Summary

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Volunteer Force enables current federal civilian employees to help respond to humanitarian and national security events through reimbursable detail opportunities. Detailed volunteers will deploy and serve in non-law enforcement, humanitarian capacities for minimum 45-60-days to support Volunteer Force missions. Travel, lodging, and per diem will be provided by the receiving agency. The detail is not a promotion opportunity.

Summary

Overview

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Reviewing applications

Open & closing dates

09/20/2024 to 02/03/2025

Salary: $25,684 to - $191,900 per year
Detailees will be compensated at their current rate of pay and with their current locality. Grade and step are not affected.

Pay scale & grade: GS 00

Location

MANY vacancies in the following location:

Location Negotiable After Selection

Remote job: No

Telework eligible: No

Travel Required: 76% or greater - Deployments are for a minimum of 45 to 60 days but may be extended to up to 120 days.

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Appointment type: Detail - Response to humanitarian and national security events.

Work schedule: Full-time - Detail (on location only - this is not a remote detail).

Service: Competitive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

Supervisory status: No

Security clearance: Not Required

Drug test: No

Position sensitivity and risk: Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process

Credentialing

Financial disclosure: No

Bargaining unit status: No

Announcement number: VOLUNTEERFORCE-Sept2025

Control number: 810633300

This job is open to

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Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Clarification from the agency

Current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade. Applications will be reviewed and submitted to DHS as they are received. The closing date will be extended as necessary to meet the volunteer staffing need.

Duties

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Volunteer Force (all grade levels will be considered). Duties are dependent on mission requirements. Responsibilities may include:

Humanitarian care of migrants:
- Migrant Personal Property Management: tagging, bagging, sealing, storing, and retrieval.
- Meal Prep: distributing food and water.
- Supply Distribution: handing out clothes, blankets, personal care items, etc.
- Supply and Prescription Medicine Runs: picking up pre-purchased items, such as food, from local stores and medical prescriptions from local pharmacies.
- Basic Housekeeping (as needed): picking up trash, sweeping, and cleaning refrigerators.
- Assist in Control Room: monitoring and operating access doors, answering phones.
Administrative support:
- Data Entry: enter and maintain data elements into relevant information systems.
- Managing workflow for biometrics photo capture and informational flyer distribution to migrants.
- Scanning, printing, tracking, mailing, and filing documents.
- Warehouse operations: receiving stock, organizing, sorting, and labeling supply items; packing, relocating, and distributing supplies to station/site.

Please see the information below on how to apply to the Volunteer Force.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

U.S. citizenship required.
Current federal employees who have served with their current agency for more than 90 days and are no longer in a probationary period.
Employees in a good performance standing and have no current or pending disciplinary actions.
Possess an HSPD-12 compliant identification badge (e.g., PIV, Military ID).
Have a government issued travel card (preferred).
Supervisory approval; completion of the Supervisory Deployment Authorization form.
May be subject to workplace safety protocols.

Qualifications

On-the-job training will be provided.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Work Hours:
Detailees may be required to work evenings and/or weekends. Extensive overtime may be required. Appropriate premium pay rates will be used in accordance with federal pay regulations.

Deployment and Duration of Detail:
Deployments are for a minimum of 45 to 60 days but may be extended to up to 120 days. You may be asked to deploy within 4 days of receiving all approvals.

Location:
Areas within the continental United States. Locations will extend to other geographic areas according to the need. Conditions at some locations could be austere. Deployment locations are based on need and are not negotiable.

Salary Expenses:
The receiving agency will reimburse home component/agencies for all base pay, overtime, and premium pay incurred by employees while serving on an interagency detail.

Travel Expenses:
All detail-related travel expenses will be paid for by the receiving agency via invitational travel orders. Travel will be paid in accordance with applicable government travel regulations. In most circumstances, detailees will need to have a federal government travel card.

Compensation:
Detailees would continue to be paid at their current rate of pay and with their current locality. Grade and step would not be affected.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Volunteer Force will consider all current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade who have approval from their supervisor and agency and meet the conditions of employment above.

Required Documents

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Please provide a complete online Application Package, which includes:

Required Volunteer Force Documents:
- Completed Supervisory Deployment Authorization Form: Formal supervisory approval is required for the detail. The Authorization Form is required to provide the necessary approval. To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Completed Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Form - Participation may require contact with migrants in the performance of your duties. As such, you are required to complete this form in accordance with 6 CFR Part 115.117 (a). To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application
- Completed Section B of the Background Investigation Requirements Determination (BIRD) Form 78 - Participants will be required to have a current background investigation with their Agency that meets the requirements of the position for which they are volunteering. DHS will conduct updated vetting checks as a part of participation in this effort to ensure compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. DHS may share the results of the vetting checks with the volunteer's home Agency when the results may impact employment eligibility. To download the form, click CBP Form 0078.Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
Standard Form (SF)-50, Notification of Personnel Action. You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that demonstrates employment with a Federal Agency to verify your eligibility for consideration for the DHS Volunteer Force (Detail).
Your responses to the Volunteer Force Questionnaire. You will be directed to the online job questionnaire once you begin the application process for this position. To preview the questions, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12512282

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

Required Documents

Help

Please provide a complete online Application Package, which includes:

Required Volunteer Force Documents:
- Completed Supervisory Deployment Authorization Form: Formal supervisory approval is required for the detail. The Authorization Form is required to provide the necessary approval. To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Completed Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Form - Participation may require contact with migrants in the performance of your duties. As such, you are required to complete this form in accordance with 6 CFR Part 115.117 (a). To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application
- Completed Section B of the Background Investigation Requirements Determination (BIRD) Form 78 - Participants will be required to have a current background investigation with their Agency that meets the requirements of the position for which they are volunteering. DHS will conduct updated vetting checks as a part of participation in this effort to ensure compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. DHS may share the results of the vetting checks with the volunteer's home Agency when the results may impact employment eligibility. To download the form, click CBP Form 0078.Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
Standard Form (SF)-50, Notification of Personnel Action. You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that demonstrates employment with a Federal Agency to verify your eligibility for consideration for the DHS Volunteer Force (Detail).
Your responses to the Volunteer Force Questionnaire. You will be directed to the online job questionnaire once you begin the application process for this position. To preview the questions, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12512282

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.

How to Apply

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To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

*To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the questionnaire.

*Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Agency contact information

DHS Volunteer Force

Email: fema-volunteerforce@fema.dhs.gov

Next steps

The Volunteer Force will review your application and documentation and once vetted, will coordinate with the appointed representative from your agency to obtain the necessary approval for your detail. Once approval for the detail has been obtained, the Volunteer Force will coordinate a start date and contact you about next steps. If qualified and not immediately selected, you will be kept in the application pool as additional needs arise.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request