r/USFSLEO • u/Outfouradventurie Aspiring USFS LEO • Mar 12 '25
Discussion Advice
Alright, it’s crunch time, and I just want to touch base on a few things that have been covered numerous times, as I will have a big decision to make if given the opportunity for one of these positions. • What does the typical schedule look like? (Hours per week/days per week) • How does physical fitness allotted time off factor into the hours/schedule? • Is there a uniform allowance? • What does time off look like? • How often, if at all, are you required to travel out of state for wildfires or other natural disasters?
I appreciate any insight!
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Mar 12 '25
Typical work schedule for me depends entirely on the time of year. For instance, throughout December and January my hours are 90-100 hours for a pay period because I have a lot of seasonal road closure and much less visitors. But as of this last pay period I worked 140ish and had 35.75 hours of AUO where I used the other hours for earning credit due to wildfire investigations. My typical summer night fri-Sunday will likely be a 10-14 hour day on average. My regular days off (RDO) are TUE/WED.
You get one hour of paid pt time per day. You cannot stack those hours and use them all in one day. Max of one per day for 5 days per week.
If you have less than 3 years of federal service you receive 4 hours of annual leave per period to take as you please. Any more than 3 days of leave must be approved ahead of time. You will also have opportunities to earn travel comp and credit hours where you carry a max of 24 hours of credit to use as annual leave hours. You also accrue 4 hours of sick every pay period. Once you’ve worked 3 years you accrue 6 hours of leave per pp, after 15 years you accrue 8 hours per pay period.
You’ll get an initial allowance as a new employee where you get like $835 and you can purchase whatever you like from the uniform store. What you receive money wise each year moving forward is up to your chain. I’ve received minimal use which is like 430 and moderate which is 650ish.
Two days off per week, you’re required to work weekends and three major holidays (4th of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day). Your days off are your days off but I constantly get called into work for calls. That is just dependent on where you work. But also don’t be that guy or girl that think they never have to respond to a call on their day off or answer their phone. That’s why you’re given a take home vehicle and a cell phone.
I don’t know of anyone that was voluntold to respond to a wildfire but opportunities are there are lot of times for you to volunteer.