Washington, DC — The U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday a dedicated hiring pathway for Army Rangers separating from military service, citing the overlap in wilderness skills, physical fitness standards, and comfort with extended periods of misery that the agency believes makes Rangers uniquely qualified for federal land management careers.
The incentive package includes a tan hat.
It is a very nice hat.
“We think this population represents an exceptional talent pipeline,” said a Forest Service spokesperson at the announcement, which was held outdoors because the Forest Service holds everything outdoors. “Rangers bring land navigation, small unit leadership, wilderness survival, and a demonstrated ability to function on no sleep and negative morale. These are exactly the competencies we’re looking for.”
She was asked about the hat.
“It’s a really good hat,” she said. “Structured brim. Moisture wicking. The patch is embroidered.”
The Army Ranger community received the announcement with the specific silence of people who have something to say and are taking a moment to decide how to say it.
The something they have to say is that the tab is black and tan and the hat is also tan and the Forest Service appears to have identified this and is now attempting to use it as a recruiting tool, which several Rangers described as “extremely transparent” and several others described as “honestly kind of working.”
“I’m not going to pretend I didn’t look at the hat,” said one recently separated Ranger, a former staff sergeant with eight years of service. “It’s a tan hat. I’ve been wearing tan things for eight years. There’s a comfort level there.”
He was asked if he was considering the position.
He looked at the hat photo again.
“Maybe,” he said.
The hiring pathway offers Rangers direct placement into law enforcement and wilderness management roles at a GS-7 entry level, with accelerated advancement to GS-9 within eighteen months.
Rangers contacted for this article had a range of reactions. Several noted that Ranger School, which involves 61 days of sustained sleep deprivation and continuous movement through multiple climate zones, is reasonable preparation for wilderness law enforcement. Others noted that they did not spend eight years becoming one of the most lethal infantrymen in the world to write citations for people who leave their campfire unattended.
“I respect what they do,” said one active duty Ranger sergeant. “I just spent three years kicking in doors. I’m not sure I’m ready to transition directly to telling people to leash their dogs.”
He was shown the hat.
He did not say anything for a moment.
“Is that a moisture wicking band on the inside?” he asked.
It is.
Applications open June 1st.
The hat ships with the offer letter.
The Forest Service is not legally allowed to confirm that the hat was the deciding factor in the program’s design.
Three people involved in the program’s design have confirmed it off the record.
It was the deciding factor.
At press time fourteen Rangers had visited the Forest Service careers page, eleven had downloaded the application, and one had already submitted it and asked in the additional comments field whether the hat comes in different sizes.
It comes in four sizes.
He has been sent the size chart.
He is a medium.
The hat ships in four to six weeks.
He has already told his tab where it’s going.
His tab has not responded.
His tab is going on the hat.
Everyone who sees it will know exactly what it means.
That part hasn’t changed.
That part never changes.
