Firefighter (Hazardous Materials Technician/Basic Life Support)
About This Position
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: Position located with the DES - Fire Protection & Prevention Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Qualifications
This position is included under the provisions of Special Retirement Coverage (SRC) and may have both a maximum entry age and a mandatory retirement date.
Click here for more information on SRC for Firefighters (Primary/Rigorous) Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. To Qualify at the GS-03 Level: General Experience: Six months of general experience which included work experience or military service that demonstrated the ability to follow directions and to read, understand, and retain a variety of instructions, regulations, and procedures and that otherwise demonstrates the ability to perform or learn to perform the duties of the position.
OR
Education/Training: One year of education above the high school level related to fire protection and/or prevention OR six months of appropriate firefighter training.
OR
Combination of Education/Training and Experience: A combination of education/training and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by
- Then divide your semester hours of education by 30 and/or months of firefighter training by
- Add the two percentages. To Qualify at the GS-04 Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Following detailed instructions to assist with basic firefighting duties, such as using and/or maintaining basic firefighting equipment; or maintaining a clean environment in the department facilities.This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-03).
OR
Education: Two years of education above the high school level in an accredited college or university in Fire Training, Fire Science, or other related fields of study.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by
- Then divide your semester hours of education by
- Add the two percentages. To Qualify at the GS-05 Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: Assisting with controlling and extinguishing fires to prevent loss of life and/or property; or assisting with performing rescue operations. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-04).
OR
Education: Four years of education above the high school level in an accredited college or university in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by
- Then divide your semester hours of education by 120. Add the two percentages. To Qualify at the GS-06 Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Assisting with controlling and extinguishing fires to prevent loss of life and/or property; 2) Assisting with performing rescue operations; and 3) Assisting with operating or equipping emergency vehicles for fire and emergency response.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this GS-06 job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted.
To Qualify at the GS-07 Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Participating in controlling and extinguishing fires to prevent loss of life and/or property; performing rescue operations; 2) Participating in controlling hazardous materials incidents; assisting with patient examinations to provide basic first aid; and 3) Driving emergency vehicles such as pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, crash rescue trucks. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.
For this GS-07 job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone -- no substitution of education for experience is permitted. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT SPECIAL PLACEMENT FACTORS:
In addition to meeting the education/experience requirement above, applicants must also possess the following below certified through DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification System, International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), or the Fire Service Professional Qualifications System (PRO-Board) in accordance with DoD 6055.06-M AND a State or National Registry EMT Certification indicating a future expiration date when applicable. To occupy this position at the GS-04, at the time of appointment, you must possess and continue to maintain the following certification: Firefighter I To occupy this position at the GS-05, at the time of appointment, you must possess and continue to maintain the following certification: Firefighter I Firefighter II To occupy this position at the GS-06, at the time of appointment, you must possess and continue to maintain the following certification: Firefighter I Firefighter II Airport Firefighter Driver Operator - Pumper Driver Operator - Mobile Water Supply Driver Operator - Airport Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) To occupy this position at the GS-07, at the time of appointment, you must possess and continue to maintain the following certification: Firefighter I Firefighter II HAZMAT Technician Airport Firefighter Emergency Medical Technician (must meet state EMT certification requirements) Driver Operator - Pumper Driver Operator - Mobile Water Supply Driver Operator - Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) You MUST submit a copy of your certifications with your application package. Maximum Entry Age (MEA) The MEA for Firefighters is
- An employee originally hired into a covered position must be hired by the last day of the month he/she reaches
- Maximum Reentry Age An employee who previously served on a covered position may be rehired past the MEA as long as he/she is able to complete 20 years of covered service by his/her mandatory retirement age. The maximum re-entry age for the individual is calculated by determining the total amount of time he/she has served on a covered position and subtracting that from age 57 if a firefighter.
The employee's current age is compared to the calculated maximum re-entry age to determine if he/she can be rehired into the covered position. Waivers to Maximum Entry Age MEA may be waived, but only under specific circumstances and only if approved by the authorized entity: Waivers to MEA for firefighters must be approved by local Command.
Major Duties
Connect hose lines to hydrants, lay and extend hose lines, operate charged hose, place and raise ladders, operate portable, mobile and stationary firefighting equipment, use forcible entry equipment, and conduct salvage and overhaul operations.
Perform firefighting tasks involving structures, equipment, crashes and burning aircraft, wildland fires, vehicle fires, and spilled or burning hazardous materials such as fuels and chemicals.
Ventilate buildings, vehicles and aircraft of products of incomplete combustion, and smoke and gases as well as potential hazardous materials.
Respond to emergencies involving traumatic injury or medical illness which may be life threatening.
Respond to emergencies involving the rescue of victims from confined spaces.
Function as a Department of Defense certified Hazardous Materials Technician.
Collect and interpret hazard and response information from printed resources, technical resources, computer databases, and monitoring equipment.
Analyze hazardous materials incidents to determine the magnitude of the problem in terms of outcome, survey the hazardous materials incident to identify special containers involved, and identify or classify unknown materials.
Perform emergency fuel and engine system shut down procedures on all types of aircraft.
Ensure site protection during and after firefighting operations for fire investigation and assist in determining origin and cause of fire.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.
Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.
Additional Information
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Installations Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Recruitment and relocation incentives may be authorized. Student loan repayment may be authorized.
Salary negotiations for those candidates who are new to Federal service may be authorized. Credit for Prior Non-Federal Work Experience and Certain Military Service for Determining Annual Leave Accrual Rate may be authorized.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/13/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12926209).
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section.
You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position.
Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated.
For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements. As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
1.
Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement.
If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood.
The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy. For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
- DoD Certificates and NREMT License: You MUST submit a copy of the following: If qualifying for a GS-04 (Firefighter I) or GS-05 (Firefighter I and II) or GS-06 (Firefighter I & II, Airport Firefighter, Driver Operator - Pumper, Driver Operator - Mobile Water Supply, Driver Operator - Airport Rescue Firefighting (ARFF)), or GS-07 (Firefighter I and II, HAZMAT Technician, Airport Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician (must meet state EMT certification requirements), Driver Operator - Pumper, Driver Operator - Mobile Water Supply, & Driver Operator - Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)): certified through DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification System, International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), or the Fire Service Professional Qualifications System (PRO-Board) AND a State or National Registry EMT License. If your application package does not contain proof of having these certificates and license, your application will be marked as incomplete and you WILL NOT receive consideration for this position.
Rather than submitting individual DoD certificates, if you have received a Student ID# for the DoD Fire and Emergency Services Certification Program website (https://go.usa.gov/xdsTR) you may provide a copy of your most recent certification transcript. If you do not know your Student ID, you may contact the AFCEC Reach-back Center at [email protected] for assistance. Rather than submitting your EMT License, you may print proof of your current EMT License with NREMT from their website (https://www.nremt.org).
If you are a current federal employee and do not have one of the required certificates due to the DoD F&ES Certification Program delay - You may submit a provisional certificate, memorandum from the Fire Chief requesting the certificates, and/or another document showing completion of the course. PLEASE
NOTE: If selected, you will not be placed into the position until the official certificate has been received from the DoD F&ES Certificate Program.
- Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
- Proof of Age: As this is a primary/rigorous firefighter position, your application package MUST include a government issued document indicating your date of birth. Failure to submit this document will result in your application being marked as incomplete and you WILL NOT receive further consideration for this position.
NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you.
You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application.
You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.