Veterans Corps Field Crew

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Position Summary: AmeriCorps Veterans Corps Field Crews serve outdoors restoring habitat, managing natural resources, and responding to natural disasters or community needs. In addition to these tasks members will work with the Veterans Corps Manager to attend sessions on transitioning to civilian life and connecting to veteran services and resources. The Field Crew program prioritizes personal and professional growth while teaching hands-on conservation skills in the field. Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects. Members will be trained in a wide variety or skills and receive nationally recognized certifications and opportunities to network with professionals. Natural resources projects vary by region and crew location, but may include:

Invasive species management
Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
Prescribed burning
Trail construction & maintenance
Tree planting
Basic carpentry
Wild land fire suppression
Emergency response

Crew Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects.

Crew Leaders typically lead a crew of 4 or 5 AmeriCorps members, serving as the primary liaison between project hosts and program staff. The Crew Leader is responsible for the crew’s service and safety during each project.

Hours & Schedule
Schedules can vary, depending on crew location. Crew members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, including a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (4 – 12 consecutive days) is often required for service projects. Some special assignments (including wildfire response and other emergency response assignments) may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time.

Training & Development
The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year, and additional region or project specific training throughout the service term that may include:

Team building and conflict resolution
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Leadership
Safety and risk management
MN Safety Council defensive driving
S130 & S190 Firefighter training and red card certification training
Chainsaw, brush saw and pole saw operations
Power and hand tool safety and maintenance
First Aid/CPR/AED
Trailer operation and safety
Invasive species management/herbicide application
Plant identification
Leave No Trace principles
AmeriCorps benefits
Veteran resources

Benefits:

Living Allowance: $2,400/month (member), $2,600/month (leader)
Education Award: up to $7,395, if eligible and upon successful completion of program
Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
Health insurance
Childcare assistance
Training, certifications, networking

Qualifications

Honorably Served in US Military
Flexible schedule to accommodate week-long out of town assignments and emergency response
Willingness to learn and adapt to changing plans, work, and project needs
Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership
Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service
Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include but are not limited to:
Long (8-12 hour) days engaging in physically demanding work using various hand and power tools
Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
Working in all weather conditions
Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks.
High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED