, transfer and pick up rail cars by uncoupling, setting, and releasing car brakes and air brake hoses.
  • Use proper signaling means and equipment, such as arms, hands, lanterns, lights and flags to signal for normal and emergency conditions.
  • Inform locomotive engineer by use of signals of malfunctioning or track obstructions.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination.
  • This position requires preemployment and annual drug testing to comply with Federal and Department of Army Drug Free Workplace Programs.
  • In accordance with AR 690-11, this position has been designated as "Key" and shall not be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization as doing so would seriously impair the capability of the organization to function effectively.
  • This position has a requirement to lift up to 20 lbs. in the regular performance of duties.
  • Appointment to this position is subject to a one year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 11.
  • This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 25% of the time.
  • This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations.
  • This position requires the employee to use personal protective equipment provided by the employer.
  • This position has been designated "Mission Essential". In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent is required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.
  • Employee shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

  • 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans
  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • People with Disabilities, Schedule A
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of an Braker-Switcher without more than normal supervision. Ability to work without more than normal supervision I have experience independently working as a Braker-Switcher and railroad crew member for 120-ton diesel electric locomotives. I perform switching, signaling, flagging, coupling, brake setting involved in the movement of box cars containing hazardous cargo. Check track switches to ensure they are properly set and reset. Judges braking and stopping distances. Sets out, transfers and picks up rail cars and groups of rail cars. Checks tracks for obstructions, defects, train derailment, unsealed rail cars, and malfunctioning railroad equipment. - Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-out Element)
  • Ability to Drive Safely (Motor Vehicles) and Ability to Operate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (related to mobile equipment operation)
  • Operation of Motor Vehicles
  • Reliability and dependability as a Braker-Switcher
  • Work Practices (includes keeping things neat, clean, and in order)
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  • PHYSICAL EFFORT - Must use physical agility and effort in pushing, pulling, lifting, positioning and turning various braking, switching, and coupling devices; moving and lifting arms and devices to give signals; walking over rails and ties and running to perform tasks. Must be able to climb aboard locomotives and train cars, sometimes while they are moving or have slippery steps, rungs, and grab irons. Required to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds and put forth similar effort in pushing and removing obstacles from the railway.
  • WORKING CONDITIONS - Works under many adverse conditions in both good and bad weather. Frequently exposed to loud noise, fumes and odors. Exposed to possible injuries from accidents. May wear protective clothing, such as safety shoes and gloves. Any unusual environmental working conditions that may arise will be compensated for under an appropriate category of the environmental pay regulation.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • This is a Logistics Career Field position.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable Local Market Supplement.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc). Please review the following links to see which documents you need to provide to prove your eligibility to apply: Applicant Checklist for Internal/Merit Promotion Announcements

As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. Your resume:

  • Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
  • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
  • Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
  • For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
2. Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
  • Proof of Eligibility to Apply: Your application must include the documents which prove you are eligible to apply for the vacancy. The Proof of Eligibility document describes authorities commonly used in merit promotion recruitment and what document(s) are required to prove you meet the requirements of the authority. You must meet the requirements of at least one of the authorities listed in the Who May Apply section above to receive further consideration.

NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/11/2026 to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13051391).
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section.
  • You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
USARMY.APG.CHRA-NE.MBX.APPLICANTHELP@ARMY.MIL
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
GT-W4ZGAA MIL SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DIST CMD
DO NOT MAIL
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA 23604
US

Next steps

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

ARMY TRANSPORTATION

Civilian employees serve a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations. The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military and civilian members to form a Total Army.

Looking to make a difference? Join our team!

Army Materiel Command (AMC) is the Army's primary logistics and sustainment command, responsible for managing the global supply chain and ensuring installation and materiel readiness across the Total Force.

AMC is one of the Army's largest commands with nearly 165,000 military, Army Civilian and contractor employees, impacting all 50 states and more than 150 countries. Since 1962, AMC has played a significant role in supplying our forces during wars, conflicts and contingencies, and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. From managing the Army's global supply chain to providing quality of life programs for Soldiers and families; from providing financial management and contracting capabilities to leading the way in data analytics, AMC's missions are wide ranging and critical.

AMC's workforce is at the core of the command's support to the Warfighter. If you are ready to take your career to the next level and be part of a culture that puts people first, we have an extensive array of career paths available. Join today and be the power behind ensuring the best equipped and sustained fighting force in the world.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
USARMY.APG.CHRA-NE.MBX.APPLICANTHELP@ARMY.MIL
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
GT-W4ZGAA MIL SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DIST CMD
DO NOT MAIL
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA 23604
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at ARMY TRANSPORTATION, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.amc.army.mil