g MISC. PUBLICATION 249, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Careers in the Forest Service 



The Forest Service is proud of its spirit of public service. In employ- 

 ing new personnel it seeks to obtain men and women who are not only 

 properly trained for the work but have high ideals and a strong desire 

 to serve the 'public. 



All permanent Forest Service professional and scientific positions are 

 in the classified civil service. These jobs require academic training at 

 least equivalent to graduation from a recognized college or university 

 offering a course of study in the professional or scientific field involved. 

 The U.S. Civil Service Commission gives several entrance examina- 

 tions through which the Forest Service recruits its professional and 

 scientific force. All qualified applicants receive consideration for ap- 

 pointment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, 

 or politics. 



Lines of Advancement 



Men who pass the junior professional examinations and receive ap- 

 pointments are first assigned to positions as assistant to District Rangers 

 on the National Forests or to subordinate lines of technical work in 

 research or in State and private forest cooperative work. They may 

 be assigned as technical assistants on the staff of the Forest Super- 

 visor. The beginner in the Service may thus supplement his academic 

 training by experience that should qualify him for advancement to the 

 position of District Ranger, or to comparable positions in research or 

 cooperative work. 



In the early days of the Forest Service the forest ranger did not 

 always have a background of technical training, nor did he carry the 

 responsibilities that a District Ranger now does. Such positions were 

 often filled by men who passed examinations based mainly on prac- 

 tical experience in woodsmanship. The situation has changed with 

 the times. 



The District Ranger is today an administrator of a large area and 

 a supervisor of all the activities within his district. The business he 

 conducts is often the largest of any in the community. Both technical 

 training and practical experience are required. Ranger jobs are now 

 filled through promotions, as are other key positions in the Service. 

 The length of time a technically trained man may spend in subordi- 

 nate positions before he becomes a District Ranger will vary both 

 with individual qualifications and with the opportunities offered. 



After appointment in the Forest Service, a forestry graduate should 

 expect to spend from 1 to 2 years as a junior forester. The first year 

 of service is the probationary period, an extension of the examining 

 process. Those who are not adapted to practical forestry work are 

 separated from the Service during this period. Those who are re- 

 tained beyond the 1-year period are ordinarily promoted to more 

 responsible positions such as Assistant District Ranger, where training 

 continues. From 3 to 10 years may elapse before the appointee is 

 promoted to a District Ranger position. 



One line of advancement may lead the young forester from an as- 

 sistant ranger position to District Ranger, then Assistant Forest Super- 

 visor, from which he may advance to a Supervisor's position. Addi- 

 tional promotions may eventually take him to the Regional Forester's 

 office or even higher. 



