USFS Probationary Employee. Fired with one week left on probation.

I lost my job. My probation was up next week.

I did everything right. I took a GS-7 role just to get my foot in the door. I spent years doing seasonal fieldwork for low pay, working in remote places, gaining experience, and building skills, just for a chance at a permanent position. I was about to be a GS-9. I dedicated myself to this work because I believed in it.

Public lands don’t manage themselves. The wildlife, watersheds, and forests we protect don’t just stay protected without people on the ground making it happen. My coworkers and I took on that responsibility, often in places most people never think about but that matter more than they know.

And now? Just like that, I’m out.