Fire / Crash Rescue Specialist

State of Wisconsin; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Wisconsin (Department of Military Affairs) seeks Fire/Crash Rescue Specialists for General Mitchell Airfield in Milwaukee. Positions require fighting fires, rescue operations and vehicle operation with 24-hour shifts within a 56-hour week, including long shifts per mission needs.

Starting pay is $21.85/hour with 18-month increase; probation is 18 months. Candidates must meet extensive security, licensing, and medical requirements and obtain EMT licensure within 18 months.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include IFSAC or ProBoard Firefighter 1 certification or equivalent.
• HazMat Operations certification or equivalent required.
• Preferred: ARFF certification; associate degree in Fire Protection or related field; EMT-Basic; Public Telecommunicator I/II.

Responsibilities

• Prevent, control and extinguish fires on the ground and perform related rescue, first aid and property preservation.
• Operate firefighting and related rescue vehicles and equipment; wear PPE; support base emergency contingency operations.

Education

IFSAC/ProBoard Firefighter 1 Certification

HazMat Operations Certification

ARFF Certification

Associate’s degree in Fire Protection or related field

EMT-Basic certification

Public Telecommunicator I/II certification

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding career helping people and fighting fires? Then we have the job for you! General Mitchell Airfield in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is hiring a full time Fire/Crash Rescue Specialist.

These positions have a normal scheduled workweek averaging 56 hours per week, consisting of 24-hour shifts, but may include 8- or 16-hour shifts depending upon mission requirements.

These are Wisconsin state civil service positions.

The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall wellbeing.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the next 6 months.

Position Summary

Under the general supervision of a Base Fire/Crash Rescue Supervisor and/or Base Fire Chief, these positions prevent, control and extinguish all types of fires on the ground and perform related rescue, first aid and property preservation. Duties include fighting fires or potential of fires involving buildings, structures, operational processes, grounds, aircraft (including military aircraft), missiles and separate or component weapons or other materials. These positions also perform operations and operator maintenance of all types of firefighting and related rescue vehicles, equipment systems and devices in support of overall base emergency contingency operations. Fire Crash Rescue Specialists are required to drive and operate various crash, fire, rescue, structural pumper and tank trucks apparatus and all associated equipment and are required to wear personal protective equipment.

Salary Information

Starting pay is $21.85 per hour (about $63,620 annually based on 2,912 hours per year) plus an excellent benefits package. Employees in this classification will also receive a one-time increase of $1.00 per hour after completion of 18 months of employment. This position is in the pay schedule and range 0 5-11. An 18-month probationary period is required.

These positions also have Protective Occupation Status within the Wisconsin Retirement System, which is an accelerated retirement benefit.

For current permanent state employees, pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.

The Department of Military Affairs does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.

• Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma, GED, or HSED at the time of appointment.
• In order to gain access to the military facilities and to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled, DMA will conduct a comprehensive background check.
• In addition, the position requires a Common Access Card (CAC). A CAC requires successful completion of a Department of Defense investigation and an additional more in-depth federal background check, for gaining access to federal computer systems, restricted locations, or classified information.
• Must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license as a condition of continued employment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a military driver’s license as a condition of continued employment. You will be trained on specific vehicles and will receive assistance to obtain the licensure if you do not already possess.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Milwaukee County Class One and Class Two driver’s license as a condition of continued employment. These licenses are required to drive firefighting vehicles at Mitchell International Airport. You will be trained on vehicles and will receive assistance to obtain the licensure if you do not already possess. As part of the licensing requirement, you must successfully pass a Milwaukee County Sheriff background check.
• Must possess or be eligible to obtain a State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license within the first 18 months of employment and remain licensed as a condition of employment.
• Must meet the physical standards established by applicable military regulations. Will be required to pass a pre-employment medical exam, drug screen, and physical agility test. In addition, will be required to pass an annual medical exam and physical agility training.
• Must not be claustrophobic, acrophobic, pyrophoric or color blind.
• Must not have any felony convictions and must be able to qualify for and maintain the required Department of Defense (DOD) secret security clearance.
• Must not have physical limitations that would preclude the safe operation of vehicles, equipment or fire ground operations.
• No applicant will be considered for Fire/Crash Rescue Specialist positions unless they certify that they do not currently smoke tobacco at all and will not do so on or off duty at any time during employment.
• Must possess or obtain required Fire Protection Program certifications in accordance with DODI 6055.6M, NGR 5-1 Appendix 24 and other applicable regulations, or as determined/required by the Fire Chief, and must maintain these certifications as a condition of employment.
• Required to attend and successfully complete Rescue Technician course X3AZR3E751 018 or equivalent course. (Course must be obtained when dates are made available if not possessed at time of hire.)
• As a condition of employment you are required to be clean-shaven to insure a tight seal while wearing a SCBA face piece. A mustache or goatee is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the seal. Sideburns may also have to be shaved if an adequate seal cannot be obtained.
• All new permanent, project, and limited term employees will be required to report to Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) in Madison on the Monday of their first week of employment for the New Employee Orientation (NEO) program. Additional information will be sent to the new employees and their supervisors on the Tuesday prior to NEO.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications for these positions are:

• An International Fire Service Accreditations Congress (IFSAC) or Pro Board Firefighter 1 Certification OR equivalent certification from a program or organization that is accredited by IFSAC or ProBoard.

And

• An IFSAC or ProBoard HazMat Operations Certification OR equivalent certification from a program or organization that is accredited by IFSAC or ProBoard.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, well-qualified candidates will also possess the following preferred qualifications:

• IFSAC/ProBoard Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) certification.
• Possession of an earned associate’s degree in Fire Protection, Emergency Management or a related program area/field.
• EMT- Basic (or higher) certification.
• Public Telecommunicator I/II certification.

The Department of Military Affairs is an equal opportunity employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. For complete information on veterans’ hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment Assistance page on the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ website.

Veterans with a 30%-or-greater service-connected disability rating are eligible for consideration for non-competitive appointment to permanent positions in classified civil service under s. 230.275, WI Stats. If you meet this eligibility criteria, send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 clearly showing an honorable discharge, and documentation of your service-connected disability rating dated within 12 months, to the Human Resources contact listed on this announcement. Current state employees in permanent positions are not eligible for non-competitive appointments.

Deadline to Apply

Please apply by 11:59 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2026 to be considered for employment.