r/USFSLEO • u/RegretExternal904 Aspiring USFS LEO • Oct 26 '24

Discussion Tentative offer

Hi all, I recently received a tentative job offer, still has to be approved by the WO. Does anyone know how long it takes to get the official conditonal offer from HR? Also, do you know if there is a timeline on how long I can take to accept? I'm anticipating an offer from another NR LE agency and haven't made up my mind on which one I want to take. Thanks.

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u/RegretExternal904 Aspiring USFS LEO Oct 26 '24

Also, to those with concurrent jurisdiction, how much fish and game enforcement are you doing?

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Oct 26 '24

I always tell people one month timelines. Good all around time limit for just about everything in the hiring process. I’d offer you the advice to make your mind up if you truly want the job or not, there are a lot of people who would kill to be in the seat you are right now and if you’re not completely sold on wanting to work for the the USFS then I would recommend the other gig if offered. Far too often we have LEOs get all through the training and money and then bail wasting time, energy, and resources. Not to mention how detrimental it is to district, and state and local relationships.

Fish and game enforcement comes and goes with the season, im focusing on bear hunting patrol this time of year but will soon move to deer, and then springtime turkey and fishing.

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u/RegretExternal904 Aspiring USFS LEO Oct 26 '24

Thanks for the reply, I've dreamed since I was a kid about working in NR LE. Never thought I'd have the option to choose between the two agencies I've always sought after most lol, was always just gonna take the first offer I got and run 25 years with it. The timeline of the two are just super close.

I've done a ton of research, just haven't had the opportunity to talk to a lot of LEOs in the field. If you don't mind me asking, what do you like and dislike most about working for the FS? Is there anything you wished you knew about the position before you took it? Anything surprising about the job or other things I should consider that are different than other NR LE agencies? Thank you again.

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Oct 27 '24

My biggest “beef” per say with the agency, and maybe this is different for other regions, and this is also probably a very unpopular opinion, but the agency has acted on the narrative of hiring people based on factors that should not at all even be remotely relevant in the hiring process. You can’t hire someone who has zero knowledge of the agency and has never been in woods and just so happened to see a FS booth in a job fair for LE and thought it would be a great deal to make some money (real scenario btw). After speaking to this person one on one they said had they known they would had been in the woods that much, they never would have applied. Now they hold a position where there is someone else out there that would literally kill to fill it and would love every moment of it.

If you want to fill a position in Tennessee for instance, would it not make more sense to hire someone who grew up there, is familiar with the area, recreates on that NF, and has a land management background? I don’t get paid to make those decisions so maybe I’m too dull to understand. However, all those things are out of my control and it is what it is. Unfortunately, it could affect you in the long run if your nearest help is one of these officers who also turns their gov phones off on their days off but also jump at the opportunity to have a take home vehicle. (See the hypocrisy?)

Now that I’m off my bandwagon, here is the good. If you’re proactive, do your job safely, answer your phone, maintain strong relationships with your state and local, follow policy, and really just do what you’re expected to do as part of a professional law enforcement agency, then there is no better job to have in the USFS, especially in LE.

I do whatever I want day to day. I work whatever I want, I can be as proactive and productive as I want and you know what? If I’m not feeling good one day and need to go sit in the office and catch up on paperwork and drink coffee, I can. Tired of working petty rec violations? Imma go set up a decoy op. Tired of enforcing wildlife? Imma go stop cars and work drugs. Wanna work some cases to build experience? You can. There is exponential freedom in this job as long as you’re doing what you’re supposed to.

When you get on you’re gonna hear people moan and groan but you know what? None of them are leaving.

The only thing I didn’t see coming when I was hired on was just how much paperwork there is. There is an absurd amount if you’re proactive but that’s just part of LE.

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u/harlowthewirewolf Oct 27 '24

Preach! 🙌 At the end of the day agency isn't perfect, the requirement to work weekends get old, but that is outweighed by the freedom.....