Applying for Federal FF Job

[whrsdafire]

Hey guys. I was thinking about applying for a Fed FF job and was just hoping for some insight on pay, work schedule, testing process tips, ect.. I hate to be ignorant about it, but what is so different between municiple fire depts and federal fire depts? Many thanks in advance!

[cgfd98]

I hope this will help you out. Federal FF's work a 72 hour work schedule. The pay can be good depending on what area of the country you live in. What I mean by that is, I am a Fed FF in the Bay Area, CA. So I get by with the cost of living out here. If I lived in the Mid West for example. I would be living pretty large with the same pay. You can look for job announcements at usajobs.opm.gov. The Firefighter series 0081. As far as hiring process goes. There is no written test. If you are not prior Fed FF you will take a agility test. Depending on the department hiring process. You may or may not have a interview. They will go off your resume and job references. Remember when you look at the announcements for the salary. That is just a base salary not including your standard overtime and cost of living.

The difference between Fed and city jobs are the hours per week. Fed FF's work a 72 hours compared to a 48 or 56 hour work week that city or county FD work. When it comes right down to it. We work more hours for the same pay as a city job that works less hours and fewer shifts per month. The retirement is a Thrift Saving Plan rather than a pension plan that municiple agency uses. That is the big difference between the two. Getting hired by a Fed Fire Department is a good stepping stone to getting to a city job. Get all the training and certs you can and move on. ;)

[whrsdafire]

Thanks, James! That was exactly what I was looking for. :D One more question. You mentioned that this is a good stepping stone - does that mean that turnover is high n the Federal side?

[cgfd98]

Turnover rate is high in certain Federal Fire Departments. You have to remember in the Federal Service. Even though you are a permanent full time FF. Job security plays on your mind. You don't know if there will be base closures or contracting out Fed FF's . At this time with eveything going on. I would not worry about base closures, but five years from now? You just don't know. Like I said in my earlier post. You work more hours and shifts per month than a municiple department for the same pay. I encourage you to start applying. Stay 3 - 5 years in as a Fed FF and start applying for lateral FF position for municiple FD. :cool:

[whrsdafire]

James - I really appreciate you input. I'm going with your advise and applying for a position in New Orleans that I saw on the website. Thanks again for your time. Any pointers for the application process? :)

[cgfd98]

Just read the announcement very carefully on how to apply. You can go to the website usajobs.opm.gov and do your resume on that format. Very easy. All you have to do is fill in the blanks and it does the formating for you. I would put in as many applications that you can. Odds are you will get picked up. Good luck. If you have any other question. You can e-mail me.

[whrsdafire]

James - Thanks so much for your help. You'll be the first one I tell when I get hired :D

[SafTeeTech]

Be sure to stress on your application package any and all certificates you currently posess. ESPECIALLY those that are issued by an IFSTAC/Pro Board approved facility as this may mean the difference between getting hired as a GS-04 Trainee and a GS-5 Firefighter. The DOD also recently enacted a mandatory certification process....You may get hired on the condition that if you do not meet cert, you may have to be cert'd within one year or another timeframe. Be sure to note that you are the following (if you are!!!) EMT, Haz Mat Technician, or Rescue Technician, as many facilities require this, especially EMT-B and HMT. Airfield expierience is also a plus for most federal facilities!!! Good Luck, and be prepared for politics to the extreme max!!!

[FedCap]

You should be able to get most pay stucture issues answered at federalfighters.com
Tony has done a tremendous job building this site. Don't wait for the jobs to be listed, start calling facilities in the areas of consideration. Talk to the guys (union hopefully) about upcoming retirements and projected job openings. Start learning how to apply on-line through the new resumix program available at opm.gov. most facilities are only excepting apps that way. If you have experience play it up. But be prepared to back it up during interview. A lot of guys are getting on board nation wide by excepting a job within the facility and transfering to the house. That gives you leg up in the hiring process.

GOOD LUCK :)

[FedCap]

I guess my spell check didn't work. The site is federalfirefighters.com

The rest I can live with

[mrtank]

Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio is hiring 4 (should hit the site today) and will be hiring 3 more shortly after. There is some talk about waving airfield certifications and sending new-hires to school. They would start out as GS-04s until certified. Our f/fs start out as GS-06s (approx $41,000 annually here) Apply, it can't hurt.

[ 11-08-2001: Message edited by: Mrtank ]

[whrsdafire]

Outstanding. Thanks, Mrtank. Anybody else know any other bases hiring? Do they usually get a lot of applicants?

[whrsdafire]

I just went to the website for Wright-Patterson, but could not find anything for jobs or human resources. Would you happen to know who I would contact?

[mrtank]

You can try the OPM jobs site that was listed earlier by someone. The person that will be ultimately making the decision will be Deputy Chief Jackson. Try getting a resume together and sending it to him at:
Fire Station #1 Bldg. #163
5160 Pearson Rd.
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

The best bet is to get through to the OPM site and get on their list. Good luck!

[Fire Capt 208]

As a federal firefighter I want to warn you of one major item when you start looking for a federal job. MAKE sure the announcement does not say TERM or TEMP position. If this is the case you might want to stay away from it. You may be out of a job in a couple of years. In certain areas Federal firefighters make more than thier city counterparts. In this area I make roughly $10,000.00 more a year than a city firefighter and from talking with city firefighters our retirement and insurance is a lot better. Should you have anymore questions please feel free to email me.

Brad Breiler
Firefighter
Fort Campbell Fire & Emergency Services
Ft Campbell, Ky

[Chromis]

The Umatilla Army Chemical Depot is going to be listing a job of Firefighter Driver/Operator GS-0081 Grade 6 in the near future. (it takes us between 3 and 6 months for our jobs to get posted on USAJOBS or <a href="http://www.cpoc.army.mil" target="_blank">www.cpoc.army.mil</a> We have an agreement with the union to allow people to be hired and have 1 year to get their required courses.. FF I and DO-P. You will also get HM-A and HM-O

Our work week is 72 hours with 72 hours on and 96 hours off.. A 4 day weekend every week. We run between 4 and 6 people per shift, with newhire it should be 5-6 per shift. Currently we have 1 Chief, 1 AC, 2 Capt, 8 Firefighters. We have very few calls, 300 in a year is busy for us. The towns are small nearby to Hermiston Oregon but the area is nice, the fishing and hunting, skiing and camping within 2 hours is great. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Doug7899]

To ANY and ALL Federal Firefighters...

I am trying to apply fora position as a Fed FF but am having no luck. I have been a FF for 9 years and an EMT for 13 with prior Navy Corpsman training. How do I apply for these positions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Doug Oswick

[FWDbuff]

Doug:

Applying for a federal position will indeed seem intimidating (at the LEAST!) to a virgin. Keep your head up, a positive attitude, and you'll do fine, especially as a vet.

First of all, never use your full name on here, or any other forums when seeking advice on how to get hired, or "whats it like working here," etc. You never know who is watching and who may get upset if you bitch about "HR at Fort So-and So is taking forever!" or if you complain that "The fire chief at NAS Hereandthere wont give me the time of day!"

Secondly, I am sure you are familiar with www.usajobs.com

Here is a link to the tutorials, which as a newby, you should read and understand inside out, forwards, backwards, upside down, and in your sleep.

http://www.usajobs.com/firsttimers.asp

Third, and the best advice I can give you, is seek the help of a trusted friend who is familiar with the federal system, and can help you form your resume. A firefighter is of course preferred, as they will know how to word your resumix submittal, but any federal employee can be of assistance to you.

And, some unsolicited advice- Stay away from the Navy right now!

Good luck!

[Doug7899]

Thanks alot for the good advise Fire Capt 208, Chromis, and Mr Tank.... all very helpful.

Yes i am a "virgin" to the whole federal job scene after leaving the Navy...But being out here in the real world sucks and jobs in northern Ohio are very tough to come by. 1 position, and 150 to 200 people applying for it, not to mention if you don't have a degree...forget about even getting looked at. I have been a firefighter /emt for 9 years and recently completed the police academy, and looking for an arson invest job, or just a regular fire job... firefighting is my first love. Hopefully i will be seeing you all on the roof sometime soon. Again thanks for the advise,a nd I am sure i will be asking you for more help as the time goes on. Thanks again....

[gadifd4]

I was wondering if someone can help me out. I just got out of the Air Force I was a fire fighter and know that I got my EMT-B I was looking for jobs being GS or City. Question is which states except DOD certs I live in Fl and they don't I was wondering if there a way or web site a book something that can tell me in detail were I should go If you can help please notify me with any info.

[hotblues]

What are you asking?