Plan ahead to get your times in

The last day of the pay period is December 28th. Be sure to submit your times before New Years Eve, especially if you are planning on taking the time between christmas and New Years off.

Just in time for holiday travel

From the international program: It is now USDA policy that all USDA/FS employees with a Security Clearance must report ANY international travel you are planning on doing, REGARDLESS if it for personal or official reasons. To be clear, All Personal and Official international travel must now be reported to USDA Security 14 days before your trip. The reporting form can be downloaded here

New Spotters Named

Louis Fleming, Jesse Myers and Court Wallace have been offered and accepted GS 8 squadleader positions with the Missoula Smokejumpers. Their leadership and experience is greatly appreciated and they are an asset to our organization. Please join me in congratulating these three. They were selected from a very competitive hiring pool. Thanks to all that applied.

Security Clearance Training now in agLearn

Anyone who has a clearance through USDA should check their aglearn profile. There is a "2013 annual collateral security refresher briefing required for all individuals who have been approved eligible for access to classified national security information" that needs to be completed by the end of January.

International Program Posistions

An outreach notice has been sent to FS email for 7/9/11 positions with the International Program. Those who would like more information, especially those of you who can't access your FS outlook right now, please contact Sarah at saltemus@usaid.gov

Remembering Mike Kelly

Michael Patrick Kelly Jr (MYL '12), was a squad boss on the Tahoe Hotshots, and a smokejumper detailer for the past 2 seasons with McCall and West Yellowstone. Tragically, Mike was killed in a vehicle pedestrian accident, in the early morning hours of November 17th.

He began his career on the Inyo National Forest in California, the summer of 2002. During his time on the Inyo he worked for the Mammoth Fire Use Module, Engine 22 out of Mammoth Lakes, and Helicopter 525 out of Lone Pine. He then made the move to the Tahoe Hotshots, where he has been since 2007. Mike will be remembered by all he met as someone who lived life to the fullest, he was a great firefighter and a great friend.

 A "Celebration of Life" for Mike Jr. will be Tuesday, Dec. 10th, 2:00 PM, at Foothills Christian Church, located at 9655 West State St., Boise, Idaho 83714 PH. # (208) 853-0011. Anyone wishing to send flowers, can send them either the 9th or 10th at that address. Mike's Obituary will follow in the Idaho Statesman, probably Friday or so.

Off-tour time sheets

If you are using the base code for off-tour work, be sure to put in remarks explaining what you are doing on your timesheet.

Benefits

Open season for changes to your benefits for 2014 ends on December 9th. There are brochures for the assorted plans avalable in the breakroom.