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Opportunity sourced from the Official SkillBridge website. Not endorsed by the Department of Defense.
The Fire Defense Expert (FDE) program is a 121–160 day immersive apprenticeship designed for transitioning Service Members seeking careers in wildfire mitigation, property defense operations, and emergency response leadership.
The Fire Defense Expert (FDE) apprentice develops the technical and leadership capabilities required to assess, prepare, and defend properties in wildfire-prone environments across California.Primary Responsibilities:• Conduct comprehensive wildfire risk assessments and property evaluations• Produce written vulnerability and mitigation reports• Design and deploy QTAC fire suppression systems• Install and operate portable drafting systems utilizing pools and static water sources• Plan and execute ground-based long-term fire retardant (LTR) applications• Lead small teams during mitigation and operational staging activities• Participate in Red Flag patrols and active wildfire incident deployments• Maintain operational readiness of pumps, vehicles, and field equipment• Operate within ICS-aligned supervision and emergency response structuresSuccessful completion may lead to employment consideration as a Fire Defense Expert with All Risk Shield.
Demonstrated leadership potential• Physically capable of extended outdoor field operations• Comfortable operating in wildfire-prone terrain and heat conditions• Valid driver’s license required• Ability to lift 50+ pounds• Willingness to deploy during Red Flag warnings and wildfire incidents• Strong communication skills and professional client interaction capability• Safety-focused with ability to operate within ICS-aligned environments
US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Space Force
No cost to participating Service Member.
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