***OUTREACH***
USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region (R-9)
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Midewin Supervisor’s Office
The Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew will soon begin filling several temporary (NTE
1039hrs) Hotshot Crewmember positions for the 2014 fire season. Openings are
available at the GS-3, GS-4, and GS-5 levels. These are SEASONAL wildland fire
positions with a six month tour schedule. Our anticipated start date is February 24,
2014 and we expect to operate until early September.
These positions will be advertised under the Nationwide Open Continuous Recruitment
(OCR) announcements which can be found at www.usajobs.gov
GS 3 Announcement # TEMPOCR-0462-03-FIRE-DT
Link to GS-3 job announcement-https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/330555300
GS 4 Announcement # TEMPOCR-0462-04-HOTSHOT-DT
Link to GS-4 job announcement-https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/331940600
GS 5 Announcement # TEMPOCR-0462-05-HOTSHOT-DT
Link to GS-5 job announcement-https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/331934200
1. ONLY on-line applications are accepted through www.usajobs.gov
2. New applicants must create a new profile within USAJOBS.
3. If you have previously applied for this position under old OCR numbers, you will
need to re-apply with the new OCR announcements numbers.
4. If you fail to re-apply under the new OCR announcement numbers, your
application package for this position will not be considered.
5. Please complete the outreach form at the end of this document and reply by email or fax. In the meantime, be sure to update your application within
USAJOBS.
6. Be sure to indicate Wilmington, IL as the location for consideration when
applying in USAJOBS.
7. We intend to request a Certificate of Eligible’s December 30, 2013. The
correct OCR announcement number must be indicated on your USAJOBS
application prior to this date.
8. Pay attention to the expiration dates of the announcements in USAJOBS.
They expire on 11/29/13. The announcement numbers could change after
this date. It is your responsibility to ensure your application is current and
valid prior to December 30, 2013.
If you have an interest in these positions, questions pertaining to the hiring process, and OCR numbers, then
please contact:
Jerry Hoffman, Superintendent
Nate Hein, Assistant Superintendent
815-423-2121 (office), 815-210-0289 (cell) or jmhoffman@fs.fed.us
815-423-2122 (office), 815-216-8857 (cell) or jnhein@fs.fed.us
Check out our websites at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/hotshots/midewin/ & https://sites.google.com/site/midewinihc/home
If you are having difficulty applying for the position through USAJOBS, you may also contact:
USAJOBS via email or
Albuquerque Service Center-Human Capital Management at 877-372-7248
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: These positions participate in wildland firefighting
activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a
''condition of employment.'' The Arduous fitness (Pack) test consists of a three (3) mile hike, within forty-five (45)
minutes, while carrying a forty-five (45) pound pack. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician and
begin training immediately if you are applying for this position. This announcement constitutes the required 30 days
advanced notice for testing requirements.
As part of the National Fire Plan, the Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew was established in 2001. It is the only Hotshot
crew within Region 9 and is strategically located in Wilmington, Illinois to serve both regional and national demands.
The configuration is in alignment with the USDA Forest Service – Interagency Hotshot Crew supporting a 22 person
crew configuration. The Midewin Hotshots operate as a Type 1 Crew from March to August of each year. The Midewin
Hotshot Crew can divide into small teams to engage in multiple incidents in different environmental settings, utilizing a
variety of fire management and adaption strategies in both prescribed and wildland fire. Currently the Midewin IHC fleet
consists of three 7-passenger crew carriers and one crew cab superintendent’s truck. With these capabilities and
adaptation skills the Midewin Hotshots have become a highly sought after resource.
The Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew MISSION is to provide land management agencies with a safe, highly skilled
and productive wildland fire management resource. The goal of the leadership of the Midewin Hotshots is to produce
quality and diverse leaders for the future. We provide the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and the Eastern Region
with an additional resource to accomplish prairie and regional targets when not committed to fire assignments. We
support the overall mission of the United
States Forest Service and other agencies we
work with. We will create and continue the
proud heritage of the Midewin Hotshots.
The VISION is to create an enduring
tradition of integrity, pride, and unity to
complete the job safely
The CORE VALUES are Safety - Identify
hazardous situations and mitigate risks;
Tradition, Pride and Respect - earn the
name “Hotshot”; Physical Fitness and
Mental Toughness - Rise to the occasion and
strive to be the best; Productivity - Fireline
or project… an honest day’s work for an
honest day’s pay; Unity and Diversity Communication, teamwork and respectful
interaction to complete the job;
Professionalism - Our conduct and demeanor, on and off the line, will epitomize and define our profession and the
Midewin IHC; Training - In the classroom and on the line; we are committed to training quality and diverse leaders.
Check out the Prairie’s website at www.fs.fed.us/mntp/ to gain an overview of what's current and planned at Midewin.
Although Midewin is located 45 miles southwest of Chicago, the third largest metropolitan area in the country, a rural
atmosphere predominates throughout the small to mid-sized farming communities that surround Midewin. There are
numerous schools, hospitals, doctors, churches, and communities to choose from and cultural opportunities are nearly
limitless.
Will County is the fastest-growing county in the state, both for business and in residential development. Located just 40
miles southwest of downtown Chicago, the county offers all the benefits of easy highway, rail, and air access, with a
wide variety of communities and educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Check out the Enjoy Illinois
Website at http://www.enjoyillinois.com for more information.
Wilmington, Illinois is a full service community with a population of 5,000 and is located adjacent to the Kankakee
River. Fishing is quite popular along the Kankakee and throughout various other rivers and small lakes that surround the
area. The climate in this area is defined by four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures can reach the lower 90’s,
accompanied with occasional, high humidity. Spring and fall tend to be quite pleasant with average temperatures in the
60’s & 70’s. Winter temperatures will frequently dip below freezing and it is not unusual to see several inches of snow
covering the ground December through early February.
The Midewin Supervisor’s office is located along State Highway 53 a few miles north of the city of Wilmington, Illinois,
a river community of about 5,000 people boasting dozens of antique shops and an island park in the center of town.
Commute time can be as short as 5 minutes door to door from Wilmington. For more information on Wilmington, there
is a community website available at http://www.wilmington-il.com/. Many options for residing in larger communities
are available within an easy half hour commute. There is no public transit currently available to the Midewin office.
The closest Metra station providing access to Chicago is in Joliet.
Housing costs vary widely and are largely driven by the size of the community and its proximity to Chicago. Two
bedroom apartments range from as low as $500 to as high as $1000+ per month. The average price for a three bedroom
home ranges from $130K to as high as $200,000+.
Medical facilities are plentiful, including easy access to nationally-recognized institutions in Chicago. Cultural events
range from performances at the historic Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, to fine playhouses at local universities, to a
variety of festivals celebrating local heritage, to the wide theater, restaurant, and museum options of Chicago.
Community education systems vary widely in structure and quality, but all interests can be met. There are at least eight
colleges within an hour’s drive or less of Midewin:
University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL www.stfrancis.edu
Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL www.jjc.cc.il.us
Lewis University, Romeoville, IL www.lewisu.edu
College of DuPage, Naperville, IL www.cod.edu
Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, IL www.olivet.edu
Illinois State University, Normal, IL www.ilstu.edu
Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, IL www.kcc.cc.il.us
Governors State University, University Park, IL www.govst.edu
The many rivers and waterways throughout northeastern Illinois have shaped the local environment in many ways. The
greenways plan in this region is one of the most ambitious of any metropolitan area in the country. An outstanding
feature of this growing greenbelt is the 60-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, with many parks,
visitor centers, and cultural heritage sites linked by bike trails. A network of state, county, and local parks and preserves
provides many opportunities for spontaneous hiking and outdoor activities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual
orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative
means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center
at (202) 720-2600. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Outreach Response Form
Position Information:
Interagency Hotshot Crewmember (seasonal)– GS-0462-03/04/05
Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie – Region 9
Wilmington, IL
Name:
Current Position:
Current Employer:
Contact Information:
Phone:
Email:
Other Information: (prior wildland fire experience, training, availability for 2014, etc.)
Please return the response form and resume to:
Jerry Hoffman, Superintendent
Nate Hein, Assistant Superintendent
jmhoffman@fs.fed.us
jnhein@fs.fed.us
You can also fax the response/resume to: 815-423-6376