Veterans Green Jobs (VGJ) has combined efforts with the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) to create Veterans Green Corps (VGC) to provide a challenging, transformative and leadership building work experience for veterans.
The Southwest Conservation Corps has led the way in building structured, safe and challenging work and educational opportunities through employment projects that promote personal growth, the development of social skills, and an ethic of natural resource stewardship. Together VGJ and SCC manage veteran conservation crews that will camp in teams and complete conservation projects on public lands. There are several opportunities available and all require veteran status and DD214 documentation.
Position Title: Veterans Conservation Crew Corpsmember
Position Type: Full-time, temporary, lasting 10-14 weeks
Location: Based out of Salida or Durango, CO
Pay: $300.00 -$325.00 per week (minus $25 per wk meal deduction)
Benefits: Uniform, food, training, worker’s compensation coverage, travel, and
an AmeriCorps education award to qualifying individuals.
Qualifications: Applicants must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and have a DD214
Position Start Date: Sessions start May 31st and August 30th - DATES MAY CHANGE DUE TO PROJECTS
Southwest Conservation Corps’ Mission
It is the mission of the Southwest Conservation Corps to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities, and the environment.
Veterans Green Jobs Mission
Veterans Green Jobs provides exemplary green jobs education and career development opportunities for military veterans, empowering and supporting them to lead America’s transition to energy independence, ecological restoration, community renewal, and economic prosperity.
Program Overview:
The program hires all Veterans and focuses on the transition from service in the military to service to public lands and local communities. Education and training will concentrate on the gaining conservation skills and career development services for veterans interested in pursuing further employment opportunities with land management. Any individual that successfully completes this program will have the opportunity to continue working in the conservation field or move onto into other opportunities focused on developing skills needed for employment in the rapidly emerging green jobs field.
Veterans Green Corps Trail Program – May 31st – August 20th, 2010
Work projects will focus on trail construction and maintenance in non-remote and remote locations. These projects are located on public lands throughout the San Luis Valley and Southwestern Colorado. Crews will work in non-remote and remote locations. When working in remote areas, locations may be up to 15 miles in the backcountry. The schedule will vary slightly depending on project, however, most projects require crews to camp and live at a specific site for 11 days at a time, followed by 3 days off. All crews will consist of 6 Corpsmembers and 2 Crew Leaders. While in the field, crews will be responsible for preparing and cooking meals and other jobs required for living in the outdoors.
Veterans Green Corps Forestry Program - May 31st – September 3rdth , 2010/ August 30th – November 19th , 2010
Veterans Green Corps fire fuels reduction program will complete fire fuels reduction, mitigation, noxious tree removal, and forestry and wildfire education projects on public lands in Colorado. Projects will include: wild land urban interface thinning; beetle-kill Juniper thinning; Russian Olive and Tamarisk removal; and habitat enhancement thinning projects. The Veterans Green Corps has a training component that prepares members for careers in the wild land fire management industry and for resource management opportunities in the public or private sector. Members will receive: S-212 certification; 130/190 certification. Members may be able to earn college credit for participation.
The schedule will vary slightly depending on project, however, most projects require crews to camp and live at a specific site for 10 days at a time, followed by 4 days off. Some work later in the season may not require camping. All crews will consist of 6 Corpsmembers and 2 Crew Leaders. While in the field, crews will be responsible for preparing and cooking meals and other jobs required for living in the outdoors.
General Qualifications:
Safety -
Safety is our top concern. While in the outdoors and in remote locations safety becomes even more important. You will be expected to take a serious attitude toward safety all day and every day while in the field.
Commitment –
Corpsmembers must make a STRONG commitment to complete the program. You will
challenge yourself, work hard, and be committed to doing the best that you can.
Professionalism –
Corpsmember must be willing to appropriately represent Southwest Conservation Corps and Veterans Green Jobs. Member is also required to be tolerant of diversity; respecting the differences of others.
Teamwork –
Corpsmember must be willing to work hard, participate as part of a team, and respect their
fellow members and be dedicated to the Southwest Conservation Corps’ mission.
Substance Free –
Corpsmembers MUST be willing and able to refrain from alcohol, or drugs while
participating in the SCC program. Tobacco use will be allowed in designated areas.
Fitness – Projects involve hiking, heavy lifting and repetitive motions. Projects are physically demanding!!! Projects can sometimes take place at high elevations; above 8,500 feet. Members are expected to be ready to confront these conditions.
SCC Organization Statement-To the men and women who have served our country:
Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) honors your dedication and service to the United States of America. SCC is a nonpolitical organization that does not advocate nor take positions on issues of national security. SCC respects and honors veterans’ experiences during military service and carries no judgment about those experiences. SCC is a professional organization whose first priority is to honor, respect and improve the lives of the corpsmembers, staff, stakeholders and communities that it serves.
To Apply:
Complete the Corpsmember Application,
http://sccorps.org/jobs/veterans-green-corps/ [1]
or contact regional recruiting coordinators:
Megan Strauss – Salida, CO
megan@sccorps.org [2] or 719-539-2438
or
Eli Herb – Durango, CO
eli@sccorps.org [3] or 970-403-0141