Although qualities such as work ethic, intelligence, initiative, responsibility, honesty and integrity can out-weigh previous experience. We also need people with special skills including chainsaw operation, EMT's and commercial drivers. We typically get several hundred applications per year from throughout the country. Recommendations from previous employers are very important to our selection process. Making personal contact with us is also important.
Persistence is key, and sometimes it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
Applications generally become available in late December or early January. We start our selection process in February, and prefer to have our selections made by the first of March. Training Training includes 80 hours of training before leaving on the first assignment. Training requirements are identified in the Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide, and include 24 hours of nationally required critical training, and 40 additional hours of Region 6 required training. Along with all the class room and field training we fit in one hour of PT in the mornings, a six mile timed run and various required PT tests throughout the two weeks.