March 30, 2009

So a lot of people have asked me both what are the minimum required certs to be hired down here and two what is the process to be hired is so instead of me answering this over and over I will post it on here.

The job is posted at www.rayjobs.com. You then submit your resume via the website if you meet the following for Firefighter, High school diploma or equivalent. Certification to the following levels is required prior to commencement of work: Firefighter I, Hazardous Materials First Responder, and EMT-B. Two years of firefighting experience is required. And for Firefighter LT, High school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license are required. The following certifications are required: Firefighter II, Hazardous Materials Operations and EMT-B. Minimum of three years experience in the Fire Service and at least one year of experience as a supervisor is needed. Once this has been submitted you wait to hear from them.

Those are the requirements, and now the process. So you submitted you resume and now you’ve received an e-mail asking if you’re still interested. Then they send you an application and you receive a phone interview lasting about 30 minutes or so. Once this is all said and done you will receive via e-mail or phone call that you now have a preliminary job offer pending you medical and dental evaluations. These evaluations are paid by you and reimbursed. If you are a summer candidate (Oct – Feb) your process is complete. They will fly you so Salt Lake City Utah for a ARFF Class (Airport Rescue Fire Fighting). If you are a Winter Candidate (Feb – Oct) they fly you to Denver to take a psyche evaluation if you pass that and your medical and dental clearance you are good to go and will receive an ice date. This date is not when you leave to come here it is when you arrive here. You will leave home about a week prior and fly back to Denver for some basic employee training and from there you will fly to Auckland New Zealand so make sure that you have a valid passport and it doesn’t expire before you leave. Once in Auckland you fly to Christchurch NZ and stay for about 2-3 days then to the ice.

Now I bet most of you are wondering how you’re going to pay for the travel. The answer is simple you don’t. They make all the flight arrangements, Hotel Reservations, everything. They even give you money to spend in NZ. They only things you pay for on the way here is food and souvenirs in Denver at your psyche evaluation. The food is reimbursed later. Once down here Room and board is provided with 2-4 roommates in the summer and just you in the winter. You only pay for purchases in the store (Snacks, shirts, souvenirs, pop, etc.)

So that’s the nuts and bolts of how to get down here. Any further questions just ask.

Mike Lintz
Antarctic Fire Dept
McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Bldg 182 X 2555