Program Orientation for Apprentices & Supervisors

2. Program OrientationforApprentices & Supervisors

3. Mission Statement: To develop and enhance today’s Wildland firefighters with the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform as tomorrow’s competent and effective leaders.

4. Introduction The National Interagency Wildland Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Program serves as a nationally registered apprenticeship program, under the Department of Labor, to enhance and develop future Wildland fire managers.

5. 1990-Current--The program is administered by WO, Hosted by FS Pacific SW Region Under an agreement with the: • Department of Labor • USDA Forest Service • USDI Bureau of Land Management • USDI National Park Service • USDI Fish & Wildlife Service • National Federation of Federal Employees

6. The program provides a career entry firefighter with education, training, and work experience that will allow an individual to reach journey level status, fully qualified to perform the work at or above the level of Firefighter I

7. Sponsor Agency-Roles and Responsibilities

8. National Interagency Joint Apprenticeship Committee: • Determines apprenticeship program standards and guidelines. • Maintains oversight of and develops the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program Operating Plan. • Develops training guidelines, evaluates curriculum, and measures effectiveness of the program. • Acts on behalf of sponsoring agencies to provide oversight the program. • Promotes the apprenticeship program. • When possible, interacts with the apprentices and academy staff to hear issues and concerns.

9. Agency Joint Apprenticeship Committee • Identify and resolve agency specific issues as related to the implementation of the apprenticeship program. • Forwards issues and recommendations of an interagency nature to the NIJAC for a solution. • Disseminate information/direction from NIJAC through agency channels.

10. NATIONAL INTERAGENCY JOINT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ORGANIZATION CHART National Interagency Joint Apprenticeship Committee (NIJAC) Program Manager FS Nat'l Coord Operations Specialist USFS Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) BLM Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) NPS & FWS (2) Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) Agency WFAP Coordinator Agency WFAP Coordinator (2) Agency WFAP Coordinator Regional Coordinator State Coordinator (2) Regional Coordinator Unit Apprenticeship Manager Unit Apprenticeship Manager Unit Apprenticeship Manager First-Line Supervisor First-Line Supervisor First-Line Supervisor Apprentices Apprentices Apprentices

11. Regional/State ApprenticeshipCoordinator Roles and Responsibilities • The Regional/State Apprenticeship Coordinator provides oversight to and works directly with the Unit Apprenticeship Manager on apprenticeship matters. • Responsible for conveying all information regarding Regional/State Apprentices and regional issues to the Agency National Apprenticeship Program Coordinator. • Maintains knowledge and understanding of employment processes and student employment authority as it applies to the apprenticeship program

12. Regional/State ApprenticeshipCoordinator Roles and Responsibilities… Works with Program Sponsors to • Provides advice and counsel to Unit Apprenticeship Manager and Agency Administrators • Assist in the development of Regional/State Apprenticeship processes associated with onboarding, progression, and completion • Maintains knowledge and understanding of mobility and other apprenticeship agreements • Works directly with the Agency National Coordinator

13. Unit Apprenticeship Manager • Initial point of contact for apprenticeship program questions from Apprentice Supervisor of Record • Coordinates progress with Supervisor of Record • Maintains local records and training hours • Reviews work process hours for correctness then forwards to Regional/State Coordinator • Maintains knowledge and understanding of mobility and other apprenticeship agreements

14. Unit Manager Continued….. • Ensures performance standards and IDPs are completed • Serves as a mentor/coach for assigned unit apprentices • Liaison between Regional/State Apprenticeship Coordinator, agency administrator and local fire staff • Point of contact between Supervisor of Record and Regional/State Apprentice Coordinator

15. Unit Manager Continued….. • Maintains knowledge and understanding of employment processes and student employment authority as it applies to the apprenticeship program • Notifies Regional/State Coordinator of reasonable accommodation needs or change of status of apprentices • Annually submits lost time accident report to Regional/State Coordinator for forwarding to National Coordinator by January 20th • Forwards Work processes reports to the Regional/State Coordinator on a quarterly basis (Jan 30, March 30, June 30, Sept 30).

16. Supervisor of Record • Serves as mentor/coach and first line supervisor of apprentices • Documents work process and training hours for apprentice and forwards the documentation to the Unit apprenticeship manager • Coordinates apprentice progress with Unit Manager • Completes performance standards, evaluations and Individual Develop Plans (IDP’s) • Provides tutoring, daily technical supervision and on-the-job training

17. Supervisor of Record Continued…… • Ensures varied and diverse work process experience • Maintains knowledge of mobility and other apprenticeship agreements • Ensures that the apprentice performs work process hours under the guidance of a fully qualified journey person • Ensured apprentices have all uniform components and field equipment prior to academy attendance

18. Apprentice • Maintain academic/physical fitness standards • Be prepared to pass all required courses per the academic standard • Have fully successful performance while completing all work process areas • Adhere to agency ethics and conduct policies & guidelines • Sign and abide by the mobility and Department of Labor Agreements (Agency Specific) • Notify Unit Manager of any learning or physical disabilities that may require reasonable accommodation to successfully complete program goals and objectives 60 days prior to academy attendance

19. Apprentice Continued…… • Possess & maintain a current State Drivers License, with appropriate agency required endorsements, at time of enrollment and throughout the program. • Maintain an individual record of work experience, on-the-job training, and supplemental technical training received. • It is the Apprentice’s responsibility to submit monthly work processes reports to the Unit Apprenticeship Manager for the previous month, by the 10th of each month.

20. Apprentice Program Outline

21. Apprentice Wage Schedule • Apprentice may start at the GS-3, GS-4 or GS 5 level depending on previous firefighter experience and education. • The Unit Manager/First Line Supervisor must complete a training plan identifying program objectives that must be met by the apprentice in order to move to the next wage level as identified on the DOL Agreement. • The OPM Qualification Standards for Technical and Medical Support Positions will be used for determining entry grade and promotions. Sample Progression if hired at GS-3 level: GS-3  GS-4 = 6 mo. specialized experience and satisfactory performance.

22. Apprentice Wage Schedule • Promotions (GS3 to GS4): • When all performance requirements are met as identified in apprentices training plan • X-118 requirements must be met • Training plan should allow completion of requirements/promotion within a 12 month period • Depending on hiring authority, time in grade may be required

23. Apprentice Wage Schedule Progression for program entry at the GS-05. If hired at the GS-05 level, the apprentice may be placed into a journeyworker level GS-05 position at the appropriate pay step immediately upon successful completion of program requirements. Journeyworker level status - GS-05 (at appropriate step). Note: Promotion to the GS-05 will be attained after qualification requirements of the GS-04 (12 Months at the GS-04 Level) and journeyworker level requirements have been met. *Regional direction may apply*

24. Wage Schedule Cont. • Probationary Periods are determined by the Office of Personnel Management for the specific hiring authority: • SCEP Apprentices will have a two year trial period • Merit Apprentices will have a one year probationary period • Within Grade Increases: • Waiting period is the same for SCEP and Merit Apprentices • When apprentice has performed at a successful level

25. Work Process Hours… • The Calculating Work Processes for Previous Credit form will be used to determine previous experience credit for each of the categories. • This form will be forwarded to the National Coordinator along with the DOL Agreement. • Prior to attending their Basic Academy, apprentices must complete a total of 500 hours of work processes in work process category two.

26. Related Instruction Outline The Related Instruction Outline constitutes the course work portion of the apprenticeship program. The Apprentice shall complete a minimum of 562 hours in Related Instruction. There are 5 components of Related Instruction: • Prerequisite Courses for Basic Academy (Orient. + Min 38-47.5 hrs.) See Table 2 • Basic Academy Courses (Total of 160 hrs.) See Table 3 • Advanced Academy Courses (Total of 158 hrs.) See Table 4 • Additional Required Courses (Minimum of 86 hrs.) See Table 5 • Elective Courses/Exercises (Minimum of 120 hrs.) See Table 6

27. Academy Prerequisites(must be completed prior to attending Basic) • A total of at least 500 hours of OJL in work process category #2 – Fire Suppression / Preparedness & Fuels Management. • S-130/190 Basic Firefighter/Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior • I-100 Orientation to ICS • Agency specific New Employee Orientation • Completed Agreements (Training Plan or Mobility agreement & DOL) • Current work capacity test • Completed Basic Academy Student Information Sheet • Copy of valid State Driver’s License

28. Formal Academies

29. Academy Orientation S-190 Basic Fire Behavior (Exam Only) I-200 ICS Single resource/IA Incidents Nutrition, Wellness & Physical Fitness Basic Fire Prevention S-260 Incident Business Management L-280 Followership to Leadership S-131 Advanced Firefighter Wildland Fire Skills Map Reading and Compass Use Communications and Radio Use Fire Shelters and Entrapment Avoidance Weather Observations Handtool Use Tactical Decision Making - AAR Basic Academy Curriculum

30. Advanced Academy Prerequisites • Completed Basic Academy • Current Work Capacity Test (within previous 12 months) • Completed Advanced Academy Student Information Sheet

31. Advanced Academy Curriculum • Academy Orientation • S-234 Ignition Operations • S-270 Basic Air Operations • S-290 Intermediate Fire Behavior • L-380 Fireline Leadership • Fuels Management and Wildland Fire Use • Staff Ride & Fire Fatality Case Studies • Physical Fitness • Career/Personal Development

32. Academic Standards • Apprentices are required to pass all academy course material at the 70% level. All tests are closed book written tests. • If an apprentice fails an exam (with the exception of S-190), they will be allowed to retake only once during the academy. • Students who are absent for more than 25% of a course or for the course exam will receive a course incomplete and will be required to make up the coursework in the formal academy setting. • The Academy Coordinator will make the determination as to whether a student will receive a course incomplete.

33. Reasonable Accommodations • An individual who is requesting reasonable accommodations is responsible for providing written notification to their home unit. • This notification must include a description of the disability, documentation of the disability, and the requested mitigation for the disability. • The Academy Coordinator must be notified at least sixty days prior to the beginning of the Academy in order to determine if the request can be facilitated. • The home unit Agency Administrator and Academy Coordinator are responsible for following agency policy in consulting with the appropriate resources to identify, approve or disapprove reasonable accommodation.

34. Physical Fitness Requirements • Apprentices must pass the Work Capacity Test at the Arduous level. • Apprentices are expected to arrive in good physical shape and able to run 1.5 – 5 miles daily. Apprentices should use the physical fitness guidelines found in the “Fit to Work” publication. • Once at the academy, daily aerobic and physical fitness training will be part of both residential academies. • Individuals unable to fully participate in ALL academy activities should plan on attending a later academy.

35. Academy Facilities • Lodging is provided to students for the duration of their assigned academy. Meals are provided Monday through Friday. • Students staying on the weekends are responsible for their own meals and will be reimbursed M&IE allowances at the Sacramento area rate via travel voucher.

36. Additional Required Courses:(Provided by home unit) • S-211 Portable Pumps & Water Use • S-212 Wildfire Power Saws – level A • Aviation, choose one of the following: • S-271 Interagency Helicopter Training • S-273 Seat Manager • Completion of Smokejumper Rookie School

37. Elective Courses(Minimum of 120 Hours) • Driver Training • D-110 Dispatch Recorder • Hazardous Materials • Horsemanship Skills • Aircraft Dispatcher • Wildland Fire Detection • P-151 Wildfire Origin and Cause Determination (FI-210 New Course) • S-200 Initial Attack Incident Commander • S-230 Single Resource Boss, Crew • S-231 Single Resource Boss, Engine • S-232 Single Resource Boss, Dozer • S-233 Single Resource Boss, Tractor/Plow • S-244 Field Observer • S-245 Display Processor • S-248 Status/Check-in Recorder • S-336 Fire Suppression Tactics/Tactical Decision Making in Wildland Fire • Engine Operator Training (BLM Specific) For a complete list refer to Page 29 in the National Standards

38. Credit for Previously Completed Courses • An Apprentice is allowed credit for related instruction if they can provide proof that they have successfully completed the training course(s) within the previous three years from apprenticeship start date. • Certificates/182’s/Class Rosters are required for proof of completion. • Documents must be provided to the National Coordinator.

39. Conversion Process • Home units request certification of program completion through their Regional/State Coordinator who then forwards the request to the National Coordinator. • Upon receipt of required documentation and records, the National Coordinator certifies program completion to the Department of Labor. • The Department of Labor issues the formal certificate of program completion for the apprentice.

40. The End