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Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

Wildland Fire Program 2015 Annual Report

Opportunities for Success – Centennial Job Corps Civilian Conservation Fire Program Bob Shindelar, Fire Chief, Boise National Forest

The success of a crew depends

on management support, quality

crew leadership, and the team-

work of crewmembers. This year

all were in place. Our vision for

this program was to help pro-

vide each student with en-

hanced character traits that

would give them a gain in per-

sonal development.

Management support was out-

standing, and crew leadership

was top notch. But, what im-

pressed me the most were the

students. I observed a group of

men and women that were from

different backgrounds, with

different life experiences.

Some had never stepped foot

off of concrete, and others had

spent their lives in the country.

The students were eager to

learn and to prove themselves

in a new environment of fire-

fighting.

The successes that I observed

from the students this fire sea-

son were many including the

following:

Development of each stu-

dent towards learning per-

sonal accountability

Team work

Mental and physical

toughness

Encouragement and sup-

port one another

Confidence to succeed

The Centennial Fire program

continues to grow each year,

and its success is noted by the

other students on the Centenni-

al JCCCC campus and in the

national fire organization.

This year the number and days

of assignments increased and

those involved in the program

are proud of the dedication,

success and commitment made

in 2015.

Centennial Job Corps Fire Crew 8 and Centennial Job Corps camp crew. Photo courtesy of Centennial

Job Corps.

Forest Service

Job Corps

Fire Program

Statistics

1,054 students red-

carded for firefighting

and camp crews

285 fire assignments

$3,676,358.60 salary

paid to students on fire

assignments

3,087 days worked

206,537 hours worked

10,536 hazardous fuels

reduction hours worked (as of 07/05/16)

5,837 Wildland Urban

Interface (WUI) acres

treated

36 Job Corps

graduates hired as

wildland firefighters by

the U.S. Forest Service

and other federal, state,

and private entities

Two Job Corps students

placed in the U.S. Forest

Service through the Pub-

lic Lands Corps authority

As of 8/25/2015

Stress management under

serious conditions

How to adjust in a changing

environment

Pride in doing the job right

the first time

Each student gained some or all

of these characteristics. Clearly,

they will serve as a road map for

the student’s future success,

not only in Fire Management but

in whatever future career

opportunities they may pursue.

(L-R) Centennial Job Corps fire students Quira Horton and Aneesha Serrano, with student Bill Newton

completing field training at the Southwest Idaho Firefighter Training (SWIFT) course Photo courtesy of

Centennial Job Corps.

Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Wildland Fire Program 2015 Annual Report

2015 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Fire Assignments by Center (as of 08/25/16– report numbers reflect multiple assignments of individual students who are red-carded for both wildland firefighting crews and camp crews)

JCCCC Assignments

Total # of Firefighters

Days Deployed

Total # of Camp Crews Days Deployed

Total # of Students Day Deployed Total Hours

ANACONDA 9 35 63 30 41 65 104 11844

ANGELL 9 18 52 26 31 44 83 5513

BLACKWELL 3 8 19 5 21 13 40 3038

BOXELDER 11 49 63 15 35 64 98 7575

CASS 3 15 39 15 39 2191

CENTENNIAL 24 81 105 77 217 158 322 9945

COLLBRAN 5 31 52 31 52 4447

COLUMBIA BASIN 8 3 203 46 77 49 280 13794

CURLEW 19 56 40 126 198 182 238 36284

FLATWOODS 9 81 37 81 37 3858

FORT SIMCOE 4 3 165 4 4 7 169 2225

FRENCHBURG 10 71 39 71 39 1828

GOLCONDA 0 0 0

GREAT ONYX 1 5 14 5 14 958

HARPERS FERRY 10 16 64 1 14 17 78 2083

JACOBS CREEK 2 6 18 9 11 15 29 2706

LBJ 0 0 0

MINGO 2 3 40 3 40 966

OCONALUFTEE 0 0 0

OUACHITA 2 8 21 8 21 997

PINE KNOT 19 96 68 38 58 134 126 13163

PINE RIDGE 7 26 57 24 36 50 93 10504

SCHENCK 6 40 38 40 38 2510

TIMBER LAKE 30 66 400 40 60 106 460 17601

TRAPPER CREEK 40 96 177 90 154 186 331 29159

TREASURE LAKE 0 0 0

WEBER BASIN 42 184 172 6 23 190 195 12440

WOLF CREEK 10 3 48 58 113 61 161 10908

TOTAL 285 1000 1994 595 1093 1595 3087 206537


Forest Service Job Corps Fire Program Financials FY2013 - FY2015

FY2015 Including Davidson River Initial Attack

Crew (Schenck JCCCC)

Excluding Davidson River Initial Attack


Number Of Students Trained 1054 1033

Number Of Fire Assignments 285 279

Number Of Hours On Fire Assignments 206,537 204,027

Salary Paid To Students For Training

(1054 Students x $15.96 x 40 hours) $ 672,873.60 $ 659,467.20

Fire Program Budget $ 1,878,000.00 $ 1,878,000.00

National Forest Support

$ 304,000.00 $ 304,000.00

Salary Paid To Students On Fire Assign-

ments (206,537 hours x $17.80/hour)

$ 3,676,358.60 $ 3,631,680.60

FY2015 Forest Service Contributions to

the Job Corps Fire Program

$ 6,531,232.20 $ 6,473,147.80

FY2015 Salary To Students $ 4,349,232.20 $ 4,291,147.80





Number Of Students Trained

864

847

Number Of Fire Assignments

328

263

Number Of Hours On Fire Assignments

170,060

153,379


(i.e. 864 Students x $15.96 x 40

hours) $ 551,577.60 $ 540,724.80



$ 266,000.00 $ 266,000.00


ments (170,060 hours x $17.80/hour)

$ 3,027,068.00 $ 2,730,146.20

FY2014 Forest Service Contributions to


$ 5,722,645.60 $ 5,414,871.00

FY2014 Salary To Students $ 3,578,645.60 $ 3,270,871.00

(Continued on page 4)


Photographs of the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers’ 2015 Fire Season

Collbran Job Corps firefighter Don Hawkins uses a chainsaw to cut

down a tree during a S212 class on the Grand Valley Ranger

District, GMUG National Forest. Photo courtesy of Collbran Job

Corps.

Weber Basin Type 2 Initial Attack Crew firefighters perform ignition

and holding operations on the Blacksmiths Fork RX burn on the

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in September 2015. Photo

courtesy of Weber Basin Job Corps.

(L-R) Pine Knot Job Corps firefighters Zachary Mead, Joshua

Horton, Anthony Conner, Dakota Romanos, Bryan King, and Luis

Ruiz clear the Natural Arch Trail on the Daniel Boone National

Forest. Photo courtesy of Jamie Tyson.

Forest Service Job Corps Fire Program Financials FY2013 - FY2015





Number Of Students Trained *851 *851

Number Of Fire Assignments 177 156

Number Of Hours On Fire Assignments 124009 114,649


(851 Students x $15.96 x 40 hrs.) $ 543,278.40 $ 543,278.40



$ 152,000.00 $ 152,000.00


ments (i.e. 124,009 hrs. x $17.60/hr.)

$ 2,182,558.40 $ 2,017,822.40

2013 Forest Service Contributions to


$ 4,677,836.80 $ 4,513,100.80

2013 Salary To Students $ 2,725,836.80 $ 2,561,100.80

Three Year Total Contributions From

The Forest Service To The Job Corps

Fire Program

$ 16,931,714.60 $ 16,401,119.60

*Schenck Job Corps students were not included in 2013 students trained statistics

2013 & 2014 fire assignments included prescribed burns which is now tracked in the FACTS Database.


Curlew Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Proves Itself Indispensable During the Most Severe Fire Season in

Modern Pacific Northwest History Alicia D. Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, Job Corps National Office

Forest Service Job Corps Cen-

ters had a pretty amazing fire

season in 2015, but none more

so than the Curlew Job Corps

Civilian Conservation Center.

Out of a total 206,537 hours

worked, the Center contributed

36,284—the most of all the 27

Job Corps Civilian Conservation

Centers. This accomplishment

was achieved with a lot of hard

work, talent, and commitment

on the part of Curlew students

and staff.

Over 1,500 fires, aided by

drought and lightning strikes

burned 1,000,000 acres across

the state of Washington, particu-

larly across its northern border.

The Stickpin Fire even forced

the Curlew Job Corps Center to

evacuate.

Curlew Job Corps’ Firefighter

Type 2s (FFT2) are an important

part of Forest Service Region 6’s

seasonal workforce and of For-

est Service fire organizations

across the country. However, in

2015, Curlew’s fire students

never left the state of Washing-

ton due to its extraordinary level

of fire activity.

In 2015, 45 students completed

guard school and the work ca-

pacity test, earning their U.S.

Forest Service certification as a

FFT2. Sessions consisted of S-

130, S-190, L-180, IS-700, ICS-

100 and entrapment avoidance.

In cooperation with Colville’s

Republic Ranger District, stu-

dents completed a field day

consisting of the endurance

hike and fire line construction.

In addition to completing the

classes needed to earn their

FFT2 credential, 15 Curlew stu-

dents also completed advanced

training, earning their S-270, S-

131, S-133, S-211 basic land

navigation, and S-212 wildfire

chainsaw credentials.

Curlew Job Corps’ hard work

and support is vital not only to

the Colville National Forest but

also to the surrounding local

communities. Highly trained,

student wildland FFT2s work

closely with the Forest on both

hazardous fuels reduction pro-

jects, which mitigate wildfire

hazards, and wildland fire sup-

port.

Curlew’s students worked on

hazardous fuel thinning projects

on the Republic and Three Riv-

ers Ranger Districts on the Col-

ville National Forest, and on the

Tonasket Ranger District on the

Okanogan-Wenatchee National

Forests. The students also

worked on the Curlew Lake

State Park, Ferry Conservation

District, and multiple thinning

projects on private lands.

These students were deployed

to 19 wildland fire assignments,

working over 8,000 hours. Sev-

en Curlew Job Corps firefighters

were picked up as permanent

hires by various Forest Service

units, including the Colville and

Siskiyou National Forest and a

California Forest Service enter-

prise team.

Curlew’s FFT2 crew completed

three, two week assignments

fighting the North Star Fire on

the Republic Ranger District,

working the fire line and on burn

preparation, mop-up, and snag-

ging operations. Curlew’s fire

crew also had the opportunity to

work 1,800 hours on rehabilita-

tion efforts on the North Star

Fire. Other assignments includ-

ed the Buck Horn and ABC mis-

cellaneous fires. All of these

deployments will provide Curlew

students on-the-job learning

opportunities in different ele-

ments of fire management—

opening up future, fire manage-

ment career opportunities.

The Curlew FFT2 crew had an

exceptional season; however,

the season for the Curlew camp

crews was extraordinary. One

hundred and thirty-seven stu-

dents earned the qualifications

to serve as camp crew members

and were placed in the Incident

Qualifications and Certification

System (IQCS). Curlew Job Corps

Center deployed fifteen sepa-

rate camp crews to support

eight wildland fires on the Col-

ville National Forest, the Oka-

nogan-Wenatchee National For-

ests, and on lands of the Con-

federated Tribes of the Colville

Reservation—more than any

other unit in the nation. Every

student who earned the certifi-

cation went out on a camp crew;

combined, they worked a total of

28,000 hours.

To prepare for their camp crew

assignments, the students com-

pleted two trainings, consisting

of the ICS-100, IS-700, and a

three day field exercise in which

they completed projects on-

center that mimicked actual

camp crew duties. To maximize

the students’ opportunities to

work on wildland fires, ten Cur-

lew Job Corps staff members

were red-carded as camp crew

bosses and placed in IQCS, al-

lowing the Center flexibility in

responding to fire dispatches.

Three of Curlew’s camp crews

were extended from 14 to 21

day assignments because of the

students’ excellent work ethic

and positive attitudes. These

extensions all were on the Stick-

pin fire, part of the Kettle Com-

plex, that blew up to over

(continued on page 6)


Curlew Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Proves Itself Indispensable During the Most Severe Fire Season in

Modern Pacific Northwest History (continued from page 5) Alicia D. Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, Job Corps National Office

35,000 acres in size over a mat-

ter of days.

Fire incident management

teams awarded members of two

Curlew camp crew certificates of

excellence for their dedication

and positive worth ethic.

In addition to developing the

skills of its own students, Curlew

stepped up to train Blackwell

Job Corps camp crew boss train-

ees, providing them the oppor-

tunity to train and obtain certifi-

cation.

The Curlew Job Corps fire pro-

gram is an excellent demonstra-

tion of why the innovative part-

nership between the Job Corps

Civilian Conservation Centers

and Forest Service Fire and

Aviation Management (F&AM)

staff is successful.

The Job Corps Fire program

specifically demonstrates how

talented Job Corps students can

be identified and developed as

new leaders within the U.S. For-

est Service fire management

organization and its critical role

in fire management succession

planning.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Partners with Columbia Basin and Fort Simcoe Job Corps

Civilian Conservation Center Fire Programs Robert Kephart, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest–Columbia Basin & Fort Simcoe Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers

Camp Crew on the 2015 Wolverine Fire on the Okanogan-Wenatchee

National Forest. Photo courtesy of Robert Kephart.

Camp Crew at the Lucerne Guard Station on the 2015 Wolverine Fire on

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Photo courtesy of Robert Kephart.

TRAINING

Columbia Basin and Fort

Simcoe Job Corps students

began informal training during

the fall of 2014 with two weekly

physical training classes and

additional classes on physical

fitness, nutrition, goal setting,

and team building.

Firefighting Instructors spent a

great deal of time building rela-

tionships with the students and

communicating with them about

wildland fire issues.

Guard School, each lasting one

week, was held at both Colum-

bia Basin and Fort Simcoe dur-

ing the spring of 2015.

Students spent approximately

50 hours in the field and the

classroom. The students com-

pleted the following training:

• S-130 Firefighting Training

• S-190 Introduction to

Wildland Fire Behavior

• I-100 Introduction to ICS

• L-180 Human Factors in

Wildland Fire Service

• IS-700 NIMS an Introduction

After successfully completing

the work capacity test, the stu-

dents used their first paycheck

to purchase boots and outfit

their red bags.

YEAR IN REVIEW

In 2015, the Okanogan-Wenatchee

National Forest entered into a

wildland fire management partner-

ship with the Columbia Basin and

Fort Simcoe Job Corps Civilian Con-

servation Centers in central Washing-

ton. The partnership was new to both

agencies. Aside from the normal

growing pains of building a new

program, 2015 was extremely suc-

cessful and laid a solid foundation for

years to come. A total of 20 students

completed fire fighter type 2 training.

Six of those completers were placed

on national forest initial attack crews

for a majority of the summer, saving

the Okanogan-Wenatchee National

Forest approximately $39,400 in

wages. Utilizing Job Corps wildland

firefighters resulted in a significant

savings for the Okanogan-Wenatchee

National Forest. The forest budgeted

$10,600 for each temporary GS-4

employee. A vast majority of the

wages earned by the students came

out of P-Code dollars.

Curlew Job Corps 2015 Graduate Job Placements

Ashton B. Bartley, Forestry Technician, Republic Ranger District,

Colville National Forest

Matthew Corbett, Forestry Aid, Republic Ranger District, Colville National Forest

Tena Deen, Forestry Aid, Republic Ranger District, Colville National Forest

Tyler E. Howard, Forestry Technician, Three Rivers Ranger District

Andrew R. Owens, Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest

Christina Ralstin, Republic Ranger District, Colville National Forest

Justin W. Johnston, Forestry Conservation ASAP Business Solutions


FILLING THE GAP

OF TEMPORARY HIRING

Columbia Basin and Fort Simcoe

Job Corps wildland firefighters

were successful at supporting

the Okanogan-Wenatchee Na-

tional Forest by filling out hand

crews. Due to the introduction of

the Forest Service’s new hiring

process, many national forest

firefighting crews found them-

selves short staffed once June

arrived. The Methow Valley and

Naches Ranger Districts took

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Columbia Basin and Fort Simcoe Job Corps Wildland Fire

Management Partnership Robert Kephart, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest–Columbia Basin & Fort Simcoe Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers

A member of the Naches Crew 83, Columbia Basin Job Corps wildland firefighter Christian Rodriguez

fought fire in Alaska in 2015. Photo courtesy of Robert Kephart.

Position No. of Students Hours Worked Wages Earned

FFT2 6 3,955 $69,608.00

Admin Sup-

port

6 576 $8,363.00

Cache Support 4 288 $4,181.00

Camp Crew 31 11,200 $160,832.00

TOTALS: 47 16,019 $242,984.00

advantage of the new partner-

ship and hired six red carded

Job Corps wildland firefighters

on their FFT2 initial attack hand

crews. The students were a

great success, and now addi-

tional districts on the forest are

utilizing Job Corps students in

2016. During the 2015 wildland

firefighting season, Columbia

Basin and Fort Simcoe Job

Corps students worked 3,955

hours, grossing $69,608 in

wages.

Camp crew unloads supplies for the Wolverine Fire Pike Camp at the Lucerne Guard Station, Okanogan

-Wenatchee National Forest. Photo courtesy of Robert Kephart.

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

Logistical support represents the majority of student involvement in 2015, and 38

students were involved in the following:

576 hours spent on the North Star Fire as an administrative support crew

grossing $8,363 dollars.

288 hours spent at the local fire cache grossing $4,181 dollars.

7,920 hours spent on camp crew assignments grossing $260,198 dollars.

Columbia Basin Job Corps Facts

Students: 280

Employees: 68

Associated Forest: Okanogan-

Wenatchee National Forest

Program Year 2015 Graduate

Placement Rate: 85.95%

Career Technical Training

Computer Networking/Cisco

Culinary Arts

Facilities Maintenance

Nurse Assistant Home Health

Aide

Office Administration

Pharmacy Technician

Union Carpentry

Union Cement Masonry

Union Painting

Union Plastering

SVACT– College

Fort Simcoe Job Corps Facts

Students: 170

Employees: 50

Associated Forest: Okanogan-

Wenatchee National Forest




Automobile Technician

Brick Masonry

Culinary Arts

Heavy Truck Driving

Mechanics

Union Carpentry

Union Heavy Equipment

Operations

Union Heavy Construction

Equipment Mechanic


Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Work-Based Learning Program Yields Results Justin Abbey, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Bitterroot National Forest-Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

Trapper Creek Job Corps has a

unique opportunity with the

ranger districts on the Bitterroot

National Forest through its Work

-Based Learning (WBL) partner-

ship.

Trapper Creek Job Corps forestry

conservation and firefighting

students who have completed

the necessary training are used

to supplement the local ranger

districts' fire programs.

Each year, local fire managers

interview Job Corps students in

February and March to select

students who have consistently

demonstrated good behavior,

student leadership, and model

the wildland fire principles of

duty, respect, and integrity.

Graduate Job Placements

In 2015, the following students

graduated from Trapper Creek’s

Forestry Conservation & Fire-

fighting Training Program with

fire fighter type 2 (FFT2) qualifi-

cations and went on to start

their careers as entry level

wildland firefighters or purse

advanced wildland firefighting

training.

Wildland Firefighting Hires

Kevin Bossardt: Moose

Creek Ranger District, Nez-

Clear National Forest

Viridiana Gonzalez: Wisdom

Ranger District, Beaver-

head-Deerlodge National

Forest

Jessica LeBlanc: White Sul-

phur Springs Ranger Dis-

trict, Lewis and Clark Nation-

al Forest


TOTAL SUTDENT HOURS IN

FIRE & FIRE SUPPORT

29,159 HOURS

TOTAL STUDENT HOURS IN TRAINING

6,106 HOURS

TOTAL STUDENT PROJECT

WORK HOURS

4,945 HOURS

APPRAISED VALUE OF WORK

PERFORMED BY STUDENTS TO

NATIONAL FORESTS &

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

$222,540.00 DOLLARS

Trapper Creek Job Corps fire crew work on the Stetson Fire on the Chugach National Forest in June

2015. Photo courtesy of Justin Abbey.

Three Trapper Creek Job Corps students who were hired as casual hires and who are paid via incident

codes or severity assignment codes. The Center partners with districts on the Bitterroot National Forest

to place its students in Work-Based Learning opportunities. Photo courtesy of Trapper Creek Job Corps.

Trapper Creek Job Corps firefighters work on the Stetson fire on the Chugach National Forest in June

2015. Photo courtesy of .Justin Abbey.

This year Trapper Creek Job

Corps Center supported five

ranger districts (Darby, Sula,

West Fork, Wisdom, and Plains/

Thompson Falls) across three

national forests (Bitterroot, Bea-

verhead- Deerlodge, and the

Lolo), with 17 students. Stu-

dents selected for WBL are re-

quired to maintain excellent

behavior under center conduct

standards.

The 17 WBL students were fully

integrated with national forest

wildland fire crews, lived in gov-

ernment housing, and worked

side-by-side with other district

personnel.

Trapper Creek supported its

students logistically with meals

and transportation while the

districts provided the supervi-

sion and training. The students

were paid as casual hires (AD)

when assigned to an incident (P-

Code) or a severity assignment

(S-Code). Otherwise, they were

actively volunteering their time

to gain on-the-job experience,

resulting in more boots on the

ground with minimal expense to

the government. In 2015, each

Trapper Creek WBL student

contributed approximately 800

volunteer hours of work for the

districts between May and mid-

October.


Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Work-Based Learning Program Yields Results (continued from page 8) Justin Abbey, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Bitterroot National Forest-Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

“The 17 WBL students were

fully integrated with national

forest wildland fire crews, lived

in government housing, and

worked side-by-side with other

district personnel.”

Justin Abbey,

Forest Assistant Fire

Management Officer,

Trapper Creek Job Corps

Trapper Creek Job Corps students dig line during the 2015 Guard School under close supervision of

an instructor. Photo courtesy of Justin Abbey.

The Trapper Creek Job Corps culinary arts students meets all of the wildland firefighting teams’ needs,

serving huge orders of excellent food on short notice. Photo courtesy of Justin Abbey.

Trapper Creek Job Corps creates opportunity through exposure. Instructors and presenters from all staff

functions across the Bitterroot National Forest, including the botanist, historian/archeologist, engine/

hand crew foremen, fire management officers, and assistant fire management officers meet the

students to expose them to employment opportunities. Photo courtesy of Justin Abbey.

Kyle King:

Plains/Thompson Falls

Ranger District, Lolo

National Forest

Drew Allen: Grayback

Forestry, Inc.—Missoula,

Montana

Don Frisch: Grayback For-

estry, Inc. —Missoula,

Montana

Pawel Halicki: Grayback

Forestry, Inc.—Missoula,

Montana

John Moynihan: State of

Colorado

Advanced Fire Training

David Ortega: Enrolled in

Schenk Job Corps Ad-

vanced Wildland Fire Pro-

gram

Public Lands Corps Hires

Using the Public Lands Corps

(PLC) hiring authority, Trapper

Creek also placed two young

female firefighters in career

positions with the U.S. Forest

Service in 2015.

Both of these graduates did an

outstanding job not only on the

fire crew, but also in the leader-

ship and mentorship they pro-

vided to the student body while

enrolled at Trapper Creek Job

Corps.

Brianna Larry:

Albuquerque Service Center

Christina Sotelo: Forest

Service Region 2, Pike-San

Isabel National Forest

Trapper Creek

Job Corps Facts

Students: 217

Employees: 67

Associated Forest:

Bitterroot National Forest

Program Year 2015

Graduate Placement

Rate: 96.38%


Culinary Arts

Electrical



Forestry Conservation

and Firefighting

Union Carpentry


Union Painting

Welding

Each year, local fire managers

interview Job Corps students in

February and March to select

students who have consistently

demonstrated good behavior,

student leadership, and model

the wildland fire principles of

duty, respect, and integrity.


Throughout the

training and fire

season, GMUG Na-

tional Forest fire

staff have success-

fully mentored

Collbran Job Corps

students, teaching

duty, respect, and

teamwork.

al in July and August. Fires on

the Six Rivers National Forest

traditionally are difficult fires to

manage; this is due to terrain

and fuel models that include

heavy snag areas. The Gunnison

River Type 2 IA responded to

new fire starts on the Lower

Trinity District that would even-

tually become the 20,000 plus

acre Castel Complex. Job Corps

students demonstrated out-

standing leadership skills under

high stress, staying organized

with both saw and supply needs.

The crew’s next assignment on

the Castel Complex was man-

aged by a Type 1 fire manage-

ment team. This complex cov-

ered over 8,000 acres on both

the Six Rivers and Shasta Trinity

National Forests. Working with

the Plumas National Forest In-

teragency Hot Shot Crew (IHC),

the Gunnison River IA Crew

fought fire on a large slope

threatening Trinity Village, Cali-

fornia.

Collbran students worked three

days on direct and indirect saw

line in steep terrain that includ-

ed underslung and over-slung

hand line and hazard tree miti-

gation.

As their final assignment on the

Castel Complex, the Gunnison

River Type 2 IA crew was de-

ployed to the Nickowits Complex

on the Orleans District, man-

aged by a Type 3 fire manage-

ment team. The assignment

included downhill line construc-

tion and indirect fire line con-

struction, which allowed

Collbran students to learn about

the complexities of both tasks.

Successive fires to which the

Gunnison River crew were de-

ployed were the Minnie Gap,

Santaquin, Eleven Mile, and

Okanogan Complex fires.

Eight students also participated

in two prescribed fires on the

GMUG National Forest in which

they held the control line of the

Collbran Job Corps wildland firefighter Joe

Battaglia works on the Minnie’s Gap Fire, south

of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Photo courtesy of

Collbran Job Corps.

Collbran Job Corps Fire Program Teams up with the Gunnison River Type 2 Initial Attack (IA) Fire Crew Alicia D. Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, Job Corps National Office

As a partner with the Grand

Mesa Uncompahgre and Gun-

nison National Forest (GMUG),

Collbran wildland firefighters

are available to join the Gun-

nison River Type 2 Initial Attack

(IA) fire crew. This crew is com-

prised of staff from the U.S.

Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of

Land Management, National

Park Service, and Job Corps

Civilian Conservation Centers.

In 2015, twenty-four Collbran

Job Corps students completed

the work capacity test and

guard school, earning the

wildland firefighter Type 2

(FFT2) certification. Additionally,

14 students completed S-212

wildland fire chain saw training

and received the Faller 3 certifi-

cation. Nineteen Collbran stu-

dents worked across the West

in 2015, including California,

Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and

Washington.

After a slow start to the fire

season, Collbran’s students’

longest assignment was 19

days where they were preposi-

tioned on the Six Rivers Nation-

burn with hose lays and hand

tools. Additionally, the students

relayed messages and moved

equipment up and down the

hand line. These fires were suc-

cessful in reducing large areas

of fuel loading adjacent to Colo-

rado communities on Colorado’s

western slope.

Yet another fuels reduction pro-

ject Collbran wildland fire-

fighting students completed was

a joint project between the For-

est Service and the City of

Grand Junction to reduce a Pi-

(L-R) Collbran Job Corps wildland firefighters Don Wawkins and Chris Settergren are transported on a

Bell 212 to a spike camp to construct direct fire line on the 10,000 acre Eleven Mile Fire on the

Salmon-Challis National Forest. Photo courtesy of Collbran Job Corps.

non and Juniper forest, meant

to preserve the Grand Junction

Watershed. Students spent 180

hours on the project, which in-

cluded hand thinning and chip-

ping.

Throughout the training and fire

season, GMUG National Forest

fire staff have successfully men-

tored Collbran Job Corps stu-

dents, teaching duty, respect,

and teamwork; they have been

a huge factor in the students’

success. Collbran wildland fire-

fighters have a better compre-

hension of wildland firefighting

management, including initial

attack, large fire support, medi-

cal evacuations, and fuels re-

duction. Collbran Job Corps Cen-

ter will continue to nurture its

partnership with the national

forest and looks forward to fu-

ture collaborations.

Collbran Job Corps

2015 Job Placements

Arron Nall, Boise National

Forest

Jordan Hurley, Bureau of

Land Management


Harpers Ferry Job Corps Fire Program Signs Public Lands Corps Agreement with Florida State Parks Jothan McGaughey, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Monongahela National Forest-Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

As of October, 2015, the Harp-

ers Ferry Job Corps Center Fire

Program comprised of 19 stu-

dents and five staff members.

Eighteen students were red

carded as firefighters Type 2

(FFT2), one student was creden-

tialed as fire effects monitor

(FEMO) and one student was

credentialed as an expanded

dispatch recorder trainee

(EDRC).

To participate on the Harpers

Ferry Job Corps fire team, pro-

spective students must obtain

permission from managers

across the Center, including the

works program manager

(vocation), academic manager

(education), social services

manager (dorms), center stand-

ards officer and either the cen-

ter director or center deputy

director. Only after these individ-

uals sign-off are students al-

lowed to take the firefighting

work capacity test (WCT). After

successfully passing the WCT

students can attend basic fire

school conducted in both the

spring and the fall.

Harpers Ferry wildland fire team

members are expected to mem-

orize the ten standard fire or-

ders and 18 watch-out as part

of their commitment to the

team. As students show both an

interest and an aptitude for fire

they receive further training,

including weather observation,

map and compass, fire effects

HARPERS FERRY

JOB CORPS FACTS

Students: 156

Employees: 54

National Forest:

Monongahela National

Forest




Brick Masonry

Carpentry

Computer Technician A+



monitoring, fuel moisture sam-

pling, pump and engine opera-

tions.

There are plans for the fire crew

to be trained to conduct fuel

moisture sampling and IT stu-

dents to learn geographic infor-

mation system (GIS) mapping

skills. This will increase the stu-

dent’s skill sets and allow the

Monongahela National Forest’s

remote weather stations to be

correctly calibrated. The pro-

gram also is planning an L-280

Followership to Leadership class

in the future. All of these train-

ing experiences increase the

students’ forestry related skills

and increases their chances for

employment.

The fire season for the Monon-

gahela Forest is broken up be-

tween a spring and fall season

which includes the prescribed

fire season as well. The forest

has two type six engines. Harp-

ers Ferry Job Corps wildland

firefighting crew members de-

tailed with the engines for the

both spring and fall fire sea-

sons. Three students participat-

ed in the spring detail and four

students participated in the fall

on engine details.

During the spring engine detail,

the three crew members de-

ployed on three off-forest

wildland fire assignments, the

Hanging Rock, Martin-Pond-

Green, and Big Fish fires in Ohio

and Minnesota. Harpers Ferry

Job Corps students also are

used to supplement the fire

program on the Monongahela

National Forest and are used on

the forest hand crew on fire

assignments in the West.

Harpers Ferry Job Corps’

wildland firefighting students

began their season employed by

Sustainable Solutions, an envi-

ronmental services company,

through a Work-Based Learning

agreement. The students

worked on eight projects falling

into three categories: pre-

scribed fire, hazardous fuels

reduction and invasive weed

mitigation, that ranged from a

few days to months. Land own-

ers ranged from private land-

owners, non-profit organiza-

tions and federal agencies,

including National Park Service,

Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.

Navy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service. As of October 16,

2015, seventeen students par-

ticipated in these projects for a

total of 1,202 hours and 386

acres treated.

Sustainable Solutions conduct-

ed training sessions at Harpers

Ferry Job Corps which covered

prescribed fire techniques, cold

weather clothing for outdoor

work environments, geographic

information system skills and

on state of West Virginia re-

quirements for obtaining an

herbicide applicators license.

Harpers Ferry Job Corps’ part-

nership with Sustainable Solu-

tions is an ongoing arrangement

that allows students to experi-

ence on-the-job training with a

private company in the natural

resources field.

For the first time, Harpers Ferry

Job Corps fielded a 14 day FFT2

RX Wildland Fire Module

through a Work-Based Learning

(WBL) agreement and a Public

Lands Corps Agreement be-

tween the Center and Florida


Harpers Ferry 2015

Advanced Training

Placements

One graduate placed in the

Schenck Job Corps Advanced

Forestry Program

One graduate placed in the

Shenck Job Corps Advanced

Fire Program


Harpers Ferry Job Corps Signs Public Lands Corps Agreement with Florida State Parks (continued from page 11)

Jothan McGaughey, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Monongahela National Forest-Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

State Parks. Seven Harpers

Ferry Job Corps fire crew mem-

bers participated in this 14 day

prescribed fire assignment from

May 16 through June 2, 2015.

Both a Work-Based Learning

agreement and a Public Lands

Corps agreement were signed

between Harpers Ferry Job

Corps and Florida State Parks.

Funding was provided by De-

partment of Labor, Monongahe-

la National Forest, Forest Ser-

vice Job Corps Program and

Florida State Parks for this pro-

ject. On-site housing was provid-

ed by Florida State Parks.

Eight prescribed fires were con-

ducted with a total of 4,562

acres treated with fire and an

additional 499 acres prepped.

Land ownership included Florida

State Parks, State historical site

and Department of Defense

(Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Ba-

ses). Students participated in

ignitions, holding and monitor-

ing positions.

Florida State Parks has ex-

pressed a strong interest in

continuing and expanding this

partnership which not only of-

fers training and experience for

Job Corps students, but also

offers training opportunities for

Monongahela Forest Service

employees for qualifications as

squad boss (FFT1), firing boss

(FIRB), fire effects monitor

(FEMO) and burn boss (RXB2)

levels.

Golconda Job Corps Trains and Fields its First Camp Crew in 2015


Another Super Successful Year for the Weber Basin Job Corps Fire Program Brandon J. Everett, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Uinta-Wasatch Cache National Forest-Weber Basin Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

The 2015 fire season began

early in Northern Utah after an

abnormally dry winter. In Febru-

ary, two Weber Basin Job Corps

students accompanied a contin-

gent of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache

National Forest employees to a

fire ignited by a crashed tanker

truck. Later in the day, there

were two more fire starts in the

dispatch area where those stu-

dents had been placed on

standby.

Basic fire training concluded in

March 2015, and the Weber

Basin Job Corps Fire Program

began the interview process for

selecting students for its initial

attack (IA) module and engine

crew. The vetting process in-

cluded evaluating students’

physical fitness scores, Center

color status, fire school scores

and completion percentages in

academics and vocational train-

ing.

Twenty students made the first

cut. After written and oral inter-

views were completed, nine

students were offered positions

on either the IA module or the

engine crew. In May, students

on the engine crew and IA mod-

ule continued with their training

in preparation for the Uinta-

Wasatch-Cache National Forest

annual preparedness rodeo and

readiness review. This event

was catered and hosted by

Weber Basin Job Corps.

From late July through August,

Weber Basin firefighters worked

the majority of their time on

Weber Basin Job Corps Type 2 IA crew prepares for their 10 mile pack-out of the Elkhorn Fire on the

Salmon-Challis National Forest in July 2015. Photo courtesy of Brandon Everett.

also hosted both students and

staff with detail opportunities on

the Logan Hotshots, Weber Ba-

sin Crew, and Wasatch Heli-

tack.

Initial attack module 11 spent a

majority of its season committed

to the Weber Basin hand crew,

completing three of six two-week

assignments with the hand

crews in Colorado, Utah, Idaho,

and Arizona. Module 11 worked

six incidents and 28 days out-

side of the North-

ern Utah Dispatch

Area. A total of

52 days were

assigned to P-

codes. Module 11

spent 29 days on

national forest

account work,

including days

spent construct-

ing defensible

space on for the

Weber Basin Job

Corps Center and

improving hand

line used on the

Center’s physical

fitness trail.

Weber Basin’s

firefighters actively participated

in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache

National Forest fire prevention

and education program through

patrolling and the Smokey the

Bear program. The students

participated in the Wheels of

Wonder Program at Hill Air Force

Base’s Child Development Cen-

ter and posted firework re-

striction signs in area camp

grounds and picnic areas.

Weber Basin also hosted sever-

al national and international

visitors, including Juan Villa from

the Comisión Nacional Forestal

(CONAFOR), Mexico’s equivalent

of the U.S. Forest Service. Villa

spent a day with Weber Basin

firefighters discussing fire sup-

pression tactics, engine stand-

ards, equipment types, physical

(L-R) CONAFOR firefighter Elder Camilo Castro, detailed with the Logan

Inter-agency Hotshot Crew, spent shifts with Weber Basin students Saul

Peneda and Adrian Calderon on the Bobcat Fire, Salmon Challis

National Forest in August 2015. Photo courtesy of Brandon Everett.

large fire support in Regions 1,

4, and 5. The Center’s fire pro-

gram also facilitated multiple

training opportunities on its

hand crew, IA module, engine

crew, and single resources.

Weber Basin Job Corps’ Engine

461 worked two, two-week as-

signments on the Boise National

Forest working large fire support

and local initial attack. The en-

gine crew traveled approximate-

ly 5,000 miles accident free,

working 97 shifts on 20 fires.

The crew on Engine 461 spent

twenty seven days on national

forest account work, including

days spent constructing defensi-

ble space on the Weber Basin

Job Corps Center improving

hand line used on the Center’s

physical fitness trail. Engine 461

fitness, and general firefighting

operations. The crew on Engine

461 and Villa also spent a day

on the national forest patrolling

for new fires and checking

known, local, problem areas for

escaped camp fires.

Washington Office Fire Staff’s

Budget Analyst David Christen-

sen was detailed to the pro-

gram, spending time on the

Weber Basin Crew, IA module

and Engine 461 to gain a better

understanding of the interwork-

ing of fire operations. The Weber

Basin Crew hosted an interagen-

cy partnership on two assign-

ments with the State of Utah

Dromedary Peak Fuels Crew.

This partnership was very suc-

cessful and is one we hope to

continue in the future.

The Weber Basin Fire Program

also participated in Job Corps’

50th Anniversary Celebration in

Washington D.C. Weber Basin

student firefighters and fire

program managers hosted an

informational booth on the

USDA Jamie L. Whitten Building

patio. The booth, displaying

equipment and tools commonly

used by firefighters and pictures

and video from Weber Basin’s

previous fire season, was popu-

lar with USDA staff and visitors.

Weber Basin Job Corps

2015 Job Placements

Jaime Noonchester, Uinta-

Wasatch-Cache Helitack

Musa Abadallah, Utah Divi-

sion of Forestry, Fire & State

Lands

Saul Pineda, Logan Hot Shots

Eric Caserio, Uinta-Wasatch-

Cache Engine Crew

Nina Oppenhiem, Bureau of

Land Management

Eric Duran, Colorado State

Forest Service

Tyrone George, Washington

State Department of Natural

Resources

2015 Fire Crew 8 Training—

Type 2 Initial Attack

S-130 Firefighter Training

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire

Behavior

I-100 Introduction to ICS

L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire

Service

IS-700 NIMS an Introduction

PMS 475 Basic land Navigation

Mutual Respect

Conducts and Ethics

Hazmat/Hazwoper

Blood Borne Pathogens

S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws

S-211 Portable Pumps and Water Use

Fire Line Construction

Direct and Indirect

Progressive and Leapfrog

Tool Selection

Maps, Compasses, & GPS

Latitude and longitude

Township, range, and section

Maps, Compasses GPS

Pace count and cross- country travel

Helicopter Operations

Briefings and emergency procedures

Loading and unloading of personnel

Fire and personal equipment preparation

for flight

Cargo net building and sling load

operations

Aircraft typing

Type 2 helicopter orientation with Lucky

Peak Rappel Crew

Safety

Proper use of all PPE

Conducted appropriate JHA and tailgate

safety sessions

Reviewed Facilitative Learning

Analyses and Lessons Learned

Mitigation for heat-related injuries

briefings

Medical Response

Scenarios and medical equipment use

(SKED, backboard, Kendrick Traction

Device, trauma kit, oxygen, 10-man first

aid kit)

Cross training with Lucky Peak Rappel

Crew, equipment, and personnel


Centennial Job Corps Students on the Right Track for Futures in Fire Management Mike Towers, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Boise National Forest-Centennial Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

The 2015 wildland firefighting

season was a successful and

rewarding year for the Centenni-

al Job Corps fire program.

Students worked as firefighters

in an organized 20 person fire

crew, in an organized camp

crew module, and in dispatch.

Each function provided them

with experiences that may lead

to future fire positions.

This year was a very busy fire

season which began on the

Bureau of Land Management

Boise District’s Poison Fire and

ended at the Tepee Fire on the

Payette National Forest.

The unique opportunity for the

students to work as crewmem-

bers on other professional

crews, such as with Crew 3 and

Boise Interagency Hotshot Crew,

added to the experience gained.

The new camp crew structure,

which included the hiring of

three camp crew bosses provid-

ed the camp crew students im-

proved learning opportunities

and exposure to exceptional

crew leadership.

In addition, seven firefighters

from the 2013/2014 fire pro-

gram were hired as seasonal

firefighters for three different

agencies in three different For-

est Service regions. We are ex-

tremely proud of these firefight-

ers. They are living proof that

hard work, dedication, and a

willingness to succeed can lead

to excellent and fulfilling career

opportunities.

The Centennial Job Corps Fire

Program is on the right track for

students to gain the knowledge,

skills, and abilities in a variety of

different fire management ele-

ments. This has clearly led to

opportunities for them to build

their resumes for future career

opportunities in fire manage-

ment. I am very proud of their

work, and the program accom-

plishments this year!

CENTENNIAL

JOB CORPS FACTS

Students: 262

Employees: 68

National Forest: Boise

National Forest




Computer Technician

Culinary Arts

Electrical


Nurse Assistant Home

Health Aide


Union Carpentry

Union Painting

Union Plastering

Welding

RAWS FIRE & MT. ADAMS COMPLEX

14 Days—235 Hours

Crew 15 supported the Black Hills

Type 2 crew with trucks, equipment,

and wildland firefighters.

The Black Hills crew deployed to

Washington state to the Gifford

Pinchot National Forest where it was

assigned to the Horseshoe Fire. While

on standby on day one, the crew

responded to a new start that be-

came the Raws Fire, where it worked

for four days.

On day five, the Black Hills crew hiked

three miles up into the Mt. Adams

Wilderness and spiked out in the

black of the Horseshoe Fire. Several

new starts, triggered by lightening in

the vicinity of the Horseshoe Fire,

prompted the crew to transition to the

Mt. Adams Complex where it worked

for the remainder of the assignment.


Boxelder Job Corps Crew 15’s 2015 Fire Hours Increase 278% from the 2014 Season Robert Cota, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Black Hills National Forest-Boxelder Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

JAY FIRE

2 Days-18 Hours- 7 Students

Crew 15 dispatched to lightening

strike fire in Vanocker Canyon on the

Black Hills National Forest.

PLACEMENTS

Four Boxelder Job Corps graduates were

accepted into the Schenck Job Corps

Advanced Wildland Firefighting program.

Nakala Williams

Adam Skillman

James Damron

Nathaniel Gibson

One Boxelder Job Corps student was

accepted into the Schenck Job Corps

Advanced Forestry program.

Nathaniel Gibson

Two Boxelder Job Corps graduates

accepted career firefighting positions

with the U.S. Forest Service under the

Public Lands Corps hiring authority.

Charles Boyles, Grand Mesa,

Uncompahgre and Gunnison

National Forest

David Little, Black Hills

National Forest

Boxelder graduate Michael Nordeng

accepted a position as a 1039 wildland

firefighter on the Olympic National

Forest.

CATERING UNIT

Boxelder Job Corps Center deploys

the only mobile catering unit in the

nation. This unit is available to be

dispatched for Type 3 wildland fires

and is operated and maintained by

the Boxelder Job Corps culinary arts

trade.

Each year it is used to support the

Black Hills Interagency Fire School

and in April 2015, the mobile cater-

ing unit deployed for 3 days on the

Coldbrook Fire where it prepared

and served three meals a day to

150 firefighters.

CAMP CREWS

Boxelder Job Corps Center deployed

two camp crews in support of

wildland fire incidents. Crew 1 re-

ported twice, for a total of 14 days,

for the Cornet and Grizzly Bear Com-

plex fires. Crew 2 was deployed to

the Eagle/Grizzly Bear complex for

an extended 26 day assignment.

BLACK ELK WILDERNESS & NORBECK

WILDLIFE PRESERVE

5 Days—46 Hours-10 Students

Firefighting students worked 5 days

in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and

the Black Elk Wilderness, both on

the Black Hills National Forest,

assisting the south zone trails crew.

Students cleared brush and trees,

cleaned up, and constructed water

bars and used natural materials to

enhance erosion resistance of a

stream bed.

ALASKA-SOCKEYE &

SPICER CREEK FIRES

21 Days—315 Hours

Crew 15 provided students Tyler

Vickers and James Damron to the

Tatanka Interagency Hotshot Crew

that was ordered up for a 21 day

assignment in Alaska. Tyler and

James worked on structure prepara-

tion, line construction and firing

operations.

BUCKHORN SADDLE FIRE

10 Days—165 Hours-10 Students

Crew 15 deployed on a type 2 as-

signment in western Montana on

the Bitterroot National Forest, where

it mopped up and gridded for spot

fires and patrolled the Sula District

for four days.

BUCK CREEK FIRE

4 Days-66 Hours-10 Students

Crew 15 left the Buckhorn Saddle

Fire to respond to a new start, also

on the Bitterroot, working on the

Buck Creek Fire for four days.


Centennial Job Corps Camp Crew Mobilization Mike Towers, Job Corps Forest Area Fire Management Officer, Boise National Forest-Centennial Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

The Centennial Job Corps fire

camp crew had a busy season

in 2015, responding to 10 inci-

dents and working 73 days.

The crew was initially mobilized

in May to support the Boise

County Simulation Exercises at

the National Interagency Fire

Center (NIFC), There, the crew

assisted with the mobilization of

Australian and New Zealand

firefighters. Over 100 emergen-

cy responders attended the

simulation.

The camp crew finished the

season in September where it

catered the Australian and New

Zealand firefighter close-out

banquet. NIFC Assistant Nation-

al Director of Operations Kim

Christensen recognized Centen-

nial students for their mission

achievements in supporting

wildland firefighters.

The new camp crew structure,

which included the hiring of

three camp crew bosses, pro-

vided the camp crew’s students

improved learning

opportunities.

each specifically cho-

sen through an appli-

cation process and

must complete paper-

work, get their red

card, attend an annu-

al refresher, and com-

plete classes through

FEMA to have the

opportunity to work in

fire camps. “This is a

once in a lifetime

chance for them,” said Mona

Fergeson, Crew Boss for the

JCCCC crew. It gives them a

chance to earn money for rent

or a car when they go out on

their own. This experience gives

them a chance to grow in skills

that increase their employment

options. They can practice skills

of their trades, improve their life

skills, practice time manage-

ment and be responsible for

themselves. “I love it. We’re

working a lot and I like good

hard work,” said Aaron Schaack,

a 17 year old crewmember with

Anaconda Job Corps Camp Crew at the Scotchmans Gulch Fire.

“This experience gives them

a chance to grow in skills

that increase their employ-

ment options.”

—Mona Fergeson, Crew

Boss, Anaconda Job Corps

Camp Crew

The Anaconda Job Corps Civiliza-

tion Conservation Center

(JCCCC) camp crew has set up

yurts and tents, filled in pot

holes and gopher holes to miti-

gate safety hazards, helped with

food delivery along with organiz-

ing, managing, and helping de-

liver supplies to our crews on

the fire line. The Anaconda Job

Corps camp crew of 10 has

been the behind-the scenes-

backbone of Scotchmans Gulch

Fire ICP. For these efforts, they

should be commended. Anacon-

da JCCCC crewmembers are

aspirations of becoming a brick

layer or going into the Marines.

Job Corps itself is an opportunity

for this crew. They can choose

between seven different trades:

painting, brick laying, carpentry,

heavy equipment operator,

heavy equipment mechanic,

welding, and culinary arts. “It’s

one heck of a job hookup,” said

17 year old Trevor Gerwig, when

asked what job corps was to

him. Trevor already has a com-

mitment to join the Marines

once he is 18. With the training

provided, participants can have

a chance to earn a high school

diploma, GED, CDL, and many

other certifications. Skyler Haw-

kins, 18 years old, has big plans

of becoming a heavy equipment

operator and earning his CDL,

said “[Job Corps] gives you an-

other chance for a diploma and

a good career.” Not only does

Job Corps provide the prospect

for these youth to be able to

earn many different certifica-

tions, but the program

“prepares you for a trade and

gives you a future.” Aaron

Schaack said; they are all given

the chance to start over and

become employable adults. The

Anaconda JCCCC crews training

shines through in their hard

work and easy going attitudes

here at IC where staff have

found it is a pleasure to be able

to work with Anaconda’s enthu-

siastic, resilient, and reliable

students to form an absolutely

incredible team that has done

an amazing job here.

Anaconda Job Corps Camp Crew is the Backbone of Scotchmans Gulch Fire Incident Command Post Breanna Mae Thomasson, Fire Prevention Technician, Gallatin National Forest, Big Timber Ranger District


“I believe the guidance and

support of my instructors gave

me the confidence to seek out

opportunities and begin a suc-

cessful career in the U.S. Forest

Service.”

An Experience I Won’t Soon Forget– A Season on the Davidson River Initial Attack Crew Victoria Becerra, Engine Crew Staff, Fremont-Winema National Forest Hello, my name is Victoria N.

Becerra, and I’m a graduate of

the Schenck Job Corps Civilian

Conservation Center Advanced

Fire Management program,

along with its associated crew

known as Davidson River Initial

Attack Crew.

I received more than what I

expected from this program. I

applied to the program because

I wanted to gain experience in

wildland firefighting, improve my

physical fitness, and gain a

foundation for a career, as well

as having the freedom to make

mistakes that I could continually

learn from in a safe environ-

ment.

As a member of the Davidson

River crew, I received a substan-

tial amount of training that is

critical for every entry-firefighter,

but also received training be-

yond that. I enjoyed the extra

classes that my instructors

made time for even though they

weren’t required by the position

task book. Those classes have

given me an outstanding foun-

dation and also allow me to

demonstrate what I’ve learned

when the opportunity arises.

I was challenged physically from

my first day of training. What

was the most challenging was

feeling that I would somehow

have to prove that I could keep

up with my brethren, if not

ahead.

Name Position State Location

David Little Crew SD Black Hills NF

Beau Vivant Engine SD Black Hills NF

Warren Baxter IHC CA Six Rivers NF, Smith River Hotshots

Edwin Baxter IHC CA Six Rivers NF, Smith River Hotshots

Randall Poynter Engine MN Chippewa NF

Victoria Becerra Engine OR Fremont-Winema NF

Kyle Costa Engine WY Uinta Wasatch Cache NF

Jason Mitchell Training CA Detail to WFTC through (PLC)

Paul Grigg Engine CO San Isabel NF

Bryan Bohannon Crew ID Boise NF

Jordan Kracjirik Engine WA Olympic NF

Michael Nordeng Engine WA Olympic NF

Luis Duran Crew ID Boise NF

Nikisha Luke Dispatch CA CA Interagency Communication Center, BLM

Davidson River Initial Attack Crew 2015 Job Placements Anthony Conte, Superintendent, Davidson River Initial Attack Crew-Schenck Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center

Davidson River Initial Attack Crew’s 2015 fire season was

successful and productive. The crew participated in wildfire

and prescribed fire operations, as well as hazardous fuel

reduction projects and various types of project work through-

out Forest Service Region 8.

The crew went available on January 14, 2015, and worked a

total of eight wildfire and 42 prescribed fire assignments

throughout the southern region. By the end of April, the crew

scaled down to a module and by mid-May, the crew was ready

to shut down for the year. The summer months were spent on

training assignments, single resource assignments and prepa-

ration for the new crew to arrive.

The primary mission of Davidson River is to train entry level

firefighters and assist them with pursuing entry level jobs

within the U.S. Forest Service. The chart to the left features

2015 crew member job placements.

My fellow crew members moti-

vated me to keep going because

of my struggles to be just like

them. Physical training was

stressful at times, but it pre-

pared me for when I will be

physically challenged as a

wildland firefighter. I know I’ve

hardened mentally because of

it, and I’m grateful.

I appreciate the fact that my

classes included extensive

hands-on training, during which I

was encouraged to ask ques-

tions about potential firefighting

scenarios. To me, that provided

a learning experience that was

interactive, interesting, and fun.

Learning didn’t stop. Even two

weeks prior to leaving the crew,

I was still learning firefighting

skills to either fill in gaps or

polish what I had previously

learned.

Before joining the Davidson

River crew, I didn’t know what I

wanted to do in the fire world. I

knew I wanted to become a

wildland firefighter, but I didn’t

think beyond that goal. When

the crew started traveling to

different national forests, I met

a diverse group of wildland fire-

fighters, and it opened my eyes

to a wide variety of careers. I

talked to different resource

crewmembers, single resource

bosses, and fire management

personnel.

I believe the guidance and sup-

port of my instructors gave me

the confidence to seek out op-

portunities and begin a success-

ful career in the U.S. Forest Ser-

vice.

The Schenck Job Corps Ad-

vanced Fire Management pro-

gram has given me an experi-

ence I won’t soon forget.

What makes the program excep-

tional is the commitment of the

staff members who make it all

possible. They have the passion

and patience to give time to

each individual student while

passing on invaluable experi-

ence and teaching a new gener-

ation of professional firefighters.


Photographs of the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers’ 2015 Fire Season

Great Onyx Job Corps firefighter Don’Quise Burnam

works on the Buffalo Trail Prescribed Burn on the

Land Between the Lakes. Photo courtesy of Kiela Hall.

Pine Knot Job Corps firefighter Michael

Jackson on the Indian Knob RX, Daniel Boone

National Forest. Photo courtesy Jamie Tyson.

(L-R) Frenchburg Job Corps wildland firefighters, the “Frenchburg Firebirds,” Ansel Cole and Joseph

Powell, crew boss Brad Adkins, and students Catherine Oxley and Jazrielle Wilson deployed on April

21, 2016, on a 14 day detail to the Silver Mine Fire in Hot Springs, N.C. Photo courtesy of Brad Atkins.

Cass Job Corps Wildand Fire Crew (L-R) Back row standing: Jeff Organ, David Brinkley, Jorden Della Cruz, Steven Ward, Darius Barnes,

Tim Curry, Nash ton Snare, Nicholas Henson, Syr Jonathon Duncan, Daniella Mcintoosh, Nicholas Watson, Greg Pleasant, Christopher

Hamilton, and James Tillison. Front row knelling: Darian Hill , Aaron Young, Darnel Fryer, Kourtney Burns, Dustin Jones, and Derrick

Holdstock. Photo courtesy of Cass Job Corps.

(L-R) Weber Basin graduate Dejen Dirar and advanced firefighting

student Musa Abdallah on the Broads Fork Fire, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache

National Forest. Photo courtesy of Brandon Everett.

In February 2015, Davidson River Initial Attack crew member Victoria Becerra worked on rehabilitating

the 151 old earthen entrenchments, originally constructed in February 1864 by Confederate forces, on

the Osceola National Forest. Photo courtesy of Davidson River Initial Attack Crew.

Frenchburg Job Corps staff member Tony Barnhard (L) watches Guard School students digging line on a

field exercise. Photo courtesy of Nathan Talley.


Hard Work Pays Off - Students from Blackwell Job Corps Center Fight Wildland Fires Out West Hilary Markin, Public Affairs Officer, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

Blackwell Job Corps wildland firefighter, David Rutecki, prepares to help initiate a large burn out on

the Limebelt Fire in Washington. Photo courtesy of Blackwell Job Corps.

(L-R) Blackwell Job Corps fire crew Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Job Corps Assistant Fire

Management Officer Lee Jensen and crew members David Rutecki, Adam Edwards, Jeremiah Bridges

and JaWon Barnett, pause for a moment after prepping an indirect fire line on the Wolverine Fire in

Washington. Photo courtesy of Blackwell Job Corps.

Click on link below to watch the Blackwell Job Corps

firefighters in action!

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20150803174250&display=video

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20150618225955

Four students from the Black-

well Job Corps Center in Wiscon-

sin put their training to the test

in August as members of a Wis-

consin Interagency Crew that

was dispatched to Washington

to assist with wildland fires.

They were part of a 20-person

interagency crew of employees

from the Chequamegon-Nicolet

National Forest, Wisconsin De-

partment of Natural Resources,

National Park Service, and Bu-

reau of Indian Affairs.

The crew was extremely busy

and participated in the suppres-

sion of four separate fires, end-

ing with the Okanagan Complex

near Conconully, Washington.

During their 21-day assignment

the crew was involved with ini-

tial attack, burn out operations,

structure triage and protection,

hose lays, line construction, and

mop-up.

They worked with the Okanagan-

Wenatchee National Forest,

Washington Department of Nat-

ural Resources, and a multitude

of other resources from Wash-

ington and from around the

country. The crew camped in a

variety of locations, such as, the

banks of the Columbia River in

Roosevelt, Chelan Falls Town

Park, Oroville school gymnasium

and Conconully State Park.

“As far as fire assignments go,

these (Blackwell) guys got a lot

of exposure to just about every-

thing that you’re going to see

and work with out on the fire

line,” said Chris Geidel, Engine

Operator on the Great Divide

District of the Chequamegon-

Nicolet National Forest who

served as the crew boss for the

Wisconsin Interagency Crew.

The crew was working daily with

and around helicopters, air tank-

ers, Single Engine Air Tankers

(SEATS), super scoopers, bull

dozers and engines of every

kind.

"It was a great experience being

able to travel the country, see

new things, and meet new peo-

ple. It was a wonderful feeling to

be able to save houses for fami-

lies,” said Ja-Won Barnett, one

of the Blackwell Job Corps

wildland firefighters who was on

the crew. “Just knowing that I'm

doing something that matters

has been a life-changing experi-

ence."

This summer more than 300 fire

personnel have been dis-

patched from the Wisconsin

Interagency Coordination Center

that is managed by the

Chequamegon-Nicolet National

Forest. These fire personnel

have been mobilized to Alaska,

Montana, California, Idaho,

Washington, Oregon, and Wyo-

ming. Many of them supporting

these efforts on multiple deploy-

ments.

Typically, fire assignments are

for 14 days plus travel and re-

quire working up to 16-hour

days in harsh conditions includ-

ing the smoke from the fires,

heat, altitude, mountainous

terrain, and sleeping in tents.

“These conditions put a lot of

physical strain on us as wildland

fire fighters, and the dynamic

fire conditions that put a lot of

mental strain on us as well,”

said Lee Jensen, Assistant Fire

Management Officer for the

Chequamegon-Nicolet National

Forest Job Corps Fire Program,

who was part of the crew.

“We train really hard to prepare

ourselves for these conditions,

and it is something I work hard

to instill in the Blackwell Job

Corps students participating in

the wildland firefighter pro-

gram.”

“The guys from Blackwell came

well prepared and did really well

for their first time out, especially

given the critical fire behavior

that we were working in,” said

Geidel.

The Forest Service started the

wildland firefighter training pro-

gram at Blackwell in October of

2014.

As of October 2015, 18 stu-

dents have been certified as

Wildland Firefighters and 60 are

participants in the program,

working towards their certifica-

tion. In addition, nine students

have found volunteer or perma-

nent jobs as firefighters after

graduating from Blackwell.

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20150803174250&display=video

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20150618225955


JCCCC Fire Program Contacts (as of 8/16/2016)

Center Center Director JCCCC POC/JCFAFMO Forest FMO/POC Regional POC

Anaconda Region 1 Beaverhead N.F.

Ray Ryan 406-563-8712 - O

Wyatt Palin - JCFAFMO 406-563-8711 - O

Mike Goicoechea 406-683-3955 - O 406-369-3712 - C

Steve Zachry 406-329-3422 - O 406-552-2585 - C

Angell Region 6 Siuslaw N.F.

John Booker 541-547-5616 - O 541-519-1614 - C

Jothan McGaughey - JCFAFMO 304-704-9195 - C

Dan Eddy 541-750-7026 - O 541-207-2846 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Blackwell Region 9 Chequamegon-Nicolet N.F.

Richard Lassiter - CD 715-674-7649 - O Michael Schenk - DCD 715-674-7659 - O 715-889-4190 - C

Lee Jensen - JCFAFMO 715-674-7317 - O 715-401-3005 - C

Jim Grant 715-362-1341 - O 715-493-9137 - C

Beth Jablonski 414-297-3456 - O 262-385-8520 - C

Boxelder Region 2 Black Hills N.F.

Michael Deveraux 605-348-3636 Ext. 1142601 - O 605-786-3941 - C

Robert Cota - JCFAFMO 605-348-3636 ext 1142682 - O 605-639-1309 - C

Todd Pechota 605-673-9280 - O 605-673-1137 - C

Scott McDermid 303-275-5758 - O 970-799-1175 - C

Cass Region 8 Ozark St. Francis N.F.

Dan Crow 479-667-0301 - O 606-515-3104 - C

Dustin Jones 479-667-0910 - O 479-209-5753 - C

Mark Morales 479-964-7219 - O 479-964-5493 - C

Centennial Region 4 Boise N.F.

Michelle Woods 208-442-4520 - O 208-695-7368 - C

Mike Towers - JCFAFMO 208-373-4165 - O SO 208-442-4518 - O JC 541-848-8431 - C

Bobby Shindelar 208-373-4176 - O 208-994-8701 - C

Matt Nielsen 801-625-5403 - O 801-388-6901 - C

Collbran Region 2 GMUG N. F.

Gove Aker 970-487-2030 - O

Patrick Owens - JCFAFMO 970-487-2042 - O 970-644-1039 - C

Clay Fowler 970-874-6619 - O 970-712-4266 - C


Columbia Basin Region 6 Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F.

Karl Lester 509-793-1625 - O 509-989-6985 - C

Robert Kephart - JCFAFMO 509-664-9392 - O 541-279-3714 - C

Jason Heinz 509-664-9235 - O 509-670-7195 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Curlew Region 6 Colville N.F.

Eric Bracken 509-779-0645 - O 509-207-0677 - C

Travas Fandrey - JCFAFMO 509-779-0631 - O 509-207-9882 - C

Tim Sampson 509-684-7222 - O 509-690-2063 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Flatwoods Region 8 George Washington-Jefferson N.F.

David Scholes 276-395-8405 - O 276-395-4810 - C

Chris Barker 276-395-8418 - O

Kyle Smith 540-265-5205 - O Terry Adams 276-328-2931 - O

Fort Simcoe Region 6 Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F.

Bradley Hill 509-874-8901 - O 509-314-1088 - C

Robert Kephart - JCFAFMO 509-664-9392 - O 541-279-3714 - C

Jason Heinz 509-664-9235 - O 509-670-7195 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Frenchburg Region 8 Daniel Boone N.F.

Ira Young 606-768-7000 - O

Kevin Tomlinson - JCFAFMO Cordell Taylor 859-745-3192 - O 435-650-0159 - C EJ Bunzendahl 859-745-3148 - O 859-556-2347 - C

Golconda Region 9 Shawnee N.F.

Vacant 618-285-5210 - O 618-201-7736 - C

Stephen Beattie 618-285-5202 - O

Jon Teutrine 618-253-1032 - O 618-841-1533 - C


Great Onyx Region 8 Daniel Boone N.F.

Allen Vaughn 270-286-1006 - O 606-307-1732 - C

Jamie Tyson - JCFAFMO 606-354-4265 - O 859-912-1441 - C

Dennis Wilson 270-924-2070 - O

(Continued on page 19)


JCCCC Fire Program Contacts (as of 08/16/2016)

Center Center Director JCCCC POC/JCFAFMO Forest FMO/POC Regional POC

Harpers Ferry Region 9 Monongahela N.F.

Ralph DiBattista 304-724-3401 - O

Vacant - JCFAFMO 304-724-3459 - O

Keith Taylor 304-636-2144 Ext. 110 - O 304-704-9196 - C


Jacobs Creek Region 8 Cherokee N.F.

Terrance Phillips 423-217-6411 - O 423-366-6393 - C

Alice Barnette 423-217-6458 - O 865-243-6222 - C

Marty Bentley 423-476-9784 - O 428-716-2666 - C

LBJ Region 8 N.F. of N. Carolina

Arthur Phalo 828-524-1401 - O 828-342-7820 - C

Kent Gibson 828-524-1430 - O

Riva Duncan 828-257-4284 - O 828-778-2063 - C

Mingo Region 9 Mark Twain N.F.

Lawrence Ferrell (Acting) 573-222-2649 - O

Russell Harris - JCFAFMO 573-785-1475 - O 573-718-1709 - C

Jody Eberly 573-341-7493 - O

Oconaluftee Region 8 N.F. of N. Carolina

Jimmy Copeland 828-497-8021 - O

Dean Smith 828-497-8037 - O

Riva Duncan 828-257-4284 - O 828-778-2063 - C

Ouachita Region 8 Ouachita N.F.

Bob Fausti 501-321-3601 - O 501-545-6951 - C

Jeff Organ 501-321-3637 - O

Andy Dyer 501-321-5217 - O 501-574-8757 - C

Pine Knot Region 8 Daniel Boone N.F.

Brandon Pfeilmeier 606-354-4203 - O 609-224-9371 - C

Jamie Tyson - JCFAFMO 606-354-4265 - O 859-912-1441 - C

Cordell Taylor 859-745-3192 - O 435-650-0159 - C EJ Bunzendahl 859-745-3148 - O 859-556-2347 - C

Pine Ridge Region 2 Nebraska N.F.

Tammy Calamari 308-432-8698 - O

Dalynn Parks - JCFAFMO 308-432-0356 - O 308-430-4612 - C

Steve Ipswitch 308-432-0355 - O 605-890-6358 - C


Schenck Region 8 N. F. of N. Carolina

Tammy Wentland 828-862-6101 - O 801-710-5262 - C

Bill Coates - Acting Crew Supt 828-862-6191 - O 770-688-5721 - C

Riva Duncan 828-257-4284 - O 828-778-2063 - C

Anthony Conte 770-624-4608 - O 770-624-4608 - C

Timber Lake Region 6 Mt. Hood N. F.

Kurt Davis 503-834-3409 - O 503-936-9647 - C

Thomas Dillon 503-630-8726 - O

Debora Roy 503-668-1756 - O 503-970-8672 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Trapper Creek Region 1 Bitteroot N.F.

Chris Feutrier 406-821-2150 - O 406-317-3831 - C

Justin Abbey - JCFAFMO 406-821-2159 - O 406-531-1381 - C

Mark Wilson 406-375-2610 - O 406-360-1154 - C

Steve Zachry 406-329-3422 - O 406-552-2585 - C

Weber Basin Region 4 Unita-Wasatch-Cache N.F.

Donica Bigelow 801-476-5930 - O 801-391-2693 - C

Brandon Everett - JCFAFMO 801-479-9806 - O 801-643-4466 - C

James Turner 435-755-3627 - O 435-671-2871 - C

Matt Nielsen 801-625-5403 - O 801-388-6901 - C

Wolf Creek Region 6 Umpqua N.F.

Sherri Chambers 541-496-8501 O 541-580-1641 - C

Gabe Wishart 541-496-3507 Ext. 8623 - O

Dennis Darling 541-957-3305 - O 541-784-5454 - C

LuAnn Grover 503-808-2333 - O 503-313-2784 - C

Job Corps Fire Program Coordinator

Eric Bracken 605-673-9304 - O 970-712-4266 - C 605-673-9381 - F

Job Corps Fire Program Admin Assistant

Raquel Stanton 605-673-9358 - O 303-945-9754 - C 605-673-9381 - F

FAM Job Corps Fire Program Coordinator

Greg Sanders 202-205-1438 - O 540-529-3376 - C 202-205-1401 - F

FAM Workforce Program Specialist Michaela Hall 202-205-1558 - O 202-205-1401 - F


1964 — 2014

Conserving America’s

Natural Resources

for 50 Years

Job Corps is the nation’s largest

residential, educational, and

career technical training program

that prepares economically dis-

advantaged youth, ranging in age

from 16 to 24, for productive

employment. USDA Forest Service

operates 27 Job Corps Civilian

Conservation Centers (JCCCCs)

with a capacity to house, educate,

and train over 4,300 enrollees.

Students attend academic and

vocational classes and learn criti-

cal life skills in preparation for

long-term employment, careers in

natural resources, continued

education or military service. The

JCCCCs provide a unique oppor-

tunity for at-risk youth to take

control of and steer their lives in a

positive direction and contribute

to the conservation of the nation’s

public natural resources. JCCCCs

are associated with national for-

ests or grasslands and are operat-

ed by the United States Depart-

ment of Agriculture (USDA) Forest

Service in partnership with the

Department of Labor (DOL).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer. To file a complaint of discrimi-

nation, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudi-

cation, 1400 Independence Ave., SW,

Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call

(866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer

Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Feder-

al relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice

users).

Alicia D. Bennett

Public Affairs Officer/Editor

USDA Forest Service Job Corps

740 Simms Street

Golden, CO 80401

Phone: 303-275-5934

Fax: 303-275-5940

E-mail: [email protected]

Assistant Editors: Program and

Policy Analyst Joy Nasados

To subscribe to the Courier, send

your e-mail address to:

[email protected]

We’re On the Web:

http://fsweb.jc.wo.fs.fed.us/

forest service job corps courier

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