United States Department of Agriculture - Welcome to the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Dear New Employee:

Welcome to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.  You are now a very important member of a group of people pledged to protect American Agriculture.  Our mission is to "Provide Leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment."  Only through the dedicated efforts of employees like yourself can this mission be accomplished.

Managers and supervisors know from experience that the most rewarding use of their time is working with their most important resource - you, the employee.  Managers and supervisors, through orientation, training and other programs, want to help you achieve your career goals while, at the same time, accomplishing the USDA-NRCS Mission.

You and your supervisor are also encouraged to use this opportunity to review any local policies that may be specific to your individual duty station or field activity.  We hope that you find your work with the USDA-NRCS challenging and a source of personal pride and satisfaction. 

To begin the employment process, review the information and complete each form as directed.  To help you in completing and returning these forms, you can use the form checklist below.  Complete all documents and return to the State Human Resources office.  Please note the specific time frames for making decisions regarding your employment benefits.  Delays in returning your materials may result in a delay in your payroll processing or your entitlement to benefits. 

Supervisors

The following forms need to be completed on the first day of employment.  Your assistance is needed in order to complete the administrative process for bringing your new employee on board with NRCS.  Please review the material below carefully and return promptly to the Human Resources Office. You may also want to use the New Employee Orientation Checklist attached to help you introduce the new employee to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Appointment Affidavit (360 KB) - The employee is to read the paragraphs on the Appointment Affidavit aloud before  signing the document in your presence. The Affidavit does Not have to be notarized.

I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification (173 KB) - The employee must complete section 1 of the I9 form and must present the appropriate forms of identification for supervisor's verification on section 2.
 
OF-306 (347 KB) - The employee is to complete the the OF 306, Declaration for Federal Employment and sign it as
       an "Appointee".  Once this form has been received and processed by the Human Resources Office the employee can finish completing the next set of forms. 

New Employee Orientation Evaluation (77.6)

Fingerprints can be taken care of at the nearest police or sheriff's office. Two-sets of fingerprints need to be made. Supervisors, if there is a service charge for this, it is preferred that payment be made by using your purchase card or by setting up a purchase order. Although the employee can pay for the service and be reimbursed by Finance, it is strongly suggested that this be done only as a last resort.

The employee is to review the USDA Employee Responsibilities & Conduct, the ethics pamphlets, and the Presidential Decision Directive on Security Awareness and Foreign Contacts. Have the employee sign and date the acknowledgement of receipt of ethics information.  Return signed originals to the Human Resources office.

The United States Department of Agriculture is firmly committed to Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunities for everyone.  Click on the following link to read the USDA's pledge of nondiscrimination.

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