AIHC - 2009 Asheville IHC Fire Leadership Program

Course Description:

ASHEVILLE INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREW

 

FIRE LEADERSHIP TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

 

NATIONAL FORESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

 

 

                 SUBJECT:      Fire Training – Career Development

                                          Asheville Hotshots Interagency Hotshot Crew

                                          Southern Region

                      DATES:      January 11, 2009 through May 23, 2009

                                          (Selected candidates return to home unit by June 1)

               LOCATION:      Asheville, North Carolina

                PURPOSE:      To offer classroom and field experience in fire line leadership at the Crew Boss level, as well as provided a highly organized wildland fire suppression team.      

                      COSTS:      U. S. Forest Service (USFS) Employees—Salary, meals, 
                                          lodging, and $3.00 per day for incidental expenses (provided
                                          by Asheville IHC).  The sending unit must pay all travel costs
                                          to and from the training site.  (See attachment Section V.).

Non-USFS Employees—Base salary must be paid by sending unit/agency.  USFS Asheville IHC will provide lodging, meals, and $3.00 per day incidental expenses.  The sending unit must pay all travel costs to and from the training site.

       PARTICIPANTS:       All candidates must be a career or career-conditional employees with USFS, DOI, or other resource protection agencies.  Candidates must meet all prerequisites.  (See attachment Section II.).

  HOW TO APPLY:     Follow procedures outlined in Section I-D of this announcement.  The Application Packet must be complete and received on time.

                DEADLINE:      Applications must be received by September 30, 2008. 

Late applications will not be considered.

                                          Please direct questions to:

                                          Steve Little at 828-257-4809 (slittle@fs.fed.us)

Mike Honeycutt at 828-257-4808 (mhoneycutt@fs.fed.us)   

  

***** EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TRAINING *****

 

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APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

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ASHEVILLE INTERAGENCY HOTSHOT CREW

APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

 

I.    RECRUITMENT

A.   Target Audience

1.      Fire Suppression Technicians

2.      Fire Management Trainees

3.      Forestry Technicians (especially new-hires)

4.      Career Employees

The Asheville Hotshot program represents a large investment towards training fire managers for the future.  For this reason, permanent full time and permanent seasonal employees are given priority.  Temporary employees are not normally selected for the program.

Fourteen slots are earmarked for USFS employees and three for other agencies.

If the three slots cannot be filled by other agencies, they will be filled with USFS candidates.        

B.   Area of Consideration

Candidates from Southern Area agency offices (including USFS, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and States) will be given priority for selection.  Interested candidates from outside the Southern Area are encouraged to apply and will be considered if slots are available.

C.   Critical Information

This is not a hiring action.  Candidates will be on detail for participation in the program.

Candidates must have the supervisor’s approval.  Applications from candidates without approval will not be accepted.

DO NOT APPLY IF YOU AND YOUR SUPERVISOR CANNOT COMMIT TO THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF JANUARY 11 THROUGH MAY 23, 2009.

D.   Application Process   

In order to be considered, applications must be complete and be submitted according to all the procedures outlined below.  Employees must obtain their supervisor’s approval. 

The Application Packet includes the following:  Candidate Information Form, Candidate Justification Statement, Training Record, Fire Experience Record, Fitness Certification, Approval and Justification Forms completed by applicant’s Supervisor, Line Officer, and Staff Officer.  All these forms must be completed and mailed in.

Use the following guidelines for submitting the Application package. 

All Applications must be received by September 30, 2008

USFS REGION-8:  Unit FMOs should review candidate packages.  Units with multiple candidates will need to prioritize candidates. Submit candidate package directly to the mailing address listed below.    

OTHER USFS REGIONS:  Forest FMOs should review and forward candidate packages, including letters of recommendation, to their Regional Fire Staff.  The Regional Fire Staff should submit a prioritized package to the mailing address listed below.  

USFS RESEARCH/NPS/FWS/BIA/BLM:  Units should send candidate packages, including letters of recommendation, to their Regional/Station Headquarters.  Regional/Station Headquarters should submit a prioritized package directly to the mailing address listed below.  

Mailing Address for Applications:      

National Forests in North Carolina

Asheville Hotshots

160 Zillicoa Street

Asheville, NC 28801                                                 

E.   Notification of Selection

Applicants will be notified of their selection status by November 3, 2008.  A list of alternate candidates will be designated in the event a selected individual cannot attend the program.  All selected candidates will be expected to remain with the program for the entire detail period.

II.    PREREQUISITE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A.   Requirements

Candidates must have career or career-conditional status with USFS, DOI, or other resource agency.

Candidates must express a desire for career development in the field of fire management or forest resource management.

Candidates must be in good physical condition.  (See II.C.).

It is suggested that candidates have a minimum of two seasons of wildland fire experience.  The program is only allowed two candidates with less experience.

Candidates need to be at the experience level for trainee assignments as Crew Boss or Squad Boss.

B.   Medical Examination

Each selected candidate must submit a record of medical examination (Interagency Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards) to the Asheville IHC Superintendent prior to January 11, 2009.  Annual medical exams need to be current through the length of the detail, May 23, 2009.  The sending unit pays the cost of the medical exam.  Individuals with a history of serious injury or ailments, which could recur when performing continuous arduous duty, should re-consideration before applying to the program.

C.   Physical Conditioning

Selected Candidates will report for duty capable of performing the following:

1.   Work Capacity Test at the Arduous Level: The Pack Test (3 miles on flat track, with a 45 pound pack, in less than 45 minutes)

Candidates will be given the Pack Test when reporting to the Asheville Hotshot Program.  Successful completion is required to remain with the program.  Those unable to pass the Pack Test will return to their home unit.

2.   These are the Fitness Goals as specified in the National Hotshot Operations Guide. Selected Candidates will be tested and should be able to perform the following physical fitness standards.

1.5 mile-run in 10:35 or less                      40 sit-ups in 60 seconds

25 pushups in 60 seconds                        4 to 7 Chin-ups, based on body weight

III.    TRAINING

A.   Formal Instruction

The goal of this training program is to develop employee skills for supervisory fire line positions.  Targeted training includes courses leading to the Crew Boss position and other specialty positions in the ICS organization based upon the crewmember’s background and career objectives.  The following is a list of the typical training for the program.

Course #                         Course Title
I200                                 Basic Incident Command System
L280                                Leadership to Followership
S230                               Crew Boss (Single Resource)
S234                               Firing Methods and Procedures
S260                               Incident Business Management Principles
S270                               Basic Air Operations
S290                               Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

The Hotshot program is committed to providing a basic curriculum regardless of fire season severity.  Generally, the trainees can expect to complete a majority of the scheduled courses; however there is no guarantee that all courses will be offered or completed.

B.   On-the-job Training

Crew supervisors will give a high priority to on-the-job training during fire suppression and prescribed burning assignments.  Throughout the length of the detail, each candidate will perform and be evaluated in fire line leadership positions on wildfires and prescribed burns.

IV.  FIRE SUPPRESSION AND OTHER DUTIES

The primary function of this Type I crew is to perform fire line construction, ignitions, or holding duties for suppression of wildland fires.  The actual number of fire assignments the crew receives will vary from year to year.  The past five seasons have ranged from 12 to 25 fires. Assignments have been through out the country to any geographic area experiencing fire occurrence.

Each year the Asheville IHC plays an important role in helping the Southern Area meet prescribed burning targets.  In recent years the crew has assisted with prescribed burns in all the states of the Southern Area.  The Asheville IHC typically burns an average of 18,000 acres per year. 

The crew is also available and has been assigned for all risk incidents such as search and rescue and national disasters, thus expanding trainee awareness and experience in local level response and the National Response Plan.

Being part of an interagency hotshot crew includes extensive travel, working under very arduous conditions, and in hazardous situations.  Also, it is not unusual for the crew to be away from the base for two weeks or longer at any time.  A candidate should give all this serious consideration before applying.

V.   FUNDING

A.   Forest Service Employees

Base salary, meals, lodging and $3.00 per diem will be provided by USFS Asheville IHC.  The travel costs to and from Asheville, NC at the beginning and end of the detail, as well as the required medical exam will be paid by the crewmember’s home unit.

B.   Other Agency Employees

Non-USFS trainees will be provided with lodging, meals and $3.00 per diem.  These costs will be covered by USFS Asheville IHC.  The trainee’s base salary, required medical exam, and travel to and from Asheville, NC will be paid by the crewmember’s home unit.  Cooperative agreements will be executed between the National Forests in North Carolina and the sending unit for all non-USFS trainees.  These agreements will detail the responsibilities of each party including reimbursement procedures for premium pay.

VI.  ACCOMMODATIONS

Lodging and training facilities are provided at no cost to the trainee. The crew is all housed in one building.  Separate facilities are provided for males and females.   

Lodging will not be reimbursed for “off-base” housing.  There is no government quarters available for families.  These housing arrangements are the responsibility of the trainee and must be made prior to the starting date. 

VII. OBTAINING APPLICATION PACKAGE

The Application Package is posted as a separate document. 

Only the forms in the Application Package need to be submitted.  Applications must be received by September 30, 2008.  Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. 

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