This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/833317900. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Help
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Volunteer Force (VF) enables current federal civilian employees to respond to Homeland Security domestic incidents and national security events through reimbursable details. Detailees deploy in non-law enforcement, generalist capacities for a minimum 45-60 days. Travel, lodging, and per diem will be provided by the receiving agency. The detail is not a promotion opportunity.
If you have deployed or registered for the VF previously, do not reapply.
Help
Overview
- Accepting applications
-
Open & closing dates
03/06/2025 to 09/19/2025
-
Salary
$25,684 - $191,900 per year
Detailees will be compensated at their current rate of pay and with their current locality. Grade and step are not affected.
-
Pay scale & grade
GS 00
-
Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
-
Location Negotiable After Selection
-
-
Remote job
No
-
Telework eligible
No
-
Travel Required
76% or greater - Deployments are for a minimum of 45 to 60 days but may be extended to up to 120 days.
-
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
-
Appointment type
Detail - Response to Homeland Security domestic incidents and national security events.
-
Work schedule
Full-time - Detail (on location only - this is not a remote detail).
-
Service
Competitive
-
Promotion potential
None
-
Job family (Series)
-
Supervisory status
No
-
Security clearance
-
Drug test
No
-
Position sensitivity and risk
-
Trust determination process
-
Financial disclosure
-
Bargaining unit status
-
Announcement number
VOLUNTEERFORCE-Feb2025
-
Control number
833317900
Help
This job is open to
-
Federal employees - Competitive service
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
-
Federal employees - Excepted service
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Clarification from the agency
Current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade. Applications will be reviewed and submitted to FEMA as they are received. The closing date will be extended as necessary to meet the volunteer staffing need.
Help
Duties
Volunteer Force (all grade levels will be considered). Duties are dependent on mission requirements. Responsibilities may include:
- Logistical Support:
- Personal Property Management: tagging, bagging, sealing, storing, and retrieval.
- Meal Prep: distributing food and water.
- Supply Distribution: handing out clothes, blankets, personal care items, etc.
- Basic Housekeeping (as needed): picking up trash, sweeping, and cleaning refrigerators.
- Warehouse operations: receiving stock, organizing, sorting, and labeling supply items; packing, relocating, and distributing supplies to station/site.
- Administrative support:
- Data Entry: enter and maintain data elements into relevant information systems.
- Scanning, printing, tracking, mailing, and filing documents.
- Assist in Control Room: monitoring and operating access doors, answering phones.
Please see the information below on how to apply to the Volunteer Force.
Help
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. citizenship required.
- Current federal employees who have served with their current agency for more than 90 days and are no longer in a probationary period.
- Employees in a good performance standing and have no current or pending disciplinary actions.
- Possess an HSPD-12 compliant identification badge (e.g., PIV, Military ID)
- Have a government issued travel card (preferred).
- Supervisory approval; completion of the Supervisory Deployment Authorization form.
- May be subject to workplace safety protocols.
Qualifications
On-the-job training will be provided.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Work Hours: Detailees may be required to work evenings and/or weekends. Extensive overtime may be required. Appropriate premium pay rates will be used in accordance with federal pay regulations.
Deployment and Duration of Detail: Deployments are for a minimum of 45 to 60 days but may be extended to up to 120 days. You may be asked to deploy within 4 days of receiving all approvals.
Location: Areas within the continental United States. Locations will extend to other geographic areas according to the need. Conditions at some locations could be austere. Deployment locations are based on need and are not negotiable.
Salary Expenses: The receiving agency will reimburse home component/agencies for all base pay, overtime, and premium pay incurred by employees while serving on an interagency detail.
Travel Expenses: All detail-related travel expenses will be paid for by the receiving agency via invitational travel orders. Travel will be paid in accordance with applicable government travel regulations. In most circumstances, detailees will need to have a federal government travel card.
Compensation: Detailees would continue to be paid at their current rate of pay and with their current locality. Grade and step would not be affected.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Volunteer Force will consider all current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade who have approval from their supervisor and agency and meet the conditions of employment above.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
Please provide a complete online Application Package, which includes:
- Required Volunteer Force Documents:
- Completed Supervisory Deployment Authorization Form: Formal supervisory approval is required for the detail. The Authorization Form is required to provide the necessary approval. To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Completed Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Form - Participation may require contact with aliens in the performance of your duties. As such, you are required to complete this form in accordance with 6 CFR Part 115.117 (a). To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application
- Completed Section B of the Background Investigation Requirements Determination (BIRD) Form 78 - Participants will be required to have a current background investigation with their Agency that meets the requirements of the position for which they are volunteering. DHS will conduct updated vetting checks as a part of participation in this effort to ensure compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. DHS may share the results of the vetting checks with the volunteer's home Agency when the results may impact employment eligibility. To download the form, please visit: DHS Volunteer Force Documentation | Homeland Security. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Standard Form (SF)-50, Notification of Personnel Action. You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that demonstrates employment with a Federal Agency to verify your eligibility for consideration for the DHS Volunteer Force (Detail).
- Your responses to the Volunteer Force Questionnaire. You will be directed to the online job questionnaire once you begin the application process for this position. To preview the questions, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12686281
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Next steps
The Volunteer Force will review your application and documentation and once vetted, will coordinate with the appointed representative from your agency to obtain the necessary approval for your detail. Once approval for the detail has been obtained, the Volunteer Force will coordinate a start date and contact you about next steps. If qualified and not immediately selected, you will be kept in the application pool as additional needs arise.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Help
Required Documents
Please provide a complete online Application Package, which includes:
- Required Volunteer Force Documents:
- Completed Supervisory Deployment Authorization Form: Formal supervisory approval is required for the detail. The Authorization Form is required to provide the necessary approval. To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Completed Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Form - Participation may require contact with aliens in the performance of your duties. As such, you are required to complete this form in accordance with 6 CFR Part 115.117 (a). To download the form, click https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-volunteer-force-documentation. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application
- Completed Section B of the Background Investigation Requirements Determination (BIRD) Form 78 - Participants will be required to have a current background investigation with their Agency that meets the requirements of the position for which they are volunteering. DHS will conduct updated vetting checks as a part of participation in this effort to ensure compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. DHS may share the results of the vetting checks with the volunteer's home Agency when the results may impact employment eligibility. To download the form, please visit: DHS Volunteer Force Documentation | Homeland Security. Download the form and open it in Adobe to complete and save your information. Once the form is complete, upload it as a supporting document with your application. For document upload instructions, see https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Uploading_documents_to_your_application.
- Standard Form (SF)-50, Notification of Personnel Action. You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that demonstrates employment with a Federal Agency to verify your eligibility for consideration for the DHS Volunteer Force (Detail).
- Your responses to the Volunteer Force Questionnaire. You will be directed to the online job questionnaire once you begin the application process for this position. To preview the questions, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12686281
Help
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Next steps
The Volunteer Force will review your application and documentation and once vetted, will coordinate with the appointed representative from your agency to obtain the necessary approval for your detail. Once approval for the detail has been obtained, the Volunteer Force will coordinate a start date and contact you about next steps. If qualified and not immediately selected, you will be kept in the application pool as additional needs arise.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
