FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CREWS, STAFF AND COMMUNITIES, PROJECTS MAY BE POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19.  THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW IS AN OUTLINE OF HOW OUR PROGRAM HAS TYPICALLY BEEN OPERATING, HOWEVER IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. AS THIS SITUATION DEVELOPS, AND DECISIONS ARE MADE, WE WILL PROVIDE UPDATES. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WE WILL KEEP CONSISTENT AND DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ALL APPLICANTS. 

POSITION DATES: September 14, 2020  -  December 18, 2020

STATUS:                 450-Hour National Service Term, Military Veterans only

LOCATION:             Las Cruces, NM

COMPENSATION: $400 weekly living stipend,

BENEFITS: Employee Assistance Program, food budget while on project, up to $150 fire boot reimbursement and Segal Education Award upon successful completion of term.

CORPS NEW MEXICO (CCNM) seeks qualified candidates for VETERAN FIRE CORPS CREW MEMBER positions based out of LAS CRUCES, NM. CCNM offers opportunities for individuals to work in a crew environment on national lands throughout the southwestern United States and elsewhere.

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across New Mexico that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. 

CCNM and Conservation Legacy are proud to be part of the continuing operation of the Veterans Fire Corps program. The VFC aims to train recent era military veterans for careers in conservation, fuels management, and wildland fire-fighting. VFC programs accomplish this goal by immersing participants in a conservation crew experience.

TRAINING

Over the course of a typical 3-6 month season corpsmembers receive training in wildland firefighting, chainsaw operation, and a variety of other topics. Crews work as a fire-fuels conservation crew, performing a variety of forestry and conservation work partnered with Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and various other public landholders throughout the southwest. At the conclusion of the program, members are aided in seeking employment with federal wildland firefighting jobs.

 *NOW OFFERING ORIENTATION ONLINE AND REMOTELY. A CLEAN AND SOCIALLY DISTANT SPACE AT THE OFFICE WITH A COMPUTER IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. 

EXPECTATIONS:  

CCNM is a drug-free organization; alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited. CCNM is an independent, non-residential program. The crew member must supply his/her own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, fire rated work boots (CCNM will provide a portion of reimbursement, with receipts), etc. CCNM will provide the tools, protective gear and transportation to projects. 

SCHEDULE:  

In response to COVID-19, we have adjusted our typical schedule to keep health and safety as our top priority. Currently, the typical schedule is 8-hour days: 10 days on followed by four days off, or five days on followed by two days off. Depending on proximity to the work site, crews either return to town each day, or camp at the project site (we refer to this as a “hitch”) for its duration. The day starts with a stretch circle and safety meeting, includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half hour break for lunch. 

COMPENSATION:  

Crew members are paid an AmeriCorps living stipend of $400/week before taxes. Upon completion of the term the crew member will receive an education award for a 450 hour term of service. The education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions, including many technical schools and G.I. Bill approved programs, or to repay qualified students loans. 

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Military Veteran
• Be between the ages of 21 and 35
• Have US citizenship, or Legal Permanent Residency status
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Pass background checks: all offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal history check
• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: 

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position. 

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR: 

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences. 
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason. 
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training and national service.  Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable. 
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues and organization staff. 
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements 
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds. 
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard. 
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions 
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.  
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: 

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
• Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate)
• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries. 
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

SUBSTANCE FREE: 

In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Required Skills Required Experience