• Responds to alarms and combats fire requiring the full performance of firefighting tasks, including rescue, involving structures, equipment, facilities, crashed and burning aircraft
• Serves as fully trained member of a firefighting crew engaged in the protection of life and property
• Assists injured persons by applying knowledge and training in emergency medical procedures for all types of medical emergencies
• Responds to and combats fire including rescue, involving structures, equipment, facilities, crashed, burning aircraft, vehicles, chemicals, fuel storage, ammunition storage, and/or brush fires
• Performs control and confinement operations such as cooling, plugging, or patching containers, applying diluting sprays or neutralizing agents and/or constructing damns

Conditions of employment

• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment
• This position requires the completion of pre-employment and periodic subsequent medical examination in accordance with DoDM 6055.06 to ensure continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• This position has a requirement to lift up to 45 lbs. in the regular performance of duties.
• The duties of this position meet the criteria for compliance with Federal and Department of the Army Drug Free Workplace Programs. Detection of the presence of drugs is warranted.
• This position is subject to a pre-employment screening, and random testing thereafter, to include testing based on reasonable suspicion and testing due to direct involvement with an on-duty accident.
• This position has been designated Mission Essential. In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations the incumbent is required to report to work or remain at work as scheduled to support mission operations.
• This position requires the employee to use personal protective equipment provided by the employer.
• This position requires the incumbent to wear the prescribed uniform while on duty.
• This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. Employee shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis; 48-hour rotating shifts with a work schedule of 144 hours per pay period.
• Due to the nature of this position, employees are required to work both planned and unscheduled overtime. This position performs, as required, mutual aid support to local fire departments.
• The duties of this position require the incumbent to possess or obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.
• This position requires successful completion of an annual Job Performance Test.
• This position requires the incumbent to conform to the requirements set-forth in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1500, Fire Department Occupational Health and Safety Program.
• This position requires participation in a cardiovascular physical fitness program.
• This position requires occasional business travel/TDY up to 5% of the time.
• Must obtain Fort Polk SF-346 (government driver?s license) in order to drive/operate required equipment.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a two year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

To qualify at the GS-05 grade level:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes (1) performing the controlling or extinguishing of fires; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; and/o (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).

OR

Education: Four years of education above the high school level in an accredited college or university in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education by 120. Add the two percentages.

In addition to the above, this position also requires the following certifications to be considered for the GS-05: Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazmat Operations. NOTE: These certifications must have been awarded by the DoD, IFSAC, or Pro-Board accredited training to meet the requirement.

To qualify at the GS-06 grade level:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes (1) performing the controlling or extinguishing of fires; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

In addition to the above, this position also requires the following certifications to be considered for the GS-06: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter and Hazmat Operations. NOTE: These certifications must have been awarded by the DoD, IFSAC, or Pro-Board accredited training to meet the requirement.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes (1) performing the controlling or extinguishing of fires; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents; (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention and (7) collaborating on post-incident debriefings and critiques. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).

In addition to the above, this position also requires the following certifications to be considered for the GS-07: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter, Hazardous Material Technician certification, Driver Operator-Pumper and National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - (formally Basic) certification.
**NOTE: For each certification listed, you MUST submit a copy with your application package or you will be rated in-eligible

*****This is a developmental position which will be filled at either the GS-05, GS-06 or GS-07 grade level. You will work in a developmental capacity performing assignments and completing training, both of which are aimed at preparing you to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the full performance level. The candidate placed in this position may be non-competitively promoted to the target grade of GS-07 if he or she has satisfactorily demonstrated the ability to perform at the higher grade level, meets all regulatory and qualification requirements for promotion, has been recommended for promotion by the supervisor and the target position is supported at the time of the promotion. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

Firefighter Special Retirement Coverage (Primary/Rigorous) This position has been identified by Department of Army and approved by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness as a covered primary, rigorous position for special retirement coverage as identified in 5 CFR 831 Subpart I for CSRS Retirement coverage and 5 CFR 842 Subpart H for FERS retirement coverage. The individual hired is subject to Special Retirement provisions to include additional contributions to the retirement fund, mandatory separation/retirement at age 57 with 20 years of approved special retirement provisions service, options for early retirement at any age after 25 years of approved special retirement provisions service, or at age 50 with 20 years of approved special retirement provisions service. Department of Defense (DoD), in accordance with 5 USC 3307, has determined an individual must be appointed to their first/original appointment into a DoD position that has been identified and approved as a primary firefighter no later than the last day of the month in which they become 37. Preference eligible veterans over the age of 37, may apply regardless of the age restriction. If selected, a waiver of the age restriction will be requested by the hiring official for approval by the Department of Army.An individual who is past the maximum entry age (37) who previously served in an approved primary position may be reinstated to a covered primary position provided they meet the applicable qualification requirements AND will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered service as a firefighter by the last day of the month in which they become 57.The Department of Army may approve an exception to the maximum entry age (37) for the original entry of a non-veteran-preference-eligible applicant into a primary covered firefighter position. Exceptions shall be extremely rare and based only on a compelling hardship to the mission. Should an exception be granted, the employee shall be separated on the last day of the month in which he/she completes 20 years of special retirement provisions covered service. In addition to providing the required eligibility documentation listed elsewhere in this job announcement, you must provide sufficient documentation to determine proof of age. This documentation should be attached under Special Retirement Coverage as identified in the Required Documents section. For reentry into a primary covered position, you must also provide sufficient documentation (SF-50s) to show length of service in a previous covered firefighter position.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Emergency Communication
• Fire Suppression
• Firefighting Equipment
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Vehicle Operation

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your résumé and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

• Best Qualified. Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
• Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
• Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.