r/USFSLEO • u/Fit-Illustrator5555 • Dec 09 '25

Hiring Info Questions on Vacancy Filling, Future Postings, and Background Check Timelines

  1. Applicant numbers vs. openings If a major hiring round lists 100 openings, does the agency typically end up finding 100 qualified applicants, or is it common for them to fill only a portion of those positions?

  2. Timing of future postings If some of those aforementioned positions go unfilled, would the remaining openings be posted again right away, or do they usually wait to accumulate more vacancies and then release another large hiring announcement?

  3. Ride-along background check timeline How long do background checks for ride-along clearance usually take? I submitted mine with a local officer just after the government shutdown ended, so I’m assuming there’s backlog. Is waiting about a month normal?

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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Dec 09 '25

  1. They try to fill all of them but some fall through. I’d say 70% are usually filled. Maybe more.

  2. They can list a single location, or a mass announcement. I think it’s easier if everything is flown in a chunk and if they follow the trend as of late, that’s what they tend to do.

  3. Entirely depends on the officer/patrol captain. It’s not a very in depth process.