EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
GS-4: Six (6) months of general work experience and six (6) months of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 grade level in the Federal Service;
OR two (2) years of education above the high school level with related course work;
OR a combination of education and work experience - for example, three months of general experience and three months of specialized experience (50% of the experience requirement), and 30 semester hours of the required college coursework (50% of the education requirement) when combined meets the total requirements for the position.
See below for qualifying experience and education:
GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Work experience or military service that demonstrated the ability to follow directions and to read, understand, and retain a variety of instructions, regulations, and procedures and that otherwise demonstrates the ability to perform or learn to perform the duties of the position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Examples of specialized work experience may include the following:
- Wildland Fire Suppression such as digging hand line, building or patrolling fireline, suppressing spot fires, mopping up fires, hose lays, connecting buckets to drop water or retardant during firefighting operations, etc.
- Wildland Fuels Management such as prescribed burning, clearing up burned areas within fireline, felling snags or trees and/or cutting brush around fireline, collecting fuel loads, etc.
- Monitoring Wildland Fire such as weather, topography, smoke, fire effects, fire behavior, fire location, collect and record fire related data, etc.
- Wildland Fire Preparedness such as maintains fire tools and equipment - Pulaski's, shovels, McLeods, chainsaws, fire hose, pumps, drip torches, power equipment, vehicles, radios, etc.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE (MEA) AND FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a Primary/Rigorous Firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d) (FERS). The maximum entry-age (MEA) for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement or firefighter experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. Applicants must be 18 years of age, but not have reached their 37th birthday
by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants over the MEA of 37 MUST have enough prior covered service under the Firefighter Special Retirement benefit in order to be eligible for re-entry into a primary firefighter position.
These positions are covered by the special enhanced annuity retirement provisions for Federal Firefighters and Law Enforcementoff icers and have a mandatory retirement age of 57. Two exceptions are allowed: 1) an applicant has prior Federal service indocumented special retirement covered position(s) suff icient to count toward 20 years of covered service on or before themandatory retirement age of 57; or 2) an applicant is a qualified veterans' preference eligible, in which case the MEA is waived andtheir corresponding retirement age may be higher than 57 aft er completing 20 years of service. You must supply a copy of yourDefense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation inaccordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement.
Applicants are responsible for submitting all supporting documentation prior to the closing date of a vacancy for an MEAdetermination. Acceptable forms of documentation consist of SF-50's showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditableFederal civilian appointments or copies of agency approved certification letters based upon individual claims for coverage. Failureto provide this documentation with your application may result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entryage requirement.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the closing date.
The duties of this position are so rigorous that employment is limited to physically vigorous individuals who must meet established maximum age and physical qualification requirements.
Physical Demands: Arduous exertion for protracted periods of time such as, but not limited to, extensive running, walking, climbing, kneeling, stooping, pulling hoses, jumping and twisting, prolonged standing, walking over uneven ground, and recurring bending, reaching, lifting and carrying of items weighing over 50 pounds and shared lifting and carrying of heavier items, and similar activities requiring at least average agility and dexterity.
Work Environment: Forest, range, and desert environments in steep terrain where surfaces may be extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, smoky conditions, etc. Temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F and may fall below freezing. Risks include smoke inhalation, fire entrapment, snake or insect bites and stings, exposure to excessive machinery noise, and falling and rolling material. Employee must adjust and cope with exposure to weather elements, dust and smoke, poor bivouac and eating situations under an unpredictable set of circumstances. Firefighters may be required to live in backcountry camps for extended periods of time. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be worn (e.g., boots, hard hat, gloves, flame resistant clothing)