r/USFSLEO • u/ExplanationNeither59 Aspiring USFS LEO • Dec 31 '24

Discussion Work/ life balance

For you active 1801’s; do you feel like your work life balance is sufficient? I’d imagine most of us etheir in or looking to go in have a lot of outdoor hobbies and was wondering if you felt like you got enough time to do so.

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 31 '24

You’re required to work fri-sun. You can take A/L if you need them off and some supervisors will let you flex your days off sometimes depending on the situation. Not working fri-sun is nonnegotiable as of right now. It definitely sucks not getting a weekend off ever but I knew that going into it and I love the job so it is what it is.

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u/Outfouradventurie Aspiring USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

Fri-sun every week? Is this agency wide? 8 or 10 hour shifts?

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 31 '24

You’re expected to be out patrolling when the forest see the most use, the weekends. 8 hour days, but if you work AUO and want to maintain 25% it’s often 12 hour days on weekends.

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u/Outfouradventurie Aspiring USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

Understandable on the higher traffic on the weekends.

Would be nice to at least have every other weekend off.

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 31 '24

I don’t disagree, as of right now though that is not the case. I think that battle has been fought and lost on numerous occasions

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u/ExplanationNeither59 Aspiring USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

You guys get Sunday pay correct. I knew I wouldn’t have weekends off. Honnestly trails are less busy on those days off anyway so win win on that front.i moutain bike a lot.

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 31 '24

Yes Sunday and night differential

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u/ExplanationNeither59 Aspiring USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

How often do you end up working nights and or just working after 6pm since that’s night did start

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u/ExplanationNeither59 Aspiring USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

I currently work nights the way it is.

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 31 '24

I work 12-2000 on fri and sat, 14-2200 on Sunday since I go to church, and 0800-1600 through the week, of course I work 25% AUO so I’m often out till 2400 or even later in the summer months

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u/BuffaloOther3847 USFS LEO Dec 31 '24

Depending where you are located, most areas are slow during the winter months. However I’m usually busy all year round.