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A view from the inside.
 
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Walter D. Kingsborough
Zone Archeologist
Sam Houston National Forest
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
P.O. Box 1000
New Waverly, Tx. 77358
(409) 344-6205 fax:(409) 344-2123
internet:[log in to unmask]
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Opinions and viewpoints are purely those of the author and in no way represent
the policies of the USDA Forest Service nor the opinions and viewpoints of any
official representative of the Forest Service.
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To:Berkley B. Bailey and Histarch
 
Re:Forest Service position descriptions
 
Greetings to the list and to fellow lurker, Berkley B. Bailey:
 
As a Forest Service employee I do not wish to comment on policy. However, as a
GS-9 Archaeologist who has worked up from the GS-5 level I do wish to thank Mr.
Bailey (I hope the gender assumption is correct and appologize if it is not)
for his concern about position grades in the Forest Service. I do not know
enough about the process of position development to answer your question
directly, but I would refer you to the personnel office in the Supervisor's
Office overseeing that position, or to any Forest Service personnel office.
Anyone at any Forest Service office would be happy to direct you to the
personnel office nearest to you.  While a GS-7 grade does not compare, in take
home pay, with positions in the private sector of equivalent qualification
requirements, government employment does offer some benefits that I found
attractive when I began my professional career. With very recent developments,
government employment is even more attractive. Beginning with the latter point,
the practice of temporary employment (except for periods of less than one-half
year) is being phased out of the Forest Service. Previously, temporary
employees were not immediately given access to health benefits, life insurance,
or retirement programs. In this situation government employment was attractive
only in the long range view. From now on, positions that will not be permanent
will be called "term employment." The difference from temporary employment is
that the employee will be immediately eligible for health insurance, life
insurance, and retirement. This increases the Forest Service's cost to budget
for each position, but makes those positions much more attractive. If I may
bore you for a while, I would like to present my history with the Forest
Service by way of illustrating the attractive aspects Forest Service
employment. I began in Idaho in 1989 as a GS-5 with no health insurance, life
insurance, or retirement, and per diem only on special instances when we lodged
away from our residence. Of course, a contractor's shovel bum (please, no
offense intended: I've been one) generally works under the same conditions,
though usually with some form of per diem. My long range view was to become a
permanent government employee, thereby acquiring insurance, etc. In the short
version of this story, I went from Idaho to South Carolina in 1990, where I
picked up a GS-7. Also, after one year of continuous service I was able to
enter the health insurance program (though I had to pay the full premium out
 of my take home). In 1992 I came to Texas as a GS-9 (though still a temporary
employee). Last summer I became a permanent employee in the same Texas
position. At each level I had to compete for an open announcement. At any point
along the way I could have lost any of these positions in competition, and
budget considerations could have terminated any of the temporary positions at
any time. However, this is no more stressful than working for a contractor who
is also subject to budgetary concerns. As a permanent employee, those stresses
have been, for the most part, relieved. I can concentrate on the archaeology
fully now without having to worry, so much, about job security. So, what makes
Forest Service employment more attractive to me vs. contract work? I don't want
to sound like an Army recruitment Poster (even though I do), but the very
responsibilities that Mr. Bailey feels deserve a higher grade (a point which is
well taken) are the major attractants for me. While a GS-5 will generally be
working under another archaeologist, that GS-5 is still considered qualified to
make field decisions concerning where and how to test, and even, on occasion,
to make determinations of eligibility. A GS-7 is generally considered qualified
to supervise other archaeologists and to be responsible for Cultural Resource
Management on a district level. A GS-9 is usually responsible for Cultural
Resource Management on the Forest level and generally reports directly to the
Ranger or the Archaeologist at the Supervisor's Office. In addition, a Forest
Service archaeologist must always work closely with the other Forest Service
personnel managing the forest. While some may not be aware of the relevance of
Cultural Resources, enlightening them while retaining their friendship is one
of the greatest chalenges related to Forest Service employment. In closing,
finally, while I would certainly welcome more pay for my responsibilities,
given the benefits, security, and level of confidence I receive concerning my
abilities, I'll stick with the Forest Service. Thanks for listening, Wally.