Announcement #'s, Physicals, Projects, and Such...

New Announcement #'s are being re-issued for GS 5 to GS 9 positions. If you are interested in applying, you must go into Avue and update the announcement # for the position you are interested. Click here for new announcement #'s.

Here are the refresher dates again:

Overhead refresher March 29- April 2
Early refresher April 5-16
Late refresher May 25 - June 4

The yearly Jumper News Letter is here, please plan for the refresher you wish to attend. Also Timo is compiling data for R-8 details and other winter work. Please stay tuned for the posting of this information and what work remains available.

Ahoy!

To access Paycheck 8 and GovTrip while away go to:
https://connecthrauth.gdcii.com//

When entering time, please do the following:

• submit
• print
• sign

Have your supervisor review your time prior to submitting. Once you have gotten the "ok" both you and your supervisor must sign your time sheet then you are good to submit.

If you are away on a detail do the above and have the FMO or whoever you are working for sign time and don't forget to attach any CTRs or red dogs.

Fax to smokejumper ops, bring originals back with you to file with Admin office. Thanks.

Refreshers dates to plan for:

Overhead refresher March 29- April 2
Early refresher April 5-16
Late refresher May 25 - June 4

Also,

The 2010 computer Security Awareness Training is out on AgLearn. This is mandatory training that must be completed in order to maintain computer privileges. You can reach Aglearn through the e-auth link. Print out completion certificate and give to Diane in Admin. Don't forget to make a copy for yourself, it's a keeper!

The National Interagency Fire Center is compiling a list of people interested in the 2010 Australia fire season.

Attached are 2 forms (Expression of Interest Letter and Expression of Interest Form) that need to be filled out and submitted by November 20,2009. Please note that at this time they are only looking at certain quals (see form).
If you do not have one or more of identified positions, do not apply.

By submitting your "Expression of Interest" form you are committing yourself to be available for international deployment for 2010.

Please read attachments for further information. Also, check with your supervisor on your availability for an assignment should you apply and be dispatched.

Send forms to:

NWCG_International_Deployments@nifc.blm.gov

Retirement and End of the Year Meeting

End of the Year Meeting: Oct. 9, 2009 (a change from Oct. 7, 2009) in the Pintler Room, 8am, be there or be square.

Recently there was a tutorial session on retirement held at the AFD, please peruse the information. Below is Donna's response to some of the questions that were asked during the session. She has also graciously left her contact information at the bottom of this page.


Here is the link to the ASC-HCM, Benefits & Retirement, Law Enforcement/Firefighter site so folks can dig around and find interesting and new information that may or may not answer all the questions! This link takes folks directly to FF/LE information but if you back it out to "benefits" on the link (delete the "/le_ff.php"), you can see more information on other benefit programs that are not specific to FF/LE (i.e. Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Military Svc, Life Events, Retirement, Unemployment and the Latest News on Benefits/Retirement from HCM). Here is a link to OPM's life insurence plan.

Also, the question came up about LWOP and how it works, so I've included the information on this issue from the ASC-HCM website for reference. Basically, 1) LWOP is cumulative in a calendar year even if not used at the same time, 2) your SCD date is not affected if you use 6 months or less cumulative LWOP in a calendar year 3) the SCD is affected one for one for every day in excess of 6 months LWOP used in a calendar year and 4) there is no deposit required for this LWOP service credit. This does not apply to LWOP used for military or peace corps and under OWCP purposes....those rules are different but I didn't include them as it didn't come up in the discussion.
More Leave Without Pay Information from ASC-HCM:
"Creditable Service for Retirement If you take a total of 6 months or less of LWOP in a calendar year, the time is creditable for retirement eligibility
and computation. It doesn't matter when during the year the leave is taken. The total amount taken in the year is added together. If you take more than 6 months of LWOP, the LWOP taken beyond 6 months is not creditable for retirement. You do not have to pay anything into the retirement fund in order to receive this credit -- it is free credit (UNLESS you are on leave for military service or Peace Corps volunteer).
All LWOP taken while in receipt of OWCP is creditable if you return to work as an employee (not a re-employed annuitant)."

Hope this helps folks with some of the questions.......I've still got a couple more that I need to do some research on and will get those answers out to you ASAP. Thanks again for the great discussion and as always, feel free to contact me with any questions or problems! Have a great weekend! ~donna

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donna Haywood Address: MTDC
R1-Fire, Aviation & Air Attn: Donna-FF/LEI
5785 W. Broadway
Missoula, MT 59808

work phone: 329-3985
email: dlhaywood@fs.fed.us