Veterans Fire Crew Crew Member - Los Valles

Position: Veterans Fire Crew Member 

Title:  Veterans Fire Corps – Crew Member                                                      

Date: 8/21/2023 - 10/27/2023 potential to extend until November 2023      

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Non-exempt 
Location: Salida, CO 

Salary:  $600/week ($400/week living stipend + $200/week housing stipend) And an AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program. The education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools and G.I. Bill approved programs, or to repay qualified students loans.    

Benefits: $1,374.60 300hr AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of program, Food provided while in the field. Uniforms. USFS recognized S-212 Chainsaw. Colorado Fire Camp Training & Certifications: S-130 & S-190, Firefighter Training and Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior. IS100b, Intro to Incident Command System. IS700, National Incident Management System (NIMS). First Aid & CPR/AED certification, housing at Colorado Fire Camp for off-time    

About the Position 

 The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. SCC supports youth crews, adult camping crews (ages 18-30), and Veteran fire crews (ages 18-35) with crew-based programming to complete challenging and impactful conservation projects throughout the Los Valles and Four Corners Regions. Projects include, trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species removal, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief. SCC crews work in national parks, forests, and other public lands throughout central and southwestern Colorado.    

The Southwest Conservation Corps' Veterans Fire Corps program provides training and on-the-job experience for post 9-11 veterans interested in entering careers and gaining experience in natural resource management. Crews consists of 6-8 veterans and 2 leaders. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Standard schedule consists of 5 days on-hitch and 2 days off. On-hitch, crews camps together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. SCC has an option for accommodations off-hitch for VFC crew leaders and crew members. 

The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a team of recent era veterans works together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuels management and fuels reduction. Project work and schedules will vary depending on region and season. Projects require members to camp and live on project locations for up 9 days at a time, followed by 5 days off.  

Trainings focus on gaining conservation and forestry skills, specifically the use of hand tools and the operation of chainsaws. Members will earn S130- Firefighter Training, S190- Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior, S212- Wildland Fire Chainsaws, IS100b- Intro to Incident Command System, and IS700a-National Incident Management System, as well as First Aid/CPR.    

Additionally, the program aims to provide background knowledge and introductory training in Wildland firefighting. The program assists veterans in their transition to civilian careers by providing contact with potential future employers and trainings in applying for federal land management jobs.   

Qualifications:  

• To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 35  
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs  
• A US citizen that has received (or on track to receive) a high school diploma or GED  
• All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check.   

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.  

Participant and Expedition Behavior  

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.   

• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program. 
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.  
• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.   

Safety and Judgement  

• Effectively perceive, understand and follow directions by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. 

• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.  
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.  

Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills  

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project.   

• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks  

Substance Free  

• In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and SCC activities, and while on organization property.   

To Apply:  

• Complete the CM Application: http://www.sccorps.org/veterans-fire-corps/ 
• Any questions can be addressed to: Trevor Taylor Program Coordinator. ttaylor@conservationlegacy.org  

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.