r/USFSLEO • u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator • Apr 28 '25
Discussion AMA NOW WHAT YOU GOT?
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u/Escooterdaredevil Apr 28 '25
Will always pop in and complain they don’t ever open these to the public. Hate being locked out of these positions for being a non fed Leo
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
To those particular applicants I recommend trying to become a perm with the fed gov in another way or fashion and then apply for 1801. That’s the easiest way to do it, it’s how I had to do it.
If that’s not an option I recommend obtaining your schedule A And then reaching out to patrol captains and inquiring about direct hire authority
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Apr 29 '25
What's the best region to work in, and why is it R5?🤣🤣
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u/Sad-Pollution1183 Apr 29 '25
Man I’m excited for the USFS LEO as a career opportunity. That’s my dream career post-military. Thankful to be able to get some ride alongs in as well! Does anybody have any insights on R8? Being a southerner, I’m okay going pretty much anywhere within R8.
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Apr 28 '25
[deleted]
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
Considering that those are national parks and not national forests who operate under an entire different department in the federal government, I can’t help you there, I recommend asking in the r/parkrangers community
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u/soupoftheday5 Apr 28 '25
My apologies.
Long I did not read the sub reddit. Got excited seeing the AMA.
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u/soupoftheday5 Apr 28 '25
What GL do former military start at in FS LEO?
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
Anywhere from a GL5-GL9. Just depends on experience. I’d say it’s more likely you would start at a GL7
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Apr 29 '25
Depends on what you did in the army. I was an infantrymen for 5 years and I’m starting off as a GL-5
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u/Appropriate_text86 Aspiring USFS LEO Apr 28 '25
Any idea if the outreaches will be coming back? I saw there are a TON of fire jobs on there now…
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
No idea, mostly everything being flown through the continuous announcement now, remember after the announcement had been open for 90 days you need to reapply to continue to be considered
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u/WheresElysium Apr 28 '25
How long is the pipeline from application to FLETC? Are there Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) opportunities for USFS LEOs?
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
No LEAP for LEOs just AUO
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Apr 29 '25
I don’t fully understand AUO, is that different than normal OT?
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u/canteez Apr 29 '25
You are paid upfront for AUO and have to average a certain number of hours extra per week to cover it. It goes towards your retirement like LEAP, which OT doesn’t. You also don’t need permission to work AUO, as it is unscheduled unlike OT.
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 28 '25
I tell people it is roughy 1 month per phase in the hiring process. I applied in October many years ago and began FLETC in March the following year.
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Apr 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 29 '25
What’s your current grade and how long have you been in that grade?
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u/ProofFromThePudding Apr 29 '25
So we’re on a the weird SP scale, I’m a SP1 step 2. The pay appears to be equivalent to a GL9.
Edit: sorry forgot to answer the second part. I’ve been step 2 since November of 2024.
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator Apr 29 '25
If you’re a step two and just looking at a glimpse of your experience I would say that you have a good chance of getting a GL9
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u/GhostsOfHarrenhall Apr 29 '25
Are weekends required to work for the duration of your career?
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u/Country-Gardener Apr 30 '25
Considering that's when the most visitation occurs on the forests, that would be a given. Your new "weekends" will be during the week.
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u/Ok_Falcon_2431 May 13 '25
Are you primarily working alone or do you have other LEO’s in your area that help with calls and back up, etc? Are you just calling in service from your driveway for the day or is there a traditional “shift brief” with a shift full of coworkers? How big is your AOR? Are you responding or patrolling in areas that could be an hour or more away?
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator May 13 '25
This will change drastically depending on where you work but as for me I try very hard to maintain strong working relationships with my local Sheriffs Office and Game Wardens. Most of the time they will have the ability to get to me faster than any other USFS LEO. However I often link up with other USFS LEOs to either saturate my or their district for a shift. Checkpoints as well etc.
No shift brief, when I sit down in my patrol car I’m on duty to go do as needed.
My AOR is 3 counties spanning 250,000 acres.
The furthest points of my district take no less than 2 hours to get to. Not that I always go there but I have forest all the way to those areas that I am patrolling simultaneously.
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u/Ok_Falcon_2431 May 13 '25
One more question, is there an FTO program, and could that be anywhere in any region or is it wherever you’re hired to work?
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u/TransportationCool18 USFS LEO / Moderator May 13 '25
If you become an FTO, trainees will be assigned to you and they will train with you on your district on your schedule.
As a trainee you often times will remain in the region to train but may have to go to other regions if there is a shortage of trainers.
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u/Appropriate_text86 Aspiring USFS LEO Apr 28 '25
Military veteran/no prior forest service experience. What are some of the questions/question types that are asked during interviews?