Summary The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. The incumbent serves as a basic Law Enforcement Officer trainee and performs tasks related to law enforcement and investigate activities within the Forest Service programs. For additional information about the duties, please contact
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Learn more about this agency Duties Help
- Duties listed are at the GL-07 performance level.
- Patrol public lands, to include recreation areas, timber sale actives, and other resource use activities, to enforce and prevent violations.
- Detect and enforce criminal law offenses including, but not limited to: timber theft, wildland arson, livestock trespass, archeological resource protection, and drug control laws that affect law enforcement operations.
- Assists in conducting preliminary investigations of illegal or suspicious activities, including interviewing and interrogating witnesses and suspects to obtain information.
- Prepares investigative reports, coordinates findings with law enforcement supervisors, and testifies in hearings and trials.
- Provide support in identifying, arresting, and transporting suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National at the time of conversion to a competitive service appointment.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.gov.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
This position requires initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable) and are required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Physical Requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of multiple pre-employment physical efficiency battery assessments.
Medical requirement- Position is subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical examination.
Conditional Offer Suitability Assessment- This authorization for release of information is part of the E.O. 14074.
There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here; however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time a tentative job offer is made.
Qualifications You are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program, as described below in order to be considered for this position. You must meet all the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:
An individual must have obtained an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree, or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution, or have completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years.
If you are a current student who is in the process of completing your degree, academic documentation must accompany your application package to validate your upcoming graduation date (you must complete all degree requirements within nine months of the application closing date to be considered a Recent Graduate); OR
Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
You must possess the qualifications requirements identified below to be considered qualified for this position. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Physical Demands: Due to the physical and vigorous requirements of this position, the incumbent must meet the established medical and physical standards/requirements set forth by USDA as it's considered essential to perform the duties of this position, The work requires a person with good physical health and stamina to work under pressure, along with the ability to lift and carry heavy objects and have the physical agility and dexterity. Ability to operate specialized motorized equipment such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and snowmobiles may be required.
Maximum Entry Age: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.
Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18 USC Section 1001).
Firearms Requirement: The incumbent is required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position so they must meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlines in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. The incumbent must qualify semiannually with all weapons issued by the USDA and maintain proficiency.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
For the GL-05: You must have must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level. General experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Performing routine administrative and field support tasks that required following established procedures, such as reviewing basic regulations and policies to understand work requirements and assisting with simple assignments under close supervision. 2. Assisting higher-graded staff with basic investigative support duties including observing scenes, helping gather straightforward facts, and preparing draft notes or portions of reports while learning proper documentation practices. 3. Conducting basic research on regulations and directives to resolve routine questions and preparing draft notes or portions of reports, seeking supervisory assistance when instructions were incomplete or situations were unfamiliar. 4. Engaging with the public to explain procedures and regulations, gathered preliminary information from witnesses or complainants, and coordinated with supervisors and partner agencies as directed to support mission objectives. 5. Participating in required training and applying learned procedures to assigned tasks and recognizing when guidance was needed and requested assistance appropriately when encountering unfamiliar work situations.
OR Bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree;
OR Appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
For the GL-07: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as 3 or more of the following: 1. Assisting in conducting misdemeanor investigations by helping secure crime scenes, collecting basic physical and documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses under guidance, and drafting portions of investigative reports using established investigative methods. 2. Performing entry level patrol duties to prevent, detect, and report violations of Federal laws and regulations related to natural resources, property, employees, and public use; issued warnings as directed and referred non routine or complex violations to higher graded officers. 3. Supporting enforcement operations-including search warrant execution, arrests, and prisoner transport-by completing assigned tasks such as custody documentation, evidence handling support, and maintaining scene control in compliance with Forest Service law enforcement policies. 4. Researching regulations, directives, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to resolve routine questions and applied guidance to developmental assignments; sought supervisory input when encountering unfamiliar conditions or potentially sensitive resource protection issues. 5. Interacting with forest users, witnesses, and partner agencies by explaining rules and procedures, collecting preliminary information, and assisting with coordination during multi-agency operations and public safety activities.
OR One full year of graduate level education;
OR Superior Academic Achievement (go to this site to determine if you are eligible: General Schedule Qualification Policies). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Please note that Superior Academic Achievement can only be applied if you have graduated or completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
Education Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at
A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying education institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. While recently graduating from a certificate program may afford you Recent Graduate Program eligibility, it may not be sufficient in terms of qualification standards for the series and/or the grade level.
Qualifying career or technical education program is defined as a federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession; registered Apprenticeship Programs; and federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs. For additional information, visit Pathways Programs FAQs
A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways.
You may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service after the successful completion of one year of continuous service. To be eligible for conversion, you must meet the following:
- Complete all requirements of the program.
- Receive a favorable recommendation by supervisor.
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which you may be converted.
- Meet any agency specific requirements as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
- Perform the job successfully.
This position requires 40 hours of formal, interactive training per year. An Individual Development Plan must be completed and approved by your supervisor within 45 days of appointment. A mentor must be assigned within 90 days of appointment.
This vacancy is being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement 26-NPT-13052657-FS-HC under merit promotion procedures. Current and former Federal employees may apply to both announcements but should be sure to apply to the Merit Promotion Announcement to avoid losing consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement.
Additional information This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
Position(s) will be located at Forest Office within local commuting area of Yreka, California or Challis, Idaho. Final determination of the duty station will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer.
Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.
This is a primary law enforcement position under the provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) (CSRS) and 8412(d) (FERS). Applicants must be 37 years of age or under prior to their appointment date for entry into this position. Applicants who are age 37 or over may subtract any of their prior federal service that is in approved primary/rigorous positions and that is creditable for retirement from their current age to meet this age requirement. Applicants must provide proof of this creditable service prior to appointment. Applicants who are entitled to veteran's preference or who are applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act are eligible to request a waiver to the maximum age requirement. In instances where the maximum entry-age is waived, the corresponding mandatory retirement age for these individuals will also be higher because it will be reached after 20 years of coverage under special retirement provisions for the entitlement to an immediate enhanced annuity.
Grooming/Attire/Appearance Standards Federal grooming standards typically require employees in law enforcement, uniformed services, and public-facing roles to maintain a neat, clean and professional appearance.
- Hair: Neat, clean, well-groomed; no extreme styles/colors.
- Facial Hair: Trimmed; many require clean-shaven unless exempt.
- Tattoos: Offensive/inappropriate banned; visible neck/face/hand tattoos must be covered.
- Jewelry: Limited to watch, wedding ring, conservative earrings; facial piercings usually prohibited.
- Hygiene: Maintain high standards; no offensive odor.
- Uniform: Clean, pressed, in good repair.
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Recent Graduates are on a trial period for the duration of the program.
RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE: The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
