CALIFORNIA – The USDA Forest Service Veterans Fire Council recently met in Southern California to welcome new members and participate in a leadership “Staff Ride” of the Loop Fire. The VFC was created in 2017 to serve as an advocacy group for military veterans working for the Forest Service in wildland fire. The council includes 30 firefighters, mostly veterans, from a diverse mix of firefighting crews from all over the nation. The group meets to discuss workforce development, generate ideas and advocate for the needs of veterans working for the Forest Service. 

For many VFC members, the council is an excellent opportunity to network with leaders from across fire programs and to build coalitions to advocate for change within the agency. Prior to this VFC meeting, members participated in a leadership staff ride to the Loop Fire, near San Fernando. Participants visited key points of the fire, punctuated by lessons learned from the local hotshot crews. 

For Martha Duddles, a Coast Guard veteran and squad leader on the Umatilla Vet Crew, attending her first staff ride was incredibly valuable. “I was really impressed by the insightful conversations that we had on the hillside. It was powerful to walk where they walked and to think about how much leadership has changed since this tragedy.” For many council members, the trip was educational and inspiring, with many lessons learned to take back to their crews and programs. 

The USDA Forest Service Veterans Fire Council meets twice a year. More information on the council can be obtained by contacting Dan Cottrell, workforce development and training specialist.