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Air Education and Training Command

LEAD FIREFIGHTER

Department of the Air Force · Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Salary
$56,703 - $73,711 per year
Pay grade
GS-8
Schedule
Full-time
Appointment
Permanent
Opened
Oct 29, 2026
Closes
Nov 5, 2026
Remote
No
Telework eligible
No
Openings
Few
Security clearance
Not Required
Promotion potential
None
Announcement
9P-AFPC-13104876-447987-AD

Who may apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) · Competitive service · Excepted service · Land and base management · Military spouses · Veterans

Apply on USAJOBS

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Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. To serve as a Lead Firefighter responsible for a major piece of firefighting equipment and its regularly assigned crew of three or more firefighters engaged in structural firefighting and rescue operations and the reduction and/or elimination of potential fire hazards.

Duties

  • 1. Leads a crew of three or more firefighters, including at least one firefighter (GS-07 or military equivalent) assigned to man a major piece of motorized firefighting equipment such as a pumper or aerial ladder truck in firefighting and rescue operations. 2. Directs firefighting crew in the operation of firefighting vehicles and equipment. 3. Directs assigned crew in the performance of structural firefighting duties for a variety of facilities which may include research and/or large industrial complexes, and the performance of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) technician containment and control and/or Basic Life Support duties. 4. Leads assigned crew and performs emergency rescue and immediate first aid measures to alleviate further injury and prepare the victim(s) for transport to a medical facility. 5. Assigns crew members to perform maintenance of firefighting equipment and fire station facilities. 6. Complies with health, safety, and environmental rules and procedures and performs work in a manner that enhances the safety of the work environment.

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment continued The work may require the incumbent to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance. This position is designated as a key position IAW AFI 36-507. Duties of this position are essential to the accomplishment of wartime/contingency operations. Incumbents of key positions must be removed from their military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency are not available. This is a Mission Essential (ME) position performing a Mission Critical Function (MCF) which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions. IAW, DoDI 3020-42, Defense Continuity Programs. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, to include the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-0081, Fire Protection and Prevention Series. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents; and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. Note: Your resume must show supporting detail in describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-08 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. Special Retirement Provisions Authority: FERS Position covered as rigorous under the FERS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 U.S.C. 8401(14), 5 U.S.C. 8412(d), and 5 CFR 842.802]. OR Position covered as rigorous under the CSRS special retirement provisions for Federal firefighters [5 U.S.C. 8331(21), 5 U.S.C. 8336(c), and 5 CFR 831.902]. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: Title 5 U.S.C. 3307 authorizes the head of any agency to establish a maximum entry age for the original appointment of individuals to the position of primary and rigorous firefighter. For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by date of appointment. This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian firefighting position covered by title 5 U.S.C. section 3307 provisions OR to qualified veteran preference eligibles who may be eligible for waivers in accordance with section 3 of DoDI 1400.25-V336. NOTE: Applicants who are past the maximum entry age, are re-entering into a primary/rigorous position and have previous special retirement coverage service - may be eligible to be rehired or reinstated to a primary/rigorous covered position without requiring a maximum entry age waiver if he/she will be able to complete 20 years of covered service by age 57. Effective 1 Jun 00, all DoD firefighters and contract fire and emergency service personnel must be certified at the next higher level before being eligible for promotion to that level. Applicants must list their current firefighter related licenses and certificates on their resumes. Please attach copies…

Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, 5:32 AM EST.