SACRAMENTO — U.S. military veterans interested in forestry work can join new California Conservation Corps (CCC) veterans crews based in Northern California.
Members of the residential crews will live and work from CCC centers in Auburn and South Lake Tahoe and receive paid training from the U.S. Forest Service in wildland firefighting and chain saw use.
The crews will work on fuel reduction and other forestry-related projects. Some work may require 10-day camping/work stints away from the veterans” base center.
To qualify, veterans must be between the ages of 18 and 25, have an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions and not be on probation or parole. Those interested in applying for the program need to contact the CCC by April 2.
Those who complete the CCC”s veterans program may be eligible for the USFS Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program that can ultimately lead to full-time positions with the Forest Service.
Veterans selected for the crew will receive a living stipend, room and board and basic health insurance. Uniforms, safety gear and tools are provided.
For details on the program and information on joining the San Bernardino crew, contact the CCC”s Tina Ratcliff at 916-341-3123 or tina.ratcliff@ccc.ca.gov.
The California Conservation Corps is a state agency hiring young men and women for a year of natural resource work and emergency response. Since the CCC was established in 1976, more than 115,000 young people have been a part of the program.
