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Skillbridge Active-Duty Conservation Crew Member

Position Dates: 01/27/2025 - 05/16/2025

Location: Croatan National Forest - New Bern, North Carolina

Benefits: Relevant certifications, on-the-job training, and more

Program Summary

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and Conservation Corps of North Carolina (CCNC) have partnered to create an Active-Duty Conservation Corps Program in North Carolina. The program trains active-duty military personnel for a career in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States Forest Service (USFS) and other public land management agencies through the SkillBridge Program of the Department of Defense (DoD) Transition Assistance Program.

Graduates of the Active-Duty Conservation Corps will be qualified for USFS jobs and given support, guidance and encouragement to apply for them. USFS positions offer opportunities for veterans to continue service to their country by managing more than 193 million acres of our nation’s most magnificent lands. USFS members protect the freshwater millions of Americans drink, manage the country’s renewable resources, and preserve the beauty of America’s landscapes. Veterans in the USFS can often count their service toward annual leave accrual and enjoy other unique benefits.

Participants will be part of a four-member crew that will work on forest management projects including fuels reduction, fire line construction, vegetation management, and various other forestry practices. The program will provide education, certifications, and on-the-job experience that will help participants pursue a variety of natural resource management careers. Expect to be in the field completing these on-the-ground projects the entirety of the program with ride-alongs, education days, and trainings dispersed throughout.

Program Partners

Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) - CCNC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a national service corps that empowers and trains veterans and young adults to be the next generation of natural resource leaders. CCNC gives participants opportunities to do meaningful work that preserves our land and water and creates healthy, resilient communities.

United States Forest Service (USFS) – The mission of the USFS is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The National Forests in North Carolina (NFsNC) leadership strongly supports this program.

Department of Defense – This crew will be a SkillBridge program of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs). The program will engage active-duty military in the last 180 days of the service as they transition to civilian life.

Program participants will train in multiple resource areas with the USFS including the following:

· Recreation Management (hazard tree removal, train maintenance and construction)

· Fire (site preparation, fire line creation, prescribed burn operations)

· Silviculture (timber stand improvement, timber volume data collection)

· Botany (habitat restoration work and invasive plan treatment)

· Wildlife Management (observation data entry, gopher frog habitat restoration)

· Archaeology (site condition monitoring, excavations, graveyard maintenance)

· Law Enforcement and Investigation (Ride along days with District Law Enforcement)

· Engineering (trail bridge repairs, culvert condition surveys)

· Timber (sale administration and marketing)

· Geospatial Information Systems and Data

· Visitor Engagement

· Disaster Recovery

Location: The program will be based on the Croatan National Forest of North Carolina with some project work in the Uwharrie National Forest of North Carolina. When the crew is assigned to Uwharrie National Forest, camping and overnight stays in USFS provided lodging will be required.

Position Dates: January 27th, 2025 through May 16th 2025

Compensation: Participants earn their existing salary through Department of Defense. Salary/Compensation is issued through service member’s existing department.

Status: Full time, Seasonal

Benefits

· Active-Duty military pay

· Housing may be available at MCAS Cherry Point, near Croatan National Forest

· Food budget while on overnight projects

· Conservation Legacy Employee Assistance Program

· Training and opportunity for the following certifications may include:

· ICS–100 Introduction to ICS

· IS-700 NIMS Introduction

· S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighting

· S-190 Basic Wildland Fire Behavior

· S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaw

· S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior

· L-180 Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service

· FFT2 (Firefighter Type 2 - crewmember)

· Basic First Aid and CPR

Qualifications

· Must be current service member and in last 180 days of service

· Must be a US Citizen

· Pass Background Checks: All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal Criminal History Check

· Ability to operate various types of hand and power tools and machinery in a safe and efficient manner.

· Ability to handle and maintain tools, equipment, and supplies in good working order for daily operation

· Ability to function well in a team environment under hazardous and challenging situations

Position Work Schedule

Crew members will live, train, and work together as a team. Project work and schedules will vary depending on season. The base schedule will be 4 days on, 3 days off with 10 hour work days Monday-Thursday. While working in the Uwharrie National Forest, it is required for members to camp or stay in provided lodging. Food will be provided during these overnight projects.

Training

The program will begin an intensive two weeks of training focused on forest management certifications and USFS leadership skills. Informal training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training that will include things like tool maintenance, plant identification, and an overview of the USFS and other public land management agencies.

Supplies and Equipment

Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear equipment such as day pack, rain jacket, and work pants. CCNC and USFS will provide tools, food, group field equipment (i.e water jugs), transportation to and from base camp to project locations, and Personal Protection Equipment (i.e., Nomex pants and shirt, neck and face covering, fire-rated work boots, helmet, leather gloves.)

Essential Responsibilities and Functions

· Represent CCNC, USFS, and DOD appropriately to the public

· Perform chainsaw work with an unwavering commitment to safety

· Use, maintain, and repair hand and power tools as necessary

· Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects

· Work long days outdoors in all types of weather

· Apply environmental conservation and restoration knowledge and outdoor living skills to all outdoor settings and work projects

· Support the creation of a positive team environment that nurtures personal growth

· Follow written and verbal instructions from supervisors and co-workers

· Commit to completion of all program activities, including conservation project work, education, training, and crew/team activities

Physical/Outdoor Skills and Fitness Requirements

· Sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear

· Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time

· Safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis

· Work in variable weather conditions at remote locations on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances

· Successfully pass the Arduous/Pack Test/3-mile hike with 45-pound pack in 45 minutes

· Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries

· Live in a physically demanding, possible isolated environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several days. 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 6 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Safety and Judgement Requirements

· Communicate danger to others in the form of a warning of danger others may encounter or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance - 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

· Perceive, understand, and follow directions by others so that appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques can be successfully executed to manage hazards - these directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or during the exposure to the hazard.

· Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in a variety of weather conditions

· Maintain proper dosage of any prescription medications without assistance from others

· Discuss with supervisors any unexpected situation that trigger Post Traumatic Stress.

Participant Behavior Expectations

Complexity/Problem Solving

· Communicate ideas and concerns with a variety of people, including colleagues, landowners, and supervisor

· Resolve challenges with supervisor

· Resolve management problems independently or as delegated by natural resource staff

· Consult with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems

· Consult with supervisor on unusual or complex issues

· Make responsible day-to-day decisions that benefit the work of other crew members and the crew itself

Responsibility/Oversight

· Implement detailed instructions to complete required tasks

· Work responsibly whether under close supervision or infrequent supervision

· Proactively support duties such as routine maintenance of equipment with help of a supervisor

Communications/Interpersonal Contacts

· Positively interact with members of the crew, public agencies, and the general public

· Consult with supervisor in the event of unusual circumstances, problems or questions that falls outside of general management expectations

Environmental Ethics

· Learn and practice ‘Leave No Trace’ techniques

CCNC is a drug-free organization. Alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited while participating in program activities and on CCNC, USFS, and program partner property.

"Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager."

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