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



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A Forest Service staff man acting as fire boss gives instructions on control of a 

 distant flareup by radio. With him is an Apache fire crew chief flown from New 

 Mexico to help fight the large fire in Idaho. 



shifting about, he may be unable for some time to establish a home. 

 But if he is an able man. he may ultimately advance to a position 

 that will give him more permanent headquarters and greater oppor- 

 tunity for home life. He must always be ready, however, for a change 

 of assignment which may require him to move to a new place. Or- 

 dinarily, his home will be in a small town or its vicinity. 



Even in the higher positions, whether in Government or private 

 work, the forester may have to spend a great deal of time supervising 

 or inspecting field operations. Trips away from his headquarters may 

 be for only a day or so, or may be for several weeks. Such travel 

 may include long, hard journeys by horse and pack train, especially 

 in the West, where most of the largest stands of timber are. Often 

 it means rough walking, and sometimes days of slow and laborious 

 progress by snowshoe and canoe. Even with the greatest possible ex- 

 tension of good roads, much of the forester's travel for many years to 

 come will necessarily be arduous. 



Administrative and executive ability are necessary for many posi- 

 tions. The forester's work in such positions is concerned either directly 

 or indirectly with the practical business administration of forest prop- 

 erty. When he has advanced beyond an assistantship, he has charge 

 of men and consequently must possess the ability to lead and direct. 

 However, his advancement beyond an assistantship will depend, as in 

 other professions, on whether he is capable of more than just carrying 

 out plans others have made. 



In the strictly research field the forester may not have large admin- 

 istrative responsibilities, but the results of his research are basic to 



