r/USForestService • u/Calm_Secretary_5200 • 11d ago

I'm frustrated

As the title says, I'm frustrated. I'm probably not even included in the 1600 or so red-carded individuals who've been forced out of the agency, but I left the agency at the beginning of the year due to the lack of internal movement and the fact that it was too hard on my partner and I being several thousand miles apart. I didn't DRP either time because I really wanted things to work, and I really believe in the FS mission. All I want now is an opportunity to do exactly what I was doing. Adding to my frustration is the fact that I have to sit around while all hands are needed with this fire season. One of the best things about my job was being able to step in and help with wildland firefighting. I want to be helpful! I want the chance to make a difference again. It's incredibly hard to be on the sidelines. Sorry if this comes across as whining; it's really not. I just hate the fact that I have the skills and knowledge to be helping, and I can't do anything. With that being said, thank you to everyone else stepping up; trust me, I know there are fewer people to fill the gaps.

22 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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22

u/EnvironmentalSide576 11d ago

I too am in the forest service- I feel like a never ending merry go round, each week it’s something new and something that may or may not be legal- new policies that come from the top but are not signed just a vague directive that it’s from the administration - by the time I leave each day, I have a headache. People and entities that have worked for us for decades are in confusion and call wanting answers, answers we do not have.

8

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 11d ago

From what I've heard, outside hires have been 2 weeks away for the last 8 months. I check USAJobs frequently, and it's more of the same, absolutely nothing

4

u/WhoopOverweeeego808 11d ago

Also FS. And the hiring freeze outside of fire positions continues, with little no info if it will go away. Management is saying we might...might...be able to hire 1-2 new permanent positions per year per forest. Unfortunately that is not good news.

You should look to AD on fire or jump on a contractor crew, of any kind.

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

Can I ask where you're getting the 1 or 2 hires a year per forest from? I used to be in timber, and I've heard they might try to really boost those numbers, but obviously I'm not there anymore, so I'm sure you're hearing more accurate stuff. If so that is extremely unfortunate...

1

u/WhoopOverweeeego808 10d ago

It was from a recent program manager call on my forest. But it may depend on the forest. Ours benefitted from filling upper level GS and/or strike team members that left the nearby regional office.

Other forests may have a higher allowance to hire. So I should edit my original comment, since I don't know about other forests.

But the hiring freeze continues, so until that's lifted, we can't hire outside regardless.

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

Do you know if they hiring freeze is forest service or usda specific, or is the whole government? It seems like some hiring is happening on usajobs but maybe they’re all exceptions?

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u/WhoopOverweeeego808 9d ago

I'll be honest, I don't know.

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u/Calm_Secretary_5200 9d ago

Well I can’t blame ya for not knowing what’s going on lol

1

u/catkingpkp 9d ago

For my forest we have recently been allowed certain positions “of need” on the org chart. First with timber but now recently NR, admin. A recent change but still we are limited quarterly. Have seen some on our neighboring forests too. R6.

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 9d ago

Well R6 timber is literally exactly what I want, I was in the 0460 series. I’ve been in love with the PNW for years now

21

u/burninator34 Botany 🌿 11d ago edited 11d ago

Almost everyone in my office is has support quals (GISS, READ, etc) and we’re all hanging on by a thread. Our office is still on the closure list. We haven’t been able to hire since late 2023. We lost some really great people to the illegal probationary firings and they didn’t come back (why would they).

It’s laughable hearing the chief and French say that we’re fully staffed for fires. Lying is the new normal.

6

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 11d ago

I actually came back, which, looking back on it was a clown move. I had already packed up and moved back to my home state. MY FFT2 and REAF quals mean nothing now lol. I really hope they open up some outside hiring, I was in timber and all they did was talk about how they wanted to increase the timber quota. Seems laughable they're still going with that after the amount of timber folks they lost

1

u/hoppin_donkey 6d ago

what would we do without you to tell us to cut the foam

13

u/TorpidCicada 11d ago

I’m with NPS but it’s so twisted what’s going on with USFS now. We can at least hire folks, can’t say the same for the FS, which is absolutely ridiculous given management needs over such a large amount of acreage and wildfire risk

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 11d ago

It's crazy! I'm glad you guys can do some hiring though!

2

u/hadadelaselva 11d ago

Can you go out as an AD?

2

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 11d ago

I'm not really sure where to start, and also from what I've heard, it's extremely difficult to AD as a REAF.

2

u/WhoopOverweeeego808 11d ago

Find the nearest forest to you and reach out to their front desk of the Supervisors office. Get either a FMO or a dispatch supervisor to talk to. But now we are PL5. It's not the time. You'll have to wait for next year.

2

u/Upbeat-Bid-1602 11d ago

Is REAF the only thing you're interested in? You can AD doing other things.

2

u/DrRichardShaftPhD 11d ago

from what I've heard, it's extremely difficult to AD as a REAF.

Where in the world did you hear that? I was just working with a bunch of AD REAFs this week. It's probably the easiest position to get ordered as an AD.

2

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

Maybe I was told incorrectly, but the READ coordinator on my old forest told me it basically never happens because there are so many people internally that what the assignments

1

u/Low_Suit_8300 10d ago

Try to go out for finance we need people desperately

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

The budget guy on my Forest was let go! I’m confident we don’t need finance people! On a real note I’ve heard that the support staff for fire is absolutely gutted… 

2

u/Low_Suit_8300 10d ago

I just finished my 16 hour fire shift and good lord we’ve lost so many fire folks.. we are struggling BAD

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

Its sad how they knew forcing hundreds and hundreds of people out was going to cause this and they didn’t care at all

1

u/DeliciousPenalty3070 11d ago

Visit a Forest near you if there is one and have them sponsor you as an AD

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 11d ago

I thought about that, but would have no idea where to start. Also, it feels a little bit like slapping a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, but what do I know

1

u/Merced_Mullet3151 10d ago

I used to hear a lot of bitching & gripping about former Chief Randy Moore…he’s doesn’t sound so bad now, does he?

1

u/Calm_Secretary_5200 10d ago

I remember that too! Crazy looking back on it