National Park Service Rangers

[leoiaf]

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/110370/cant-find-a-job-college-grad-national-park-service-is-hiring

There is at least one bright spot amid this otherwise wretched job market: The National Park Service is hiring!
In an ongoing program, the NPS aggressively recruited college students for summer internships as law enforcement park rangers, positions that could lead to full-time jobs.
More than half of the positions in the Northeastern U.S. could become vacant in the next five years, according to Chief Ranger Jill Hawk. She said that positions in urban parks, like the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia are difficult to maintain because they run counter to the "myth" of the wilderness ranger.
"The myth of the national park ranger is that they're at Yosemite, they're at the Everglades," she said. "What's not really well known is that there are park rangers in the inner city protecting the national heritage of the U.S."
This summer, the NPS offered its first ProRanger internships to students at Temple University in Philadelphia and at San Antonio College in Texas. The students spend their summers in 12-week programs that pay from $11 to $16 an hour. Eventually, this internship could lead to a full-time job paying up to $50,000 a year as one of the 1,500 armed law enforcement rangers in the national park system.
Hawk said there are 10 positions for law enforcement rangers currently open at Independence National Historical Park, compared to 25 openings in the entire Northeastern region. Positions at the more dramatic wilderness parks, like Glacier National Park in Montana and Olympic National Park in Washington, are far more competitive, she said.
"Urban parks are harder to recruit," said NPS spokeswoman Kathy Kupper. "Many of the people who grow up wanting to be a park ranger are thinking of the ranger on the horse in the back country."
She said the "main idea" behind the ProRanger recruitment drive is "the ability to reach a younger audience and people who maybe never thought of the park service before."
Hawk said the NPS is interested in students in criminal justice, anthropology, sociology and biology "who like the urban environment."
Many of the students spent their internships working at urban locations such as Independence Hall, where they'll learn to deal with urban law enforcement issues like pickpockets, rowdy drunks, and homeless people camping on the site.
"We want people to think broadly, particularly in this economy," said Rachel Brown, director of the Career Center at Temple University. "We get people to think of things that seemed counterintuitive, like park service and urban [environments.]"
Brown said that more than 75% of the graduating students from Temple remain in the Philadelphia area. Recruiting them into the National Park Service could help staff urban locations, but it could also "broaden their horizons" to work elsewhere in the country, she said.
Rangers often spend their first several years working at different parks throughout the country before they acquire enough experience to compete for a job at the more coveted places like Yosemite National Park in California or Acadia National Park in Maine.
Hawk said that recruiting from urban areas will also allow for a more mixed workforce, considering that more than 70% of the law enforcement rangers on the current force are Caucasian.
"You diversify your workplace," she said. "You make it the face of America."

[2971511]

And keep in mind, with the new NPS EMS Regs, a State EMT-B card may not be good enough, all parks are trying to gettheir people to be Nationally Registered, so if you can get it, DO. Some of the smaller parks may have exemptions because like NYS does not require it, so how are you going toget a sesonal GS-5 EMS person to go out and obtain the NR..... others may say State, and "able to obtain NREMT" within a certain time frame... Whatever the case goo luck keep us updated on how it goes.

[Squirrel]

Any additional information if you come across any would be appreciated.

Search really is your friend. I know I've written several very detailed posts on the NPS, hiring, seasonal vs. permanent, transferring within parks and to other agencies, etc., etc., etc., where I've addressed a lot, if not all of the questions you've asked. I'm more than willing to answer questions, but please, for the sake of me not typing my fingers off, see if it's already been answered.

I'll say this: Hiring is complex. Each park is its own individual hiring agency. When there is a vacancy, it can be filled either by internal candidates (laterals or merit promotion), or by external candidates (competitive). They choose whether to fly it is a GL-5, GL-5/7, GL-5/7/9, GL-7, GL-9, etc. Some announcements have selective screen-out factors. The big one is the Level 2 commission. Another big one is EMT, and probably the third most common is wildland firefighter "red card." Sometimes, they fly both merit promotion, and external announcements, but fill their needs from within the NPS and trash the external cert. Of course, when this happens, there's usually a vacancy that opens up somewhere else, to replace the person who transferred -- subject again to everything I mentioned above with regards to grade, qualifications, etc.

The northeast part of the US has a couple big "intake parks" -- that is, parks which are known for hiring lots of folks into entry-level GL-5/7 Ranger spots. The two big ones are Independence National Historical Park (Philly), and Boston NHP. They are urban parks. Rangers like to range, ergo, a lot of Rangers try to get out of the urban parks and go west as soon as possible. Not a lot of Rangers go from, say, Yellowstone, to an urban park. So, to fill their needs, INDE and BOST usually have competitive announcements.

So, to make a long answer short: Do they pick up perms often? It depends on too many factors to give you a clear yes or no. INDE and BOST hire more than most. When will they hire again? No idea.

[NYRESCUE]

LOKK IN USA JOBS, for seasonal LE, or PROTETCTION postions .......... we arent going to find the job for you....... there are a lot out there.. good luck

I'm aware of the listings..it was a general statement as to if the parks around here (Northern East Coast) pick up perms often, but thanks for all the replies fellas Any additional information if you come across any would be appreciated.

[2971511]

LOKK IN USA JOBS, for seasonal LE, or PROTETCTION postions .......... we arent going to find the job for you....... there are a lot out there.. good luck

[NYRESCUE]

DM9 is? Oh and of course I would not even consider it without sending myself through school first. How are the job opportunities on the east coast and can you transfer to other LE jobs from NPS?

[JadedUSPP]

At some point DM9 is going to be in effect for all NPS law enforcement.

[2971511]

UD4LIFE,, Yes, I personally know of at least a dozen or so USPP officers who transferred/lateralled to NPS Ranger jobs, One even went to be a BLM LE Ranger and she loves it.... Most of the officers that left were from the mid-west and wanted to return home to be closer to family.... Happens all the time and it is a win/lose for the NPS, we lose because we drop a seasoned officer, but as far as the rangers are concerned they gain a fully trained and certified LEO, and the individual park does not have to pay to send someone to FLETC..... and they get a USPP officer who has a lot of field exp. and some with a ton of LE Certs.

[Squirrel]

There is funding, and there are currently several permanent, open to the public 0025 Ranger announcements open on USAjobs. However, they almost always require a Level 2 commission. If a position doesn't, you can pretty much be sure it's going to go to a vet. Positions are extremely competitive.

That 99.9% is most certainly seasonal. It has happened that folks have landed term, and even permanent positions straight out of the seasonal academy. However, folks that get those spots usually bring something significant to the table: prior LE experience, prior land management experience, interp or general ranger experience, etc.

[NYRESCUE]

All great information fellas...of course I would love to stay in the NY, NJ and PA area but again beggers cannot certainly be choosers. Once you get Level one I am assuming you can transfer but then again once you get that far I would bet one would be lucky to even be fulltime anywhere. Are they hurting for positions right now? Is there funding to hire full timers? I did speak to the lady up in Hadley and she stated a 99.9% placement but of course i'm betting its seasonal.

[UD4LIFE]

Can USPP Officers lateral to NPS LE spots?

If so, is it common?

THE NPS has several different types of L.E. Commissions, a Level 1 is a full time, and all F/T LE rangers, USPP Officers, and NPS C.I.'s have this.. you can investigate any crime..

Seasonals usually get a Level 2 commission, you can do self initiated stuff, usually misdemeanors, but you can not be the lead investigator on ANY FELONY..

Your authority is obtained from Title 16 U.S.C. 1a-6 which is enumerated here: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/ht...1---a006-.html

Some seasonals do a lot of LE, others do not, it will depend on which park you go to, and what the Supt. wants.. remember the last thing they want is to have you involved in some high profile caase that requires you to return after the season ends.. which becomes a logistical nightmare.....

This site maintains a list of Seasonal Ranger training: http://www.anpr.org/academies.htm

[2971511]

THE NPS has several different types of L.E. Commissions, a Level 1 is a full time, and all F/T LE rangers, USPP Officers, and NPS C.I.'s have this.. you can investigate any crime..

Seasonals usually get a Level 2 commission, you can do self initiated stuff, usually misdemeanors, but you can not be the lead investigator on ANY FELONY..

Your authority is obtained from Title 16 U.S.C. 1a-6 which is enumerated here: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/ht...1---a006-.html

Some seasonals do a lot of LE, others do not, it will depend on which park you go to, and what the Supt. wants.. remember the last thing they want is to have you involved in some high profile caase that requires you to return after the season ends.. which becomes a logistical nightmare.....

This site maintains a list of Seasonal Ranger training: http://www.anpr.org/academies.htm

[Squirrel]

Also many seasonal rangers work full time, they will work April-oct. in a summer park like Yosemite then oct.-april in a winter park like Everglades..

Bear in mind also that the winter seasonal jobs are more scarce than the summer seasonals, so not every seasonal gets to do year-round work. If you're willing to do interp, maintenance, etc. in the winter, then your chances go up some, of course.

[2971511]

go to wwww.usajobs.opm.gov series search 0025 and you will see tons of seasonal spots,,,, or here http://www.nps.gov/personnel/ I too know of many seasonal LE Rangers who waited 9, 10, even 11 years to get perm. spots... if you really want to do this,, go to a seasonal academy, also remember that you will not pay into your retirement until you get a permanent position, nor will any of your seasonal time qualify towards your retirement,,, which is whay many people do not stick around.... A lot of returning seasonal are school teachers, college professors, etc.... Also many seasonal rangers work full time, they will work April-oct. in a summer park like Yosemite then oct.-april in a winter park like Everglades..


www.rangerfop.com is another good web site to get some insight into the job. Good Luck

[Squirrel]

There's a HUGE difference between seasonal and permanent.

Seasonal jobs are relatively easy to get into. You might have to go some place less desirable your first season, but once you get some experience, things open up.

Permanent jobs are different. You're competing with a LOT of well-qualified folks. I know people who have been seasonals for 7+ years, looking for a permanent job. The rule of thumb there is, beggars shouldn't be choosers. If you can afford to be picky, that's great. But most folks say, "I want to pay into retirement. I want year-round employment. I want health benefits," and will go to Philly, or St. Louis, or Boston, or the SW border, or wherever is hiring.

Sandy Hook is a big operation. Getting a seasonal gig there probably wouldn't be that hard, especially once you have a season or two of experience. Permanent is anyone's guess. Depends on when/if people leave, how they announce the position (5/7/9, or straight 9, status or competitive), etc.