NEW MEXICO—The Forest Service is hiring Wildland Firefighter Apprentices, The apprentice program develops the knowledge and basic skills necessary to work as a wildland firefighter.

Selected applicants attend 3,000 hours of an on-the-job residential learning program at a wildland fire training center. Apprentices are paid and all costs of training are covered by the Forest Service.

Jessica White, forestry technician on the Cibola National Forest, was encouraged to apply for the program by an assistant fire management officer. In fall 2008, after three years of work as a seasonal firefighter, White was accepted into academy class 52 and began her journey as a wildland firefighter apprentice.

“After getting into the program, seeing what it was and meeting my fellow apprentices, I was pretty thrilled. Everyone griped a little about the formality of the environment and the seriousness of some of the cadre, but we really came together, just like a regular crew on assignment for the first time,” said White. “It really expanded my fire family across the country. I have sisters and brothers in Oregon, Wyoming and California now that I may not have met otherwise.”

The Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program delivers fundamental training for the development of wildland firefighters with curriculum changing annually based on agency workforce needs. The program allows apprentices to network with fellow apprentices, cadres and staff from all over the nation while teaching skills in wildland fire suppression, management, fuels, dispatch and prevention.

“The most beneficial part of my apprenticeship was the networking and the field training. I got the opportunity to be on a hand crew on a different forest for almost a whole season, which was a great experience for me,” said White. “Working the whole season for the helitack crew was also amazing. Having the apprenticeship hours to fill was a great excuse to expand that experience and figure out where my best fit was.”

To qualify for the apprenticeship program, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, aged 18-37, meet Interagency Fire Program Management qualifications and pass a Work Capacity Test. Previous fire experience is not required but may increase chances of selection. While the program provides pathways into permanent positions, wildland firefighter apprentices can also challenge themselves to new limits, protecting millions of acres of our national forests, communities and natural resources.

“My apprenticeship showed me that I was capable of a lot more than I’d thought. It pushes you into leadership roles and makes you spread your wings a little further,” said White. “It also gives a good perspective on all the aspects of fire, which makes a well-rounded firefighter who better understands how everything works together. It’s a great program for seasonals who are just starting out and really wanting to get serious about their fire careers.”

Apply for Wildland Firefighting Apprenticeship positions on USAJOBS.gov Aug. 25-Sept. 10. Only positions in California will be advertised during these dates; however, other locations across the country will be advertising positions on USAJOBS in fall 2021.

Talk with a wildland firefighter! We will be holding a questions and answers session to answer all of your fire questions on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, 3-4 p.m. MDT on Microsoft Teams. For help with submitting your application, please visit our jobs page for more information and webinars.