Ranger Academy

[Rlong1985]

Instead of starting a new thread, figure I would start this one over again. Anyone planning on attending SRJC in the winter for the SLETC class?

[MORA Ranger]

I feel bad that I totally missed this post. I was even being teased!

If anyone still has questions, I went to Santa Rosa, got my Type 2 commission, worked at a couple parks as a seasonal, got my permanent status and went to FLETC. Send me a PM. I don't stop by here very often anymore.

[paternoster2012]

I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have in a PM.

I'll tell you how it is working for the NPS, both good and bad.

Be prepared to live the life of a nomadic gypsy for a couple years. Work your summers, and travel abroad in your winters. That is what I did.

You have to bounce around a bit until you find a place you really like. Both the location and the management can be detrimental to a happy work environment.

Don't earn a bad reputation either. The NPS is a big family and everyone knows everyone. If you screw up at Olympic everyone on the east coast is going to be gabbing about it.

[MORA Ranger]

Both the location and the management can be detrimental to a happy work environment.

Don't earn a bad reputation either. The NPS is a big family and everyone knows everyone. If you screw up at Olympic everyone on the east coast is going to be gabbing about it.

I think it's the same with any agency. Sometimes you get a rotten boss, sometimes you luck out. Sometimes your city manager or superintendent supports LE, sometimes they don't. A benefit of the NPS (as opposed to a small town PD) is that you can transfer if it's really unbearable. But that doesn't always mean it's going to be better.

I must be out of the gossip loop. I only know of screw ups that I've witnessed. ;)

[paternoster2012]

Well you know the standard NPS greating "Hey where have you worked? Do you know so and so?"

As you know, everyone knows everyone. There is like 3 degrees of separation in the park service. Which I think is a good thing. Everyone moves around so much, and almost everyone you meet has lead an interesting life.

Good and bad bosses are going to be found anywhere. The thing that I always found difficult is being 3 hours from the nearest civilization. Having a bad boss is one thing, when he lives 3 doors down and is one of the fee regular people you see it can be a bit rough.

I finally found a park where I get to play in a boat all day AND live in a town with real grocery stores and a social scene. No talking to chipmunks and chopping firewood to pass the time anymore.

How are things up in AK?

Send me a PM, so we can discuss where we have worked and who we both know :D

I think it's the same with any agency. Sometimes you get a rotten boss, sometimes you luck out. Sometimes your city manager or superintendent supports LE, sometimes they don't. A benefit of the NPS (as opposed to a small town PD) is that you can transfer if it's really unbearable. But that doesn't always mean it's going to be better.

I must be out of the gossip loop. I only know of screw ups that I've witnessed. ;)