This is an open continuous announcement. Initial cutoff will be 20 FEBRUARY 2026. Recruitment will continue through the announcement closing date until the position is filled.
**INDEFINITE POSITION - MAY NOT BECOME PERMANENT** This position is a time limited indefinite resource. Permanent employees that apply, if selected, will lose permanent tenure.
As a HELICOPTER PILOT (TITLE 32), GS-2181-11/12, you will pilot a variety of rotary wing aircraft in support of the missions and functions of the geographical area.
Major Duties - This is NOT an all-inclusive list:
Pilot utility or cargo helicopters, including UH-60 series and CH-47 series, in support of operational missions.
Operate rotary wing aircraft using short takeoff and landing capability over varied terrain and open bodies of water.
Conduct reconnaissance and observation flights in day, night, and all-weather conditions.
Perform test flights and check aircraft systems in connection with maintenance actions.
Conduct acceptance test flights of new aircraft to ensure proper system operation and airworthiness.
Participate in all-weather search and rescue operations utilizing knowledge of terrain and emergency procedures.
Ensure aircraft airworthiness following maintenance, repair, or replacement of components or systems.
Conduct flight checks following repairs, maintenance, or installation of approved aircraft system modifications.
Perform maintenance operational checks to validate safe and proper functioning of aircraft systems.
Apply operational risk management principles during flight operations in hazardous or austere environments.
Plan and execute flight operations independently under general supervision in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Operate aircraft from modern airports and unimproved or remote landing strips as mission requirements dictate.
Transport cargo and passengers safely among a variety of familiar destinations.
Perform duties away from the normal duty station without direct supervision for extended periods.
Serve as a member of boards pertaining to aviation accidents, flight evaluations, or collateral investigations.
Participate in standardization and federal recognition boards related to aviation operations.
Coordinate with maintenance personnel to identify discrepancies and support corrective actions following test flights.
IAW The Fair Chance Act, Agency employees may not request criminal history information at the point of initial application, upon receipt of an application, or prior to, during or after a job interview. If an Optional Form (OF) 306, Declaration of Employment is submitted prior to the point of a conditional offer, questions related to background information section may not be asked.
This is an excepted service position that requires membership in the Illinois National Guard and in the military grade listed in the announcement. This is required prior to the effective date of placement. If you are not sure you are eligible for military membership, please contact a National Guard recruiter prior to applying for this position.
Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform.
Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.
Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
May be required to successfully complete a trial period.
This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
Drug testing may be required.
Must be able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.
May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
Must possess and continue to maintain a US Army Class II Flight Physical.
Must have Federal Aviation Administration certifications awarded from accredited civilian aviation programs or must have aviation certifications from accredited military aviation schools. Must provide copy of certifications with application.
Qualifications
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: The areas of consideration for this position, Title 32 Excepted Service (32 U.S. Code ยง 709), will be in the following manner and sequence:
The FIRST area of consideration for this position will be all excepted permanent and indefinite temporary technicians within the ILNG.
The SECOND area of consideration will be all current Federal Employees.
The THIRD area of consideration will be all Federal re-employment eligible.
The FOURTH area of consideration will be applicants willing to become T32 Dual Status Technicians and gain ILNG membership.
The FIFTH area of consideration will be U.S. Citizens.
Military Grades: Warrant Officer Only - Minimum rank requirement of CW2 and May not exceed the rank of CW4.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENT: MUST possess Federal Aviation Administration certifications awarded from accredited civilian aviation programs or have aviation certifications from accredited military aviation schools.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-12 Level - MUST possess at least two years of experience operating a specific main-frame military rotary wing aircraft, such as the UH-60 or CH-47, which demonstrates progression beyond the GS-11 level or comparable military rank, and includes experience in mission planning and mission preparation; reviewing and analyzing mission tasking, intelligence, and weather information; filing flight plans and conducting crew briefings; performing aircraft preflight inspections, aircraft loading, and equipment assessments; performing or supervising navigation, in-flight refueling, search and rescue, surveillance, or reconnaissance operations; conducting or supervising training of crew members in simple to complex mission-specific tasks; developing plans and policies, monitoring operations, advising commanders; and applying flight theory, air navigation, meteorology, flying directives, mission tactics, operating procedures, and unit flying, explosive, and ground safety programs. GS-11 Level - MUST possess at least one year of on-the-job experience in the grade (or a comparable military rank) immediately below the next higher level, which includes experience operating a specific main-frame military rotary wing aircraft (such as the UH-60 or CH-47); experience in mission planning and mission preparation; competence in reviewing and analyzing mission tasks, intelligence, and weather information; experience supervising and/or filing flight plans and conducting crew briefings; experience performing aircraft preflight inspections, aircraft loading, and equipment assessments; experience performing or supervising navigation, in-flight refueling, search and rescue, surveillance, or reconnaissance operations; skill in training crew members in simple to complex mission-specific tasks; and experience applying flight theory, air navigation, meteorology, flying directives, mission tactics, operating procedures, and unit flying, explosive, and ground safety programs.
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.
Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, i.e. the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.
Education
You MUST meet the following education requirements to qualify for this position: High school diploma or general education development (GED) diploma. An undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university is optimum. Must have Federal Aviation Administration certifications awarded from accredited civilian aviation programs or must have aviation certifications from accredited military aviation schools.
You must provide OFFICIAL transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position.
Additional information
If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
If you are needing some extra information regarding Federal Resumes, you should consider these tips from USA Jobs: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to.
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.
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.
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, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Your resume that clearly demonstrates experience that meets the requirements of this position. Your resume must contain identifiable information such as your name, address, and phone number. It should also show your work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.
If you are currently an onboard ILNG technician, then you MUST include your most recent SF-50.
Other supporting documents (as applicable):
Pilot Certification (FAA or Military Accredited)
Certifications
DD-214
NGIL Form 73
Official Transcript (Copy) - Required if using for substitution of experience.
*NGIL Form 73 - Illinois National Guard Technician Program Supplement to Application for Dual Status (DS), to reflect military qualifications.
Complete and accurate data is essential to ensure fair evaluation. Applicants with no military qualifications must submit form stating "not applicable" and signature on page 2 of the NGIL Form 73.
Documents NOT accepted: photographs, copies of position descriptions, training certificates, performance ratings, awards, and letters of appreciation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12874894
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
IL SAO
1301 N MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, IL 62702
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Your resume that clearly demonstrates experience that meets the requirements of this position. Your resume must contain identifiable information such as your name, address, and phone number. It should also show your work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.
If you are currently an onboard ILNG technician, then you MUST include your most recent SF-50.
Other supporting documents (as applicable):
Pilot Certification (FAA or Military Accredited)
Certifications
DD-214
NGIL Form 73
Official Transcript (Copy) - Required if using for substitution of experience.
*NGIL Form 73 - Illinois National Guard Technician Program Supplement to Application for Dual Status (DS), to reflect military qualifications.
Complete and accurate data is essential to ensure fair evaluation. Applicants with no military qualifications must submit form stating "not applicable" and signature on page 2 of the NGIL Form 73.
Documents NOT accepted: photographs, copies of position descriptions, training certificates, performance ratings, awards, and letters of appreciation.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12874894
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
IL SAO
1301 N MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, IL 62702
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
