Previous fire experience qualification

[FormallyUnnamed]

I understand this may be an easy enough thing to quantify for someone with several years of specific wildland fire experience but I was wondering if there is some formula for determining if I qualify.

My experience:
4+ years as a structual firefighter in suburban/rural area with numerous brush and woods fires

3 seasons of qualification as an on-call (I believe the standard title would be AD) FFT2 for a type 2 IA crew - my only deployment was to Arizona/New Mexico for the Wallow fire June 2011.

If its relevant to determining if I qualify, my goal is to obtain a seasonal position with an IHC for the 2013 season.

[caffpm]

There are lots of "sticky" threads in the general discussion area about getting hired. Check there. If you don't already have it, start knocking out the classes listed in the 310 guide for FFT2 (Pg72) Your hiring agency will provide most of the training but if you want to set yourself apart, get the classes ahead of time or add something to the mix. EMT for example. Hiring usually starts around January so you have time if you get moving now.

310-1 72 November 2011
Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2)
(Position Category: Wildland Fire)
REQUIRED TRAINING
Basic Firefighter Training:
Introduction to ICS (I-100)
Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service (L-180)
Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190)
Firefighter Training
S-130)
Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130)*
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
None
PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL
Arduous
THESE POSITIONS MAINTAIN CURRENCY FOR FFT2
Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
Incident Commander Type 4 (ICT4)
Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5)
Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS)
Structure Protection Specialist (STPS)
Task Force Leader (TFLD)
Any Strike Team Leader (STCR, STEN, STEQ)
Any Single Resource Boss (CRWB, FIRB, ENGB, FELB, HMGB, HEQB)
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1)
Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1)
Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO)
Helicopter Crewmember (HECM)
FFT2 MAINTAINS CURRENCY FOR THESE POSITIONS
None
OTHER TRAINING WHICH SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
None
*Note: Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) is not required for the first year as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2); however, it is required for subsequent years.
Note: For the Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) position, satisfactory completion of the required training meets the position qualification requirements.

[FormallyUnnamed]

I have read through every thread I got a hit on for relevance to hiring and I must say these forums are an invaluable resource to anyone in the wildland fire community particularly those of who want to succeed and have great mentors like yourselves.

In regards to your suggestions about becoming red card certified as a FFT2, I acquire my initial certification in 2008 and have been re certified for the 2009, 2011, and 2012 (I missed the annual refresher training in 2010 and didn't have the means or opportunity to make it up). I have also been working to obtain as many of the lower level suppression classes that I can. So far I have only added S-212 but am looking to complete S-211, S-290, and S-270 before next season.

I have also read through the 310 guide but unfortunately like many government documents it makes me curious to learn more but has not answered my question about quantifying "previous fire experience".

My hope is that someone who has done hiring can tell me the criteria for an applicant to qualify for "previous fire experience".

[hotshot]

If you passed our fitness test and interviewed well, I would hire you as having prior experience.

You meet the requirements as having prior experience for me, however some federal agencies require 3 months of experience to count as one season.

One other thing, make sure you have your hands on all your training certificates.

[firefish]

My hope is that someone who has done hiring can tell me the criteria for an applicant to qualify for "previous fire experience".

OK, from my perspective, you may qualify as an experienced FF, but it is going to require you to do some foot work. My exposure to recent IHC crew hiring shows that much of it is generated through the JAC program requirements of the employees on the forest that sponsors the shot crew. But that does not and has not eliminated non-JAC employees from being on or getting on the crews. If you really want to get there without at least one season in another firefighting capacity, you are gonna have to politic, get face time, etc... to meet potential supervisors and prove you have the desire to do this. Just sending a resume probably will not cut it. Determine which crews you are interested in, find out the crew information, like who the Sup is, who the squad bosses are, etc... Send them interest letters and let them know your goal and that you would like to meet with them to express and explain your situation and background. Do this on a casual basis first to see if there is even room and a chance to get on that crew. If they are open, then let them know you would like to make a formal interview and do it right. If they can't help you, you can then concentrate where they do have spaces you may fill in. This is the best I can do without saying the obvious- Apply to be a firefighter on an engine and then, impress the heck out of your immediate supervisor and let him know what you are after. I have seen this approach work if you are truly worthy of the position. It can be done in one season. Good luck!