Help from anybody from Region 5 Klamath

[bighead1]

I am looking to become a hot shot crew member and have questions on my gs rating. I have already gone through Avue for the apprenticeship but was not hired but still am interested in working on a crew but would like to reach my 4 status. What do I need to do to get to GS 4? The bigger picture I get; its the little things I would like help with, thanks. Just a little background. I've worked in the woods for 14 years the last 11 have been as a timber faller. the last six years I've contracted for the forest service on fires as a faller. I have run my own business for past four years. I've also taken a few of the S courses(190,130) I've also taken the I-100 and the L-180.

[Heli084]

Hello There -

I would suggest working on your application!!! Start calling the crews in your area, and go meet them. With experience like yours, you should not have a problem rating out as a GS-4.

[stringtown]

Go back to your app and look at your knowledge, skills and abilites (KSA's) and Quality Group Factors (if there are any for a GS-4?)- these play a big part in how the system rates you. Keep in mind that the answers are not in any specific order- read them closely and mark the one that best describes your experience. And like heli084 said- follow up with a phone call to where ever you applied to.

[bighead1]

I know most of the captians on the Klamath forest and the Sups. I also carry good references like ret. Fmo's, ret. Fules officers and other active fed emploees. As for my app. I don't what I could change. I had a couple of people look over it a thought it looked good. But, on Avue I only received a tenetive GS 3.

[stringtown]

I know when I first got hired on w/ the FS (after 2 years of fire w/ other local agency), I rated out as a 4, there were 3 and 4 seasonal positions on the crew I was applying for, but they gave those to current FS employees- mostly just the guys from the previous year- and I'd have to accept the 3 if I wanted a job at all, and then most likely the following year I could take the 4. Not real sure how AVUE works when it comes to a seasonal position like that- and you can only be hired at the GS level AVUE rates you at- or how it rates time on fires not as a FF. That's why I said look VERY closely at those KSA's- changing some could bump you up to that 4.

[srjs]

Originally Posted by bighead1

I know most of the captians on the Klamath forest and the Sups. I also carry good references like ret. Fmo's, ret. Fules officers and other active fed emploees. As for my app. I don't what I could change. I had a couple of people look over it a thought it looked good. But, on Avue I only received a tenetive GS 3.

You need 90 days of fire experience to be rated out as a GS-4. This is what HR has told me. If you do not show that on your application, no 4 for you. But I am not from the Klamath, but that was from the GS-4 Temp team last year.

[bighead1]

My fire experience consists of an average of 30 day for the last six years as a faller. I've help layout hose lays, set up foldatanks and cut p lines. I hope that would be enough to cover my line experience.

[Heli084]

BigHead,

It sounds like you have your ducks in a row. I think your next step would be, getting with your KNF contacts and ask who has done SME work at R5 Fire Hire. When you talk with those folks, have them look over your application.

If you have already done this, maybe talk to an HR person and see if they can find anything on your application, that could be hindering your chances.

Good Luck