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Law Enforcement Officer/Field Training Officer/Instructor

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Law Enforcement and Investigations
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are with Region 3 and Region 6 for Law Enforcement and Investigations as a Field Training Officer with USDA Forest Service.

The incumbent will be expected to become an instructor in Firearms, Control Tactics/Conducted Energy Weapon, and/or Fitness for a zone(s) within a Region if not already an instructor.

For additional information about the duties of these positions, please contact SM.FS.LEI_RECRUIT@USDA.GOV

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/13/2025 to 11/26/2025
Salary
$73,939 to - $96,116 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
26-WO-LEOFTO-12830927-FS-RY
Control number
849884100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent Forest Service (FS) employees with competitive status; and CTAP/RPL eligible candidates.

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Duties

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  • Serve as a Field Training Officer (FTO) and evaluates Field Training Evaluation Program (FTEP) trainee performance to determine effectiveness of course instruction/materials.
  • Instruct specific courses for law enforcement personnel and/or Forest Protection Officers (FPOs).
  • Provide assistance to other instructors and staff on instruction of law enforcement courses.
  • Coordinate law enforcement planning activities with other USDA Forest Service units, State, Local and Federal agencies.
  • Serve as an instructor for the unit's Forest Protection Officer (FPO) program which is responsible for conducting annual FPO training.
  • Evaluate and document the Field Training and Evaluation Program trainee’s performance.
  • Conduct full investigations of misdemeanor crimes and offenses of regulatory and Federal criminal laws affecting National Forest System lands.
  • Plan, direct and conduct law enforcement patrols to prevent, detect and enforce violations of Federal laws and regulations on National Forest System lands related to resources, property, employees, and users.
  • Develop worksheets, training exercises, and remedial training as necessary.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Must meet job-related medical, fitness, and/or physical standards as determined by an examination or test.
  • 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.
  • This is a Drug Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
  • Successfully completed the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Field Training Officer program and be a current certified Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Field Training Officer.
  • Successfully completed Land Management Police Training Program (LMPT) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Due to the requirements of this position, applicants must have prior law enforcement experience that included the following activities: be a certified USDA Forest Service LEI Field Training Officer and enforcement of criminal laws of the United States through investigation, apprehension, or detection of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against these criminal laws. This experience must be reflected in the resume.

Selective Placement Factor: Have you successfully completed the USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigation Field Training Officer Course?

Specialized Experience Requirement:GS-11: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as a majority of the following: mentoring trainees in developing independent problem-solving skills and resources; Assisting with development analysis, and evaluation of new or revised law enforcement policy statements and guidelines for the law enforcement and investigations program; Analyzing reports to find trends related to enforcement problems and concerns; Reviewing complete enforcement and investigative files for research and analysis purposes; Carrying out law enforcement activities such as detection, investigation, apprehension, detention, prosecution, and conducting full investigations of misdemeanors and assisting in felony investigations.

OR- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

OR- an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate-level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).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.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no additional educational requirements. See the qualifications section for more information.

Additional information

This is a temporary promotion not-to-exceed 1 year and may be extended without further competition up to 3 years or may end earlier due to lack of work or funds, or at the discretion of the Hiring Manager.

At the end of the temporary promotion, it is expected that you will be returned to your permanent position of record with any increases that would have been received if not temporarily assigned. If it is not possible to be returned to the prior position, you should be placed in another position in the agency for which qualified, at the same grade and geographic location as before. Should this not occur, reduction-in-force procedures may be necessary. If selected, we will work with you and your supervisor on an agreement covering return rights so every effort will be made to return you to a properly classified position for which qualified and at the same grade level.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.


This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by NFFE

Pay rates vary depending on location and the salary shown is for the Rest of the U.S. See OPM.gov for additional information on pay rates.

These positions will be located at a Forest Service office, final determination of the duty station(s) will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer. To see where these Forest Service Offices are located click here . Click each region to see the different locations.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Criminal Investigation
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Teaching Others
  • Writing


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12830927

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