Veterans Fire Corps Crew Member

Title: AmeriCorps Crew Member – Veterans Fire Corps 

Reports to: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator  

Duty Station: Crew will be based out of Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area- Oneida, TN 

(Ideally, members will live within one hour of duty station) 

Season Dates: 1/13/2025-5/9/2025 

Status: This is a full-time, seasonal, 17-week- 675-hour AmeriCorps National Service position.   

Stipend: $600/week AmeriCorps living allowance, plus $300/week additional benefit ($900/week total, pre-tax, disbursed bi-weekly) 

AmeriCorps Award: $2,817.14 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program.  

Other Benefits: Paid certifications and trainings related to wildland firefighting, Wilderness First Aid certification, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), $200 fire boot stipend, food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available. 

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 5 Crew Members 

Southeast Conservation Corps:  
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service.  

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC provides members with impactful opportunities through a unique set of programs that engage people in meaningful education and service to their communities and natural landscapes. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days.  

SECC partners with various land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The projects are manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.    

Crews will serve in frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC strives to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.     

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and participate as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The Crew Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.    

Position Summary:  

The Veterans Fire Corps (VFC) program provides training and on-the-job experience for post-9/11 era veterans ages 18-35 who are interested in entering careers and gaining experience in prescribed fire and fuels reduction and natural resource management. The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a crew of recent-era Veterans train and complete projects related primarily to “fuels management,” which will include prescribed burning. Members should expect projects and schedules to vary depending on region and season. Wildland firefighting demands a high level of fitness to navigate difficult environmental conditions, including steep terrain, extreme temperatures, altitude, and smoke. This program will provide practical, hands-on training and certifications related to park management, natural resource management and wildland firefighting. The program is comprehensive and intentionally structured to prepare Veterans to transition into civilian careers focused on wildland firefighting. Additional opportunities such as repeated networking with Federal employees and training on the federal land management application process are also included in this program. 

Service Project:   

This Veteran Fire Crew will typically be stationed at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area in Onieda, TN but can also be deployed to other National Park Service sites within the Southeast region. During their time in the field, crew members camp overnight and perform their service projects outdoors in all types of weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor related to wildland fire and natural resource projects. Members should expect projects and schedule to vary depending on region, season, and weather conditions. In addition to fire, the crew should be prepared to assist on a variety of projects including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat management, and other emergency response needs.  

Comfort with ambiguity and being apart of a fast-paced team is a must with this position as schedules and projects change often. When on projects locally, the schedule is typically 4 days on, followed by 3 days off. Camping “hitches” requires members to camp and live on project locations for 8 – 14 days at a time, followed by a pre-determined number of days off.  

The home base for this crew is Big South Fork River & Recreation Area. It is paramount that members understand they can be a roving throughout the Southeastern United States depending on partner and project needs. 

Note: When camping on a project location is required, members will camp, travel, serve, and eat as a crew. No drug or alcohol consumption is allowed during project-related travel at any time.  

Members will earn the following training and certifications: 

• S130: Firefighter Training
• S190: Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior
• S212: Wildland Fire Chainsaws
• ICS100: Introduction to Incident Command System
• IS700: Introduction to the National Incident Management System
• L180: Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service
• Wilderness First Aid Certification
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours)
• Members must pass the Arduous Work Capacity (Pack) Test within the season’s beginning weeks to participate in prescribed fire operations.

Fuels management projects demand a high fitness level in challenging environmental conditions, including steep terrain, extreme temperatures, altitude, and smoke. Crews are generally comprised of individuals 21-35 years of age with minimal financial and/or personal commitments.  

This program will provide practical, hands-on training and certifications related to natural resource management and wildland firefighting. The program is comprehensive and intentionally structured to prepare Veterans to transition into civilian careers focused on wildland firefighting. Additional opportunities, such as repeated networking with Federal employees and training on the federal land management application process, are also included in this program. 

Schedule:   

The schedule for this crew is heavily dependent on weather, partner schedules, and varying projects at any given time in the season. We ask members to be flexible and open to changing needs throughout the season. The typical hitch schedule is 4 days on and 3 days off. While in the field, Crew Members serve 10-hour days. The day starts with a stretch circle and safety meeting and includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half hour break for lunch.   

Prior to their start date, selected Crew Members must begin their background check process and complete an online enrollment process which includes completing e-forms, uploading IDs, and enrolling with AmeriCorps. For those with limited access to online platforms, accommodations may be available and can be discussed during the interview process.   

Crew Life:   

SECC Members with SECC serve on a crew model variation of 4-6 other Crew Members and 2 Crew Leaders who provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support for the success of all participants. Food is provided while in the field. Together, crew members collaborate to plan meals and complete all necessary chores (cooking, washing dishes, etc.). Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if known ahead of time. Many evenings include group discussions on conservation topics.  When living on site, members will camp, travel, complete service projects, and eat as a crew. No drug or alcohol consumption is allowed during service-related travel at any time.  

SECC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew Members will set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance through both self-evaluation and a review with their Crew Leader in the middle and at the end of their season. Evaluations will cover areas such as professionalism, responsibility and leadership, communication, engagement, productivity, safety, and equipment use. Crew Members will also be asked to evaluate their Crew Leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term. 

Expectations:   

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew members are responsible for their own food and transportation when not in the field. While members will be asked to supply as much of their personal equipment as possible, loaner gear will be available if needed, especially for more expensive items such as tents and sleeping bags. A gear list is provided upon acceptance into the program. Please ask immediately if there is loaner gear you require. In addition to providing food while in the field, SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between duty station and project sites.   

Crew members are asked to put their best foot forward, stay positive, and be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. This is a seasonal position; crew members are expected to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline.   

Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:   

• Expect to spend long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Project days will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.
• SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.
• Crews prepare all their own meals while in-field and as a group complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.
• Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between SECC office and project sites.
• While participating in a term of National Service, SECC crews engage in a variety of team dynamics, emphasizing respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land they encounter.
• SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner.
• Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
• Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.

General Qualifications:   

• Be a military veteran able to provide a DD214 or NGB-22 upon interview
• Be between the ages of 18 and 35
• Able to pass the arduous level pack test (3-mile hike with 45-pound pack within 45 minutes)
• Wildland firefighting demands a high level of fitness to perform in difficult environmental conditions, including steep terrain, extreme temperatures, altitude, and smoke.
• US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal and/or State criminal background check
• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (individuals are eligible if they have not already completed 2 full years of AmeriCorps service, or 4 AmeriCorps service terms, whichever comes first – please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility)
• No previous experience is required, but a general comfort with and prior experience in outdoor environments.

Compensation:      
AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $600/week, plus $300/week additional benefit ($900/week total, pre-tax, disbursed bi-weekly). Upon successful completion of the term of service, AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.    

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements   

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position.  

Participation and Expedition Behavior   

• Serve effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service project requirements
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.

Safety and Judgment   

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and serving n varied weather conditions
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics:  

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate)   

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living, travel, and industry skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free  

In accordance with a drug free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.  

   

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.