Resources

The Mark Twain National Forest Veteran Crew consists of prior military service members and is based out of Cassville, Missouri. These veterans have acquired skills in their previous careers that will benefit the crew as they perform their new duties. The crew’s mission statement clearly defines its purpose:

The Mark Twain Veteran Crew provides veterans of the US Armed Forces with the training and experience needed to obtain meaningful employment in the wildland fire service. There is no group of individuals more motivated, diverse, reliable, independent, and capable of becoming the next generation of fire leaders than the American Veteran. The Mark Twain Veteran Crew gives the Mark Twain National Forest, USDA Forest Service, and government agencies at large the opportunity to utilize this valuable resource.

The Mark Twain Veteran Crew also provides leadership and professional development opportunities for military veterans interested in pursuing a career with the Forest Service’s fire and fuels program. Joining the crew can lead to veterans becoming permanent employees, possibly attending the Forest Service fire apprenticeship program, and eventually moving to other locations as they advance in their careers. As crewmembers grow and move on, the crew will recruit more veterans and provide them with transitional structure and an important mission.

If you know of a veteran that is interested in applying for the crew, please have them email crew leader Sam Bowen.