We believe that diverse perspectives help us solve problems more effectively. That's why we maintain an environment in which people from different backgrounds feel comfortable, and in which people feel free to express their opinions and share their viewpoints.
To keep our employees at the top of their profession, we provide world-class training supported by the latest technologies. Career development is ensured through continuing training and career-related education opportunities, both within our organization and through external educational institutions.
e-Learning
The Forest Service is piloting e-learning, using the Internet to meet the needs of our geographically dispersed workforce 24 hours a day. Geographically dispersed employees can meet their career development needs without travel time or expense by using the Internet, 24 hours a day. Training includes the SkillSoft library of over 300 courses and NETg online curriculum of over 600 courses in computer skills for beginners and for information technology professionals.
Technical Training
Many opportunities exist for professional career development, including formal professional certification programs such as silviculture (the agriculture of growing trees, e.g., maximizing tree growth and return, manipulating tree species to meet objectives in timber management); bridge design in engineering; contracting; appraisals in lands; and other areas.
Forest Service offers courses that are not available anywhere else in the world, such as the minerals and geology program that trains employees to be minerals examiners, or oil and gas administrators.
Opportunities to further employee careers may be found in technical training designed, developed and provided by the Forest Service or in partnership with other agencies. Specific information on technical training programs in firefighting may be accessed on the Forest Service website at www.fs.fed.us/fire.
Leadership Training
Our Web-based Leader Resource Center offers assessment tools, links to e-learning resources, links to classroom training opportunities and materials, access to articles and best practices in leadership, and a supervisor's reference guide with basic facts on human resource management, ethics, and safety topics.
A 40-hour classroom course is provided to all new supervisors and includes training in cultural awareness, communication and interpersonal skills, teambuilding, conflict management, problem solving and human resource management.
Another 40-hour classroom course includes training in strategic thinking, and partnering and collaboration (along with continuing skill development in interpersonal skills, cultural awareness, and teambuilding). Employees may compete to enroll in specially tailored leadership programs designed to build upon professional and technical skill sets to develop future managers and leaders in the Forest Service.