Firefighter (Basic Life Support)

Summary

This vacancy is for a GS-0081-5/6/7, Firefighter (Basic Life Support) located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, BASE KODIAK FIRE SAFETY DIVISION -FF in KODIAK, Alaska.

Duties

• You will serve as a Firefighter (Basic Life Support) and be responsible for the immediate response to fire alarms, and the control and extinguishment of fires as well as the maintenance and use of firefighting apparatus and equipment. Fights fires aboard ships, cutters, boats, aircraft, hangars, and buildings containing small compartments that aggravate the hazards and danger of the situation. The incumbent performs firefighting driver operator duties and performs predominately non-invasive emergency care in the assessment, treatment, and transportation of patients to higher level medical providers commonly in the form of a clinic or hospital. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Responding to fire alarms, and the control and extinguishment of fires aboard ships, cutters boats, aircraft, hangars, and buildings containing small compartments that aggravate the hazards and danger of the situation. Performing driver operator duties i.e. maintain and make minor repairs to areal, crash, and structural apparatus, assigned vehicles, and firefighting rescue equipment. Performing predominately non-invasive emergency care in the assessment and treatment and transportation of patients to higher level medical providers. Conducting annual housing fire prevention inspections, annual fire hydrant maintenance, including but not limited to painting (as necessary), flow test, and record data collection in accordance with department directives and standards. Utilizing specialized communication equipment to consult with physicians and/or hospitals of patient's condition. Mandatory training is required which must be successfully completed and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: This position requires a maximum entry age for an initial appointment; applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the date of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit, but who have previously serviced as a federal employee in a covered position, may be eligible to re-enter the firefighter/LEO service provided that they: (1) meet all applicable qualifications for the position and (2) will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered an creditable Federal fire/LEO service by the time the firefighter/LEO reached the age of 57. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Reasonable Accommodation Information PHYSICAL DEMANDS: During emergencies, the incumbent may be required to perform strenuous work under physically/mentally stressful conditions in a dangerous environment. He/she must be able to perform and function under conditions of heavy exertion while wearing protective clothing and breathing apparatus and be capable of carrying heavy loads. Incumbent shall meet the entrance and retention requirements of NFPA 1001 and NFPA 1500 and pass an annual physical exam in accordance with NFPA 1582. Incumbent is expected to actively participate in a department approved physical fitness/wellness program. The incumbent will obtain and maintain Alaska State Emergency Medical Certification. The incumbent will obtain and maintain a valid Alaska State vehicle operator's license.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-5 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Specialized experience must include the following: Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; Rescue operations; Detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; Operation of fire communications equipment; OR 4- year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university with major study in Fire Science, Fire Training, or other related fields of study. NOTE: Education can be substituted for experience at this grade level. Transcripts must be submitted with your application. To qualify at the GS-6 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience: Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; Rescue operations; Detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; Operation of fire communications equipment; Controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or Developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level. To qualify at the GS-7 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience: Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; Confined Space Rescue operations; Detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; Operation of fire communications equipment; Controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or Developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. Prepares appropriate and relevant patient care documentation and reports. NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level. Note: In addition to the requirements above, possession of the following qualifications and certifications are highly desired upon application. These qualifications/certifications must be obtained within one year of employment and maintained: EMT - Basic Life Support - EMT certification shall be in accordance with the State or National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians requirements. ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700 and IS-800 Certifications in the following areas shall be accredited through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or ProBoard. Firefighter I & II Airport Firefighter Driver Operator ARFF Driver Operator Pumper Driver Operator Aerial Fire Officer II Fire Instructor II Fire Inspector II National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Requirements

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume: Social Security Number (SSN) Date of Birth (DOB) Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position) Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Key Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov A one-year probationary period may be required. To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation. This position requires a Public Trust clearance. This is a Bargaining Unit position. Selectee must be able to obtain/maintain a valid state driver's license. Selectee subject to successful completion of pre-employment medical exam. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. This position requires the selectee to pass a pre-employment drug test. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail. Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected & prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. (see FOREIGN EDUCATION below). College Transcript: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Transcripts should be legible and detailed, showing course number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. To receive this credit, you must submit evidence of equivalency as provided by a credentialling evaluation service. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Student Loan: Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent or term position may be eligible for student loan repayment up to $10,000 (pre-tax) for one calendar year. More than one loan may be repaid if the combined repayments do not exceed $10,000. Receipt of this incentive will require a three-year service agreement.

How to apply

Only resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Font size should not be smaller than 10pts & margins no smaller than .5 inches. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. To begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a resume, any applicable assessments, and any applicable and/or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM EST on 09/14/2026. USA Hire Assessment - If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about 2 hrs to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, we will not be able to consider it as part of your application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov), 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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If claiming eligibility under the VOW Act: The VOW Act requires Federal agencies to treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligibles, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD214. In order to be considered under the VOW Act, the certification must specify that the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package for this job announcement. The certification must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by, or by direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders or higher headquarters. Agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment.