Honoring the fallen

Forest Service commemorates 70th anniversary of pioneer smokejumper’s ultimate sacrifice
On Aug. 6, the Forest Service will commemorate the 70th anniversary of PFC Malvin L. Brown’s passing. Brown, one of the "Triple Nickles" of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, served as the one of the first African-American smokejumpers during WWII. He died on Aug. 6, 1945, during a fire jump near Roseburg, Oregon. His death is the first recorded smokejumper fatality. Chief Tidwell will officiate at a ceremony at Brown’s gravesite in Mt. Calvary Cemetery near Baltimore beginning at 10 a.m.

His story can be found here:

http://www.triplenickle.com/malvinbrown.htm

GS-8 Temporary Upgrade

We will be filling a 60-90 day temporary upgrade at the GS-8 level to fill in behind Court Wallace. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to apply. Please submit a 1 page resume (no longer) that includes your relevant experience including your fireline red card qualifications. Deadline for applying is Tuesday, August 4 2015 and these resumes may also be used later in the fall to fill other potential vacancies. Submit resumes electronically to decottell@fs.fed.us, tkendrick@fs.fed.us, or lfleming@fs.fed.us, or place a hard copy in the folder on Tory's desk. 

WEX Fleet Card Pin (What you use to buy gas in a Gov Rig) training.

Your 6 digit gas card pin might have been disabled. To fix that, do this:

ON A FOREST SERVICE NETWORK :

Direct your users to use the link provided below (using their 6-digit PIN) to complete the USDA Fleet Card User Certification Training.

All users, full time and temporary, need to complete this training in order for their cards to be reactivated.

https://www.wcts.usda.gov/FleetCard

75th Smokejumper Reunion - NPR Interview

To listen to this mornings interview with, Jim Phillips, one of the organizers of the 75th Smokejumper Reunion, go to:

http://mtpr.org/post/smokejumpers-descend-missoula-celebrate-their-75th-anniversary

Smokejumpers before a jump in 1968. Jim Phillips is first from the left.

75th Smokejumper Reunion - Proficiency Jump

On Saturday, July 18th at 1030, the Region 1 Smokejumpers will conduct a proficiency jump to maintain operational currency for parachute manipulation.

Please join us in observance of this time honored tradition.

Limited parking is available close to the jump spot. Other parking is available a short walk away.

75th Smokejumper Reunion - Jump Records

To view Forest Service Region 1 jump records from 1940 to 2005, please go to:

http://goo.gl/5ZzqLA

75th Smokejumper Reunion - Information

To all friends, family, and smokejumpers past and present,

Please join the National Smokejumper Association and jumpers young and "oldish" to celebrate 75 years of smokejumping on the University of Montana Campus and locations around Missoula on

Friday, July 17th to Sunday, July 19th.

For a complete schedule of events go to:

https://smj2015reunion.wordpress.com/schedule-of-events/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ram Air Transition Letter Signed

On July 1st, Forest Service Director of Fire and Aviation, Tom Harbour signed the long awaited Ram Air Decision Memorandum.

"The U.S. Forest Service will begin a measured transition to a ram-air parachute delivery system at smokejumper bases, to replace round FS-14 parachutes currently in use. A change management and implementation plan will be developed to start transition at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2016. There will be continual assessment and management the associated risks of this transition."


























For more information on the decision and upcoming transition visit:

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/smokejumpers/index.html

Follow links under In The Spotlight on the right hand column.

New AC Units in the Loft!

The mounts have been returned to the Loft walls and the new Air Conditioning units are installed!