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A tew National Forest headquarters are located in large cities— 
Los Angeles and Seattle, for example. Some are in smaller 
cities and towns. However, the great majority of the units are 
headquartered in small cities of 10 to 20 thousand population. 
These are sufficiently large so that adequate and suitable housing, 
schools, churches, stores, shops, and other necessary facilities 
are available, and sufficiently small so as to avoid the trials of 
a big-city commuter. Travel to and from work is brief. 
Men with families are not placed where facilities for family life 
are inadequate. In some locations the Forest Service builds 
residences for its people. In all cases it makes every effort to 
see that satisfactory living conditions are to be had where a 
family is located. The employee is aided in finding a home. 
The Forest Service domain might by inference be thought of as a 
man’s world, but in fact circumstances are favorable for family 
living. Forest Service men are family men. Like most engineers, 
the Forest Service Engineer must expect to do some traveling, and 
to spend some time away from home. The work is largely out- 
door and some of it may be performed at distances which prevent 
returning home every evening. 
Forest Service people are transferred at intervals, not for the 
convenience of the agency, but to develop them—to broaden 
their experience and help prepare them for greater responsi- 
bilities. Promotion frequently accompanies transfer. The Forest 
Service pays all the relocation costs for moving of the family and 
household goods. Funds can be advanced before the move is 
made. 
Forest Service employment is especially attractive to those who 
like outdoor activities. After the fifth 8-hour day of each week 
they normally have ready access to the finest in outdoor sports. 
For urban tastes community social activities are available. 
In any job a little of the bitter sometimes must be taken with the 
sweet. Certainly the suppression of a forest fire may entail long 
hours and hard, unpleasant work under trying circumstances. 
Emergency action in natural disasters or assisting in a search for 
lost people, as occasionally happens, may involve some un- 
pleasant features. All in all, though, the work of a Forest 
Service Engineer and the life of his family are healthy, happy, 
and stimulating. Their associates are congenial people. 
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