Clarification from the agency

This position is for students accepted for enrollment or are currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school, on a full- or half-time basis (as defined by the academic institution in which the student is enrolled).

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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.

Conditions of employment

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.

Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be 18 years of age or older, at the time of onboarding, to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• Be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying accredited educational institution (high school, technical or vocational school, 2- or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school) on a full- or half-time basis.
• Must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 or higher and be in good academic standing with the educational institution (PLEASE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW CURRENT GPA).
• Must enter into a written agreement (Pathways Internship Participant Agreement).
• Provide an unofficial/official certified school transcript and/or proof of enrollment.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

1.) This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.

In addition to the requirements described above, the following additional experience is required.

Only experience and education obtained by 04/15/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

To qualify for a GW-03
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). Six (6) months of general work experience or six (6) months of Firefighter training obtained as part of a high school curriculum (any firefighter training at the high school level and above), may be substituted for experience on a month-for-month basis.
General Experience can include:
Any work experience or military service that demonstrates 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.
-OR-
2). One (1) year of education or training above high school related to the work of the position.
-OR-
3). A combination of education and general work experience as described above.

To qualify for a GW-04
You must meet at least one of the following:
1). Six (6) months of general work experience, which can be any work experience AND six (6) months of specialized work experience equivalent to the GW/GS-03 level duties.
Examples of specialized work experience may include the following:

• controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade
• forest fire control, prevention, or suppression work
• rescue operations
• detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards
• operation of fire communications equipment when it requires specialized knowledge of firefighting techniques, equipment, and procedures to prevent and manage fires
• controlling hazardous materials incidents
• developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention

-OR-
2). Successful completion of a 2-year course of study above high school, from an accredited college or university, in Fire Training, Fire Science, Fire Technology or in other related fields.
-OR-
3). A combination of the education and work experience described above.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Conversion Qualifications: This is a career development, excepted service appointment under the Pathways Internship Program that is expected to last more than 1 year. The agency will require the selected applicant to complete a Participant Agreement in which the selectee must provide an anticipated date for completing all degree program requirements and show continual progression toward meeting the stated anticipated date.

The agency may non-competitively convert a Career/Indefinite Intern who is a U. S. citizen to a term or permanent appointment in the competitive service, as long as the Intern meets all agency program requirements and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for the target occupational series at the time of completing all education requirements.

To be eligible for conversion, an Intern must:

• Be a United States citizen.
• Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Program while enrolled as a half- or full-time degree- or certificate-seeking student.
• Complete a course of academic study, within the preceding 180-day period, at a qualifying educational institution conferring a diploma, certificate or degree.
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which she or he will be converted.
• Receive a favorable recommendation by an official of the agency or agencies in which she or he served; and
• Meet agency-specific requirements, as specified in the Participant Agreement.

**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.**

Once converted, you must meet Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard training requirements for the appropriate grade level at the GW-06 and above as a condition of employment before being eligible for promotion.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

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 servicemust 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.

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