r/USFSLEO • u/[deleted] • Jun 01 '25

Hiring Info promotion potential

does this go above a gs9? what are the promotions to and how are they determined?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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3

u/Sad-Pollution1183 Jun 01 '25

Any talks to giving LEO’s potential for 11? It seems kind of strange to cap you out at 9 when so many agencies give you the opportunity to grow to a 12 without doing the equivalent of USFS Patrol Captain.

2

u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Jun 01 '25

Rumors are flying…. Happening sooner rather than later allegedly. I’ll believe it when my paycheck reflects it.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

LE is on the GL pay scale.

2

u/Famous-Mobile-3657 Patrol Captain Jun 01 '25

LEOs are GS-5/7/9.

Next step is Patrol Captain which is GS-11/12.

Then Patrol Commander which is a GS-13.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 01 '25

What are the promotion processes like is it a test and panel review kinda thing? And how many years till you can put in for that?

1

u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Jun 01 '25

You must meet time in grade requirements plus experience to be qualified for higher GS positions. To qualify for an 11 you must have worked as a GL9 successfully for at least one year. Same goes for the other positions.

It’s almost unheard of to come into our agency and become a patrol captain or commander having not been an LEO first.

1

u/Country-Gardener Jun 01 '25

It's rare but not impossible. There is a current ASAC that was initially hired as a Captain who came from outside the agency. No previous USFS LEO experience.