Veterans and Military-Related Hiring

• Business Careers: Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Project Management, Grants, and more.

• Visitor Services Careers: Recreation Management, Volunteer Management, Trails and Facilities, Interpretation, and more.

• Communications Careers: Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Web Management, Social Media, Graphic Design, and more.

• Fire and Aviation Careers: Firefighters, Prevention, Aviation, Equipment Operation, Analysts, and more.

• Medical and Safety Careers: Nursing, Law Enforcement, Safety, Dispatch, and more.

• Career Development and Support: Counselors, Teachers, Trainers, Cooks, Work Environment, Civil Rights, and more.

• Engineering, Facilities, and Maintenance: Engineering, Cooks, Operations Management, Maintenance, Mechanics, Equipment Operators, and more.

• Science & Research Careers: Inventory Monitoring, Landscape Restoration, Sustainability, International Tropical Forestry.

• Resources Management Careers: Forestry, Archeology, Geospatial, Land Use, Biology, Geology, Range Management, Physical Sciences, and more.

The DOD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for Service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. We are then able to hire them for permanent or temporary positions non-competitively upon military discharge.

How to Apply DOD SkillBridge Forest Service

Visit the DOD SkillBridge Opportunities page. For a location, use Forest Service as a keyword.

Success Story

Discover how retired Army Major Gloria Cirulli, a former Inspector General found a new mission with the Forest Service through the DOD SkillBridge program.

This Department of Defense Federal Internship program is exclusively for active duty recovering Service members. Operation Warfighter Regional Coordinators match a recovering Service member with the opportunity.  

Internships typically last a few months and average 15 to 20 hours per week. When matched with a recovering Service member, the Forest Service manager and intern will develop an Intern Development Plan to document the specific tasks and goals for the assignment. At the end of the internship, the Forest Service manager will provide a Record of Achievement for the wounded Service member. This document will serve as a record of their time and accomplishments and will be forwarded to their military unit for addition to their annual performance review.

How to Apply to Operation Warfighter

You must complete an Operation Warfighter Intern Request Form. You can obtain this form from the Armed Forces Education Center Transition Assistant Program that you attend.

If you have Veterans’ Preference, you may receive preference over non-veteran applicants for announcements that are open to the public or in some cases open to other audiences. This applies to temporary and permanent positions. Visit the FedsHireVets website for help figuring out if this applies to you.

How to Apply Using Veterans' Preference

To apply using Veterans' Preference, be sure to follow the instructions in the USAJOBS announcement. Typically, you'll need the following:

• A USAJOBS profile. This allows you to apply.

• A resume. You can build one on the site or upload one.

• You may need a DD-14 Certificate of release or discharge from active duty and, or a form SF-15.

• Any other documents such as transcripts, licenses, certifications, and others that the position requires. Check the details in the USAJOBS announcement for details.

For videos and other tips, visit the How to Apply webpage.

Allows eligible veterans to apply to announcements that would otherwise be open to "status" candidates, such as "current competitive service employees and certain prior employees who have earned competitive status.”  In general, you may qualify if you have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service or are a family member entitled to derived preference. VEOA eligible veterans may apply to any occupational series or grade level but must rate and rank among the best qualified for consideration. Visit the FedHireVets page on the VEOA for help figuring out if this Act applies to you.

How to Apply if VEOA Applies to You

If VEOA applies to you, be sure to follow the instructions in the USAJOBS announcement. Typically, you'll need the following:

• A USAJOBS profile. This allows you to apply.

• A resume. You can build one on the site or upload one.

• You may need a DD-14 Certificate of release or discharge from active duty and, or a form SF-15.

• Any other documents such as transcripts, licenses, certifications, and others that the position requires. Check the details in the USAJOBS announcement for details.

For videos and other tips, visit the How to Apply webpage.

This hiring authority allows for the appointment of eligible veterans without competition up to grade level GS-11 or equivalent. This is an excepted service appointment.

To qualify for VRA, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Disabled veteran.

• Receipt of campaign badge for service during war or in a campaign or expedition.

• Receipt of an Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation.

• Recently separated veteran (within the last 3 years).

VRA for Temporary Positions

If you are employed in a temporary or term position under VRA, you will not be converted to the competitive service after 2 years.

VRA for Permanent Positions

After you satisfactorily complete 2 years of substantially continuous service, you can be converted to competitive service.

How to Apply Using VRA

If you meet the eligibility requirements of an open position, it's possible that we may be able to hire you even faster than the traditional hiring process. If you're eligible, the following resources may help you use VRA to join the Forest Service.

• Regularly check our Outreach Database. This website shows upcoming opportunities and allows you to respond to the hiring official to share that you are interested in a position and that you qualify under VRA. Feel free to reach out to them to ask if they are considering filling the position more quickly by using a VRA candidate.

• Reach out to your local Forest Service office to ask about any upcoming opportunities.

• If a hiring official is interested in hiring you, be sure to have the following documentation ready:

  • Resume

  • DD-14 Certificate of release or discharge from active duty and, or a form SF-15.

  • Any other documents such as transcripts, licenses, certifications, and others that the position requires.

Using this authority, we can appoint an eligible disabled veteran to any position for which they are qualified, without competition.

• There is no grade level restriction.

• To qualify, you must be retired from active military service, or have a rating from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs showing service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. 

How to Apply under 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Authority

If you meet the eligibility requirements of an open position, it's possible that we may be able to hire you even faster than the traditional hiring process. 

• You can only use this hiring authority to apply for any job opportunity of 60 days or more.

• Regularly check our Outreach Database. This website shows upcoming opportunities and allows you to respond to the hiring official to share that you are interested that you qualify under this authority. Feel free to reach out to them to ask if they are considering filling the position more quickly by using this authority.

• Reach out to your local Forest Service office to ask about any upcoming opportunities.

• If a hiring official is interested in hiring you, be sure to have the following documentation ready:

  • Resume.

  • DD-14 Certificate of release or discharge from active duty.

  • Any other documents such as transcripts, licenses, certifications, and others that the position requires.

Permanent and Temporary Opportunities

It's best to speak to the hiring manager about the intent of the job opportunity. Some work is temporary, which likely means so is the job. For other work, there may be a need to have someone working permanently. This varies by location and position. Speak to the hiring manager for details.

• If the need for the position is temporary, you will not be converted to a permanent position.

• If the need for the position is permanent, your position still starts as a temporary time-limited position, but there is a possibility that we can convert you to a permanent position. This is a possibility not a guarantee. 

Schedule A Hiring Authority for People with Disabilities

If the 30 percent or more disabled veteran authority applies to you, you also likely qualify for the Schedule A hiring authority for disabled individuals. This is another avenue for employment with the Forest Service.

• Veterans “30% or More Disabled” may obtain Schedule A Certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment program.

• Any veteran with a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of “disability,” whether service-connected or not, may qualify.

Visit the Persons with Disabilities page for more information.

Federal agencies can use the military spouse non-competitive hiring process to fill positions on either a temporary or permanent basis. You’re eligible if you are:

• The spouse of an active-duty member of the armed forces.

• A spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury.

• A spouse of a service member killed while on active duty and you have not remarried.

How To Apply Under Certain Military Spouses Authority

If this authority applies to you, be sure to follow the instructions in the USAJOBS announcement. Typically, you'll need the following:

• A USAJOBS profile. This allows you to apply.

• A resume. You can build one on the site or upload one.

• Documentation verifying your marriage.

• A copy of your spouse's active military orders.

• Depending on your circumstances, your spouse's DD-214 and/or DD 1300.

• Any other documents that show you are qualified for the position such as transcripts, licenses, certifications, and others that the position requires. Check the details in the USAJOBS announcement for details.

For videos and other tips, visit the How to Apply webpage.