Student Trainee (Wildland Fire Management) - Indefinite

JobSummary

These Student Trainee (Wildland Fire Management) positions are with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0499-3/4 located within various offices across the the states of Oregon and Washington.

LowGrade

3

HighGrade

4

PromotionPotential

5

PromotionPotentialAdditionalText

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GW-05. Please see "Additional Information" for more details.

SubAgencyName

U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS)

OrganizationCodes

IN/IN01

Relocation

False

HiringPath

• student

MCOTags

• Hiring Freeze Exempt - SO 3427

AgencyMarketingStatement

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS), an organization within the Department of the Interior (DOI), responds to wildfires and promotes fire-resilient landscapes across more than 500 million acres of public and tribal lands nationwide. The USWFS has full program authority and coordinates the DOI wildland fire management program in its entirety. It ensures coordination within DOI, the Bureaus it serves, other federal agencies -- particularly the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service -- as well as non-federal agencies, state foresters, tribes, and a variety of stakeholder groups representing volunteer firefighters.

TravelCode

5

ApplyOnlineUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply

DetailStatusUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus

MajorDuties

• As a Student Trainee (Wildland Fire Management) - Indefinite your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Works with higher-graded firefighters and receives on-the-job training, instruction, and orientation in prevention and preparedness activities. Receives training in the fundamental procedures and techniques of wildland fire management work. Performs duties specific to the crew or module assigned. Performs fireline activities such as line construction, hose layout, operations of pumps and accessories, and mop-up operations. Participates in fuels management projects and prescribed fires.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Direct Deposit Required. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or exempt. To register or verify your registration, go to the Selective Service System website. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Failure to satisfy the background check will result in cancellation of offer of employment or may be grounds for termination. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/TESTING: You must pass an initial pre-employment physical examination and must be able to pass the work capacity fitness test (must carry a 45 lb pack for 3 miles within 45 minutes). Failure to meet any of the required medical qualifications will disqualify you for employment. Any condition, which would cause you to be a hazard to yourself or to others, will disqualify you for employment. DRUG TESTING: Positions require a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received. The drug test will be provided at Government direction and expense. Once hired, employees are also subject to random drug testing during employment. This is in accordance with Executive Order 12564 and under the Department's Drug Free Workplace Program. Applicants appointed to this position at the GW-03 and GW-04 levels may be required to possess and maintain a valid state driver's license, depending on location. Some positions may require a CDL; information will be provided at job offer. You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment. This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work. Must be currently enrolled or accepted at least half-time in a degree seeking program in an accredited high school, technical or vocation school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school. Must sign a Pathways Programs Participant Agreement. The entire period served as a Career/Indefinite Intern counts as the appointee's trial period. Prior Federal civilian service is credited toward the completion of the required trial period in the same manner as prescribed in 5 CFR 315.802. The position is year-round. During the school year part-time or full-time hours may apply; however, during school breaks and the summer period, full-time hours may apply. The work schedule may be adjusted to fit the student's schedule.

Evaluations

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). Failure to provide required information will result in loss of eligibility. You are welcome to submit an optional cover letter. Once you complete and submit your application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements for the job. Your eligibility and qualification status will be based on a human resources assessment conducted using qualification standards, your responses to the job-related questions, information provided in your resume, and required supporting documents (see the Required Documents section). Veteran's preference applies to the selection for positions in the Pathways Programs. The examination and selection of applicants will be made in accordance with requirements of the 5 CFR Part 302. Note: The BLM will apply unranked order by preference status when examining applicants and issuing certificates of eligibles for its General Schedule Pathways Program positions. Only if necessary shall a category rating procedure be applied. Eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by preference status: (1) Preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP); (2) Other preference eligibles (XP); (3) Applicants eligible for 5-point veteran's preference (TP); and those (4) Applicants not eligible for veteran's preference (NV). In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The job related questions align with the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the duties of this position. Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Fire Management - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of fire management, including the characteristics, behavior, and ecology of fire; methodologies, strategies, and equipment used in prescribed fires; fire detection, prevention, and suppression strategies; and integration of fire with natural resource management.

HowToApply

THIS IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH USAJOBS. Your application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time by 04/15/2026. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12925266. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 04/15/2026, 11:59pm Eastern Time to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. NOTE: INSUFFICIENT OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION FROM AN APPLICANT COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please refer to the contact information listed at the bottom of the announcement. You must build a resume with the USAJOBS Resume Builder or have an Uploaded Resume on your profile BEFORE applying. Videos showing how to apply for federal jobs can be found here: https://www.nifc.gov/careers/how-to-apply. The USAJOBS Resume Builder was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. Failure to follow these instructions in the announcement (resulting in insufficient information being provided with your resume / application) could result in an ineligible rating. Your 2-page resume MUST include the following information: - Name and current personal contact information - From and To dates (month/year to month/year) for each season and position held (e.g., 05/2025 - 11/2025) - Work schedule (number of hours worked per week) for all seasons and positions held. One year of experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week (full-time). Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for a position listed that does not indicate hours per week. - Grade level for each season and position that were in the federal service. - Complete Duties for each of the seasons and positions held. - References - personal and professional To verify the status of your application, please log into your USAJOBS account at: https://secure.login.gov/ For information on what each Application Status means: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. FOLLOW UP. Check your application status before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to ensure that a complete application (including a resume, on-line questionnaire, and applicable supplemental documentation) is received by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time by 04/15/2026. **NOTE: Technical issues may take at least 1 business day to resolve; therefore, you are highly encouraged to complete the application process prior to the closing date.

WhatToExpectNext

Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified via USAJOBS of a status change (i.e., referred, not referred, not eligible, not qualified, etc.). Note, you must login to your USAJOBS profile to view details of the status change. Information regarding how to see your application status can be found in the USAJOBS Help Center. If referred and further evaluation or interviews are required, you may be contacted by the hiring officials for the location in which you are referred. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. If you were not referred and/or have questions or concerns regarding your rating determination or referral status, in the interest of time, please submit your inquiry in writing within seven (7) calendar days of receiving a Notice of Results and Referral notification email. Inquiries may be submitted to contact listed on this announcement. Be sure to include the announcement number to assist our team in reviewing your inquiry. You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.

RequiredDocuments

You MUST upload "Required Documents" PRIOR to the Closing Date. **Please note that documents selected to transfer from your USAJOBS profile are NOT automatically added to your application. You need to transfer the document(s) in the Document step at the end of the application process. Resumes MUST include your name and how to best contact you, including an email address and a phone number. List each season or position held, duties performed, dates specified in month/year to month/year format. In addition, the resume must reflect full-time or total number of hours worked per week. Part-time hours can be pro-rated based on number of hours worked per week provided. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Example 1: 05/2025 to 08/2025 could be credited as 3 months if 40 hours worked per week (full-time) are listed -or- 2.25 months if 30 hours worked per week are listed -or-1.5 months if 20 hours worked per week are listed. Example 2: 05/2023 to 10/2023 could be credited as 5 months of experience if 40 hours worked per week (full-time) are listed -or- 3.75 months if 30 hours worked per week are listed -or- 2.5 months if 20 hours worked per week are listed. Example 3: Dates listed with month/day/year to month/day/year could be given credit for each to/from date in its entirety if hours worked per week are listed. 05/1/2024 to 08/16/2024 could be credited as 3 months, 16 days if 40 hours worked per week are listed -or- 1 month, 23 days if 20 hours worked per week are listed. In describing your experience, be clear and specific. Visit the USAJOBS Help Center for more information on what should I include in my federal resume. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the questionnaire), you are required to submit the following supplemental documentation as applicable: Verification of Enrollment: Copy of all your transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U. S. educational institution. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application process, but prior to appointment the official transcript(s) will be required. Letter from your accredited U. S. educational institution that verifies/reflects: (1) the degree/diploma/certificate program in which you are enrolled; (2) you are enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the educational institution), and (3) your anticipated graduation date. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education. Proof of Age (Required for all grade levels): As this is a covered primary fire position, your application package MUST include official government issued documentation (SF-50, driver's license, etc) indicating your date of birth. If over the maximum entry age (MEA), and you are not a Veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted (i.e. initial primary covered SF-50, copies of approved coverage letters based on individual claims, and any additional SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments if a break occurred). If over the MEA and you are a Veteran, you must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation. Failure to submit required documentation may result in loss of consideration. Veterans: If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit a copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," (Member 4 copy is preferred), showing the dates of active duty, type of discharge, and character of service (must be honorable) OR written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must submit documentation that supports your claim as shown on the back of the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. SF-15. If you are claiming Sole Survivorship Veterans' Preference (SSP), please provide the documentation you received granting this preference. Additional information can be found here. High School Transcript - If you are using Firefighter training obtained as part of a high school curriculum for the GW-03, you MUST submit a legible copy of your high school transcript from an accredited institution, to include your name, the schools name and location, and the information showing successful completion of courses with the number of credits given. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. *You only need to upload documents that apply to you. For uploading instructions please click here. You will not be contacted for additional information.

Benefits

BenefitsUrl

http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/Guide-Me/New-Prospective-Employees/

OtherInformation

The following duty location has been identified as having housing available: Hines, OR Pay rates vary depending on location. For additional information on pay rates: OPM Salaries and Wages Consistent with the recent passage of legislation for permanent pay reform, salaries contained within this vacancy announcement are reflective of the new Special Base Rate (SBR) Salary Table for Federal wildland firefighters, on the General Wildland Firefighter (GW) pay plan effective March 23, 2025. A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. These Student Intern positions have a promotion potential up to the GW-05 grade level while under the Pathways Internship Program. You must meet eligibility and the OPM qualification requirements for the non-competitive promotion to the next higher grade. The target position will be a Wildland Firefighter, GW-0456 with a full performance level (FPL) up to a GW-07; however, the target position and FPL may change based on the need of the organization at that time. In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements MAY be authorized for this position including contractor-provided home sale.-In addition, relocation discretionary entitlements May be authorized for this position excluding contractor-provided home sale.-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position. Telework: This position is not suitable for telework. Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Wildland Fire Service offices in the local commuting area. Reasonable Accommodation: The USWFS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process. Applicants are ineligible for this position if ANY time they have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence, unless such conviction was expunged, set aside or the applicant receives a pardon. Probation/Trial Period Con't: Probationary period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. Under completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

0

ServiceType

02

AnnouncementClosingType

01

AgencyContactEmail

blm_fa_nifc_hr_external@blm.gov

AgencyContactPhone

208-387-5942

SecurityClearance

Not Required

DrugTestRequired

True

PositionSensitivitiy

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

AdjudicationType

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness