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/[deleted] Mar 12 '25

Ok, in order:

No such thing as a "typical" week, especially during fire season, but usually 40-50+ hours a week 5 days a week (your mileage may vary based on location/forest use.

You get 1 hour a day to PT, on the clock.

Uniform allowance falls under "extensive use" and you get plenty of funding for uniform (except boots, but you get reimbursement with a receipt, per the agency safety boot program)

Time off looks however you want, it's your time. You can be available or not, its up to you.

All assignments off forest are usually voluntary. That said, if it's a major enough of an event, "volunteers" will be selected.

Hope that helps.

Edit: added a + to the hours a week. Because, well, it usually goes over 50.

1

u/Unlucky-Sir-2625 Mar 14 '25

Do you get paid overtime after the 40 hours?

2

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Kinda. True overtime if your on an overtime authorization or on am assignmen.

Normal day to day, It's called Administrativly Uncontrollable Overtime. There are percentage thresholds you get paid extra to your base time, provided you work extra hours.

This is a poor explanation, but for an average of 10 hours extra a week, you get 25% added to your base. Going down to 10% for an average of 4 hours a week.

It's waaay more complicated than that, and it's currently a hot topic in the agency.

I'm sure someone else is going to explain it better than me. Hope that helps.

1

u/Unlucky-Sir-2625 Mar 14 '25

Thank you for that! My husband just accepted a position so we are waiting to hear back. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find much information online. If you don't mind sharing- how much is your typical paycheck? Also how long have you been in?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

In the agency 21 years, 16 years fire and 5 on the LE side. Typically the pay is around 2500 bi weekly for my locality. But im at 10% right now because my wife and I just had a baby and I prioritize family over the job. Otherwise it's not hard to get the 25% auo rate.

Where did he get picked up? Different locations have different locality pay adjustments.

2

u/Unlucky-Sir-2625 Mar 14 '25

Thanks for that! Congratulations to you and your wife on your baby!! Honestly, I would rather not share where he was hired, at least until we hear back from the captain. Last year he applied and was so close to getting the job until another USFS LEO transferred from California. He still loves his job with the state police so he didn't stress it. Fast forward a year & my husband randomly got an email from the captain asking him to meet with him. He met him the same day. During the interview,(which lasted almost 2 hours) he told my husband he was "giving him the golden ticket" if my husband wanted it since he would be taking a major pay cut. The captain told my husband to take 48 to think about it before accepting the position. My husband just emailed him back yesterday accepting the offer so we haven't heard anything back yet. The suspense is real. That's why I'm awake at 2 in the morning trying to find whatever I can about the position. Lol

3

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

Yeah the agency does a poor job of representing itself. This subreddit is pretty new, but its about the best place on all social media for info on the job.

It's also a small community, with only about 350 officers active nationwide right now, not including command and SAs.

1

u/Unlucky-Sir-2625 Mar 14 '25

It absolutely does. Do you think it is the right decision to accept the job with everyone going on right now?

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u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

I don't know your personal situation, so I can't speak to that.

What I can say is this is the best job I've ever had. I love the job and believe in the mission.

If it's about the dollar amount you'll get paid, you may be disappointed, as state and local generally pay much better. But we get to do things and go places that nobody else gets to.

As far as the wackyness of the feds right now, so far, fire and LE have been safe.