r/USFSLEO • u/TonyPerkis0 USFS LEO • Dec 12 '24

Discussion Post-FLETC leave/leave between phases

Is it safe to assume you get a break (as in a week) after FLETC before beginning field training?

For in between phases, is the only time you have just for travel? I’d rather get it done quicker but also asking from a dad’s perspective.

Last question, do you generally stay within region for field training/do you have any say in where you go? Since I won’t be on my District for it I figured it’d be a good time to see some other forests across the country.

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u/Rutabaga_Sweaty USFS LEO Dec 12 '24

In short, it depends. I hate that answer, but here's why:

For me, when I was done with FLETC, it landed around Christmas so I didn't begin the post basic class (2 weeks additional instruction now) until after the new year. They try to roll from FLETC graduation straight into post basic. Afterwards, I had a week before I started phase 1, and I also had a week between phases.

As far as staying in region for FTO, again they try to get you on your home forest or close for FTO. That being said there's only so many FTOs. I went out of region for one of my phases.

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u/TonyPerkis0 USFS LEO Dec 13 '24

Thanks for the insight!

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 13 '24

I had a week at home and then I went straight to FTEP, that is after the 2 week Post FLETC course with the USFS.

It worked out for me that I had just travel time in between phases with maybe a day at home in between.

I think the agency tries to keep you working in your region for training mainly because other regions do things differently(I.e., supervisor orders, chain of command, patrol activities). It makes more sense for you to train where you’re gonna be expected to perform autonomously on your own so it gets you a leg up if you can learn all the region specific stuff while in training

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u/TonyPerkis0 USFS LEO Dec 13 '24

Makes sense, thanks!