Firefighter; Life Support

Summary

This position is located in the Fire Department at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center. Its purpose is to provide fire suppression, protection, inspection, and emergency medical services to VA Medical Center facilities in Chillicothe, OH.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 01/20/2026. Time‑in‑grade requirement:
Applicants who are current federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time‑in‑grade requirements by the closing date. For a GS‑07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑06. The grade may have been in any occupation – but must have been held in the federal service.

An SF‑50 that shows your time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF‑50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one‑year time‑in‑grade as required by the announcement. In this instance you must provide an additional SF‑50 that clearly demonstrates one‑year time‑in‑grade.

Note:

Time‑in‑grade requirements also apply to former federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
Specialized Experience
:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade;

(2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. In addition to the experience above you must meet the following requirements to qualify for this position:
Maximum Age Requirement (Screen Out):
This position requires a maximum entry age for an initial appointment; applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the date of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit – but who have previously served as a federal employee in a covered position – may be eligible to re‑enter the fire service provided that they: (1) meet all applicable qualifications for the position and (2) will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable federal firefighter service by the time the firefighter reaches the age of 57.

Prior service in covered positions and creditable toward retirement may be subtracted from the applicant's age to determine if the federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age.
Requirements for motor vehicle operation – driver’s license (Screen Out):
Applicants must possess and maintain a current and valid state motor vehicle operator’s license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test in the Class A triple‑combination pumper and be capable of operating all firefighting equipment including that on board the fire truck. Applicant also may be required to provide information on their driving record.

Applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability – before appointment – to operate specific equipment to which they will be assigned – or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.

NOTE:

We cannot accept photographs – therefore, please do not submit a copy of your driver’s license with your application package. If an interview is requested – you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state‑issued driver’s license.
Certification – (Screen Out):
The Firefighter/EMT must have attended and successfully completed a state of Ohio or nationally registered certification class for EMT‑Basic and must maintain such certification to meet requirements of this position at this level.…