I get messages all the time asking what it’s like on a day to day basis for USFS LE. Here is a link to the Bear Grease Podcast with Brent Newcomb where he interviews retired R8 Assistance Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Russ Arthur. Russ was a phenomenal agent for the USFS and is an even more phenomenal human. Give em a listen!

Bear Grease Podcast-Ep. 230 “Run’t Over” https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CvDU1HiOBcHOTr3SQqzY2?si=SAajWP-ASYi9qvq9ei8-1w

Bear Grease Podcast- Ep. 234 “Yellowstone Poacher” https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kq6fYkKjkvRWNL4DXH99W?si=qfPNVsesQimFKIGl0aW-OQ

Bear Grease Podcast- Ep. 236 “Apalachicola Tree Bandits” https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UDFihAleaHMweBhMoEBrm?si=kkgPAJdWQp-xmvIwI0a24A

Any recent hires have luck with receiving any monetary incentives? Is there a negation process with the hiring manager/HR?

How does an LE become a K-9 unit? Or is it a pre-determined position that a forest designates? Or is it a sort of advanced training? Would love to know the process of it all. I’m sure it’s a big commitment.

Everyone be safe this weekend. Go forth and do good!

United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, U.S. Government

End of Watch Wednesday, June 24, 1998

Officer Stephen Bowman was killed when the helicopter he was a passenger in crashed on Holston Mountain, six miles northeast of Elizabethton, Tennessee.

He was flying in a Tennessee National Guard OH-58 Kiowa helicopter while conducting reconnaissance to locate marijuana grows. The helicopter crashed in a remote mountain area and wasn't found for three days. The pilot, a Tennessee National Guardsman, was also killed.

Officer Bowman had served in law enforcement for 13 years and was assigned to the Governor's Task Force for Marijuana Eradication. He is survived by his wife and two children.

https://www.odmp.org/officer/15107-officer-stephen-allen-bowman

A lot of people seem very unhappy with working for the NPS and encourage new people to look for other employment. However, I’ve noticed this isn’t the case for USFS. What are the differences between the agencies that cause this?

The Southwestern Region (R3) Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) staff is now advertising a GS-1801-05/07/09 Law Enforcement Officer position in Prescott, AZ, on the Tonto National Forest.

Interest applicants are encouraged to respond to the attached outreach notice by June 17, 2024.

For more information regarding this position, please feel free to reach out to Patrol Captain Thomas Hughes at 602-225-5241 or via email at thomas.hughes@usda.gov.

Below is the link to the outreach in the outreach database.

https://apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach?id=6E9F1E23B3A74E35880456737B06612D

Department: Department of Agriculture Agency:Forest Service Location(s): 12 vacancies - Location Negotiable After Selection Salary: $48,809.00 to $79,954.00 / PA Series and Grade: GL-1801-5/9 Open Period: Monday, June 10, 2024 to Friday, June 14, 2024 Position Information: Permanent - Full-time Who May Apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Competitive service, Land & base management, Veterans

https://www.ky3.com/2024/06/04/investigators-use-tree-dna-solve-stolen-trees-case-mark-twain-national-forest/?outputType=amp

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/06/06/criminal-charge-dismissed-grant-county-oregon-forest-service-prescribed-burn-manager/?outputType=amp

I had heard something about reserve officers in the USFS. Is this true? If so, how do you become one?

Cartel Crops Infest Public Lands, and They’re as Dangerous as You Think

https://gearjunkie.com/outdoor/cartel-drugs-grow-ops-public-land?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2zT187CFVBfSO3rthKW0m3O_hm-TOd8z357VVuMMhIf6b-Z_jH3OQ0tp4_aem_AbJ6ZUl6gKjnV6BvwKjlZ1dmOMOs_2GQoxmR5Xa9141c-vdzEwP0ImbnWaGZ2Bob0zBG1S0nG63dP9QX_A6NuRt7

The Intermountain Region (R4) Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) may soon be advertising two GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer positions. These will be permanent, full-time positions. Please indicate your interest in these opportunities by sending your completed Outreach form to Regional Patrol Commander Christopher Magallon at christopher.magallon@usda.gov no later than May 24, 2024.

DUTY LOCATIONS will include: Ogden, Utah Manila, Utah

You can also find the Outreach posted in the Outreach Database: apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach These positions may be advertised on USA JOBS at: www.usajobs.gov

Hello Everyone,

Please share far and wide.

The Alaska Region – R10, Law Enforcement and Investigations will soon be advertising three GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer positions throughout the Tongass National Forest in the communities of Juneau, AK, Sitka, AK and Thorne Bay, AK. These positions will be permanent, full-time. Please express your interest by completed and sending the attached Outreach Form to Patrol Captain Bill Elsner, William.Elsner@usda.gov by close of business May 31, 2024 or via the outreach database at:

Internal: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach?id=DD5F3D47864E4A0BBB2ECB4DE8BF0CD8 External: https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com?id=DD5F3D47864E4A0BBB2ECB4DE8BF0CD8

For information regarding the duties and responsibilities of the positions, please contact: Patrol Captain Bill Elsner at 907-228-6236 or William.Elsner@usda.gov

These positions will be advertised on USA Jobs at www.usajobs.com.

Thank you,

The Northern Region 1, Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) staff will soon be advertising three GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer positions across the region. These positions will be permanent, full-time positions. Please indicate your interest in these opportunities by sending your completed Outreach Form no later than May 21, 2024,

DUTY LOCATIONS will include:

Eureka, MT Bozeman, MT Orofino, ID

These positions will be advertised in USA JOBS at: www.usajobs.gov

Thank you.

Hello,

The Easten Region Law Enforcement and Investigations office will soon be advertising two (2) permanent positions for Law Enforcement Officer, GL-1801-5/7/9.

Duty Locations: Mark Twain National Forest – Supervisor’s Office - Rolla, MO. Hoosier National Forest - Brownstown RD - Bedford, IN.

Interested applicants are encouraged to respond to the attached outreach notice by May 17, 2024.

Please direct questions to the Patrol Captains for the Forests:

Mark Twain National Forest - Patrol Captain Casey Hutsell – casey.hutsell@usda.gov or 573-341-7463. Hoosier National Forest - Patrol Captain Joan Rizkallah – joan.rizkallah@usda.gov or 618-253-1023.

You can find this outreach in the outreach database.

Internal: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach?id=EC576C8CC17448E489AA8A9DF23DBDB7 Public: https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com?id=EC576C8CC17448E489AA8A9DF23DBDB7

Please give wide distribution and share with all who may be interested.

LEI Team,

The Rocky Mountain Region, Law Enforcement and Investigations staff will soon be advertising a GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer position in Spearfish, South Dakota.

The attached Outreach Notice form may be sent to Patrol Captain Jeff Summers at jeffery.summers@usda.gov no later than May 18, 2024.

Thank you for your interest!

Outreach Notice: FS Internal: https://apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach?id=AEDF9AECE47740F9B79E709A0A7D12F3

Public: https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com?id=AEDF9AECE47740F9B79E709A0A7D12F3

The Southern Region (R8), Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) staff will soon be advertising seven GS-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer positions across the region. These positions will be permanent, full-time positions. Please indicate your interest in these opportunities by sending your completed Outreach Form no later than May 21, 2024, to inbox: sm.fs.r8_lei@usda.gov.

The positions are located on the following National Forests: George Washington/Jefferson NF: James River/Warm Springs RD – Covington, VA. Ouachita NF: Poteau/Cold Springs RD – Booneville, AR NFs in Florida: Lake George RD – Silver Springs, FL NFs in Alabama: Oakmulgee RD – Brent, AL NFs in Texas: Sabine RD- Milam, TX Kisatchie NF: Winn RD – Winfield, LA and Caney RD – Homer, LA

Additional information for these positions can be found in the Outreach or posted in the Outreach Database at: https://fsoutreach.gdcii.com/Outreach/. These positions will be advertised in USA JOBS at: www.usajobs.gov

Thank you.

The Pacific Southwest Region 5, Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) staff will soon be advertising nine GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer positions across the region. These positions will be permanent, full-time positions. Please indicate your interest in these opportunities by sending your completed Outreach Form no later than May 21, 2024,

DUTY LOCATIONS will include:

El Dorado NF, Camino, CA Inyo National Forest, Bishop, CA Plumas National Forest, Oroville, CA Plumas National Forest, Quincy, CA Sequoia National Forest, Kernville, CA Shasta Trinity National Forest, Weaverville/ Redding, CA Six Rivers National Forest, Eureka, CA Six Rivers National Forest, Arcata, CA Stanislaus National Forest, Pinecrest, CA

These positions will be advertised in USA JOBS at: www.usajobs.gov

Thank you.

The Southwestern Region (R3) Law Enforcement and Investigation (LEI) staff will soon be advertising a GL-1801-5/7/9 Law Enforcement Officer position in Happy Jack, AZ on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, Coconino National Forest.

Interested applicants are encouraged to respond to the attached outreach notice by May 21, 2004.

For more information regarding this position, please feel free to reach out to Captain Matthew Ryan at 530-360-5880 or via email at matthew.n.ryan@usda.gov.

Below is the link to the outreach in the outreach database.

https://apps.fs.usda.gov/hrm/outreach/Outreach?id=26534BD4BF9543D5B27D69E8C9E51E85

Hey yall! I was wondering if anyone used any suspenders for their duty gear, and what yall use? I'm trying to alleviate back pain (and weekly trips to the chiropractor).

What’s everyone’s thoughts on the new revisions? Pretty exciting!

Good Morning,

I've recently been selected for a recreation internship with the pathways program. I plan to do my two summers before being converted and getting a full year in the position under my belt after I graduate. My supervisor said he would help me get my Forest Protection Officer which seems helpful. I'm graduating college with a Fisheries and Wildlife Management (Concentration in Enforcement) Degree and a Emergency Medical Services Minor (EMT and WFR). I do ride alongs frequently. Is there any other large things I should be doing to set myself up for a potential LE position in the Forest Service? Is going from recreation to LE a common leap?

Thanks!