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USDA-NRCS Career Intern Program Employee (CIP)

Employee Orientation for the Career Intern Program.

Click each link below, fill out each form and promptly mail them to our Human Resources office using the envelope provided to you.

If you have any questions regarding the forms on this web page, please contact Pamela Smith, (254) 742-9927 or Sue Elliott, (254) 742-9930.

Form Title
OF 306  (PDF; 92 Kb) Declaration for Federal Employment
OF 612  (PDF; 727 Kb) Application for Federal Employment  - A false statement on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.  Provide complete mailing addresses including a zip code. The OF-612 must have an original signature and date, and all questions need to be answered.  Disregard if provided with your employment application.
SF 144  (PDF; 214 Kb) Statement of Prior Federal Employment
SF 85 (PDF; 537 Kb) Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions - Read instructions carefully before completing.  Account for all applicable periods of time (indicating Month/Year and provide complete mailing addresses).
SF 256  (PDF; 187 Kb) Self-Identification for Medical Disability
SF 181  (PDF; 62 Kb) Ethnicity and Race Identification
SF 1199A  (PDF; 113 Kb) Direct Deposit - Take this to your financial institution and have them fill out and sign before mailing it back to Human Resources.
AD 349  (PDF; 11 Kb) Employee Address Form - Direct deposit only (blocks 8 - 12 do not apply)
Form W-4  (PDF; 237 Kb) Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (blocks 1-5 must be completed)
TSP-1  (PDF; 56 Kb) Thrift Savings Plan Election Form

If you are a veteran:  A copy of your DD-214 documenting an Honorable Discharge must be provided. We must have a copy of this document to verify all periods of military service.

During your first week of duty

When you report for duty, you and your supervisor will work together to fill out the following forms.

  • SF 61 Appointment Affidavits
  • SF 2809 Health Benefits Registration Form
  • SF 2817 Life Insurance elections
  • Visa Application
  • I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
  • Security Clearance forms IRM 2 and IRM 3

During Your First Month of duty

These links are very important to have with you during your first month of duty. Please print each booklet from your office computer and have them available for instruction after you’ve received your first pay stub. These links will discuss EmpowHr and eAuthentication passwords which are required for empowHr help and eAuthentication registration. After you receive your EMPOWHR password by email, follow the instructions in the “EmpowHr Instruction Guide for New and Returning Employees”.  If you do not receive your EmpowHr User ID and Password by your 4th week on duty contact Pamela Smith via email or phone at (254) 742-9927.

Read eAuthentication Job Aid for New Employees. After you have registered and received your eAuthentication password you will log in to Aglearn in order to take the “USDA Security Literacy and Basics” course. Make sure you print a Certificate after you complete this course.

Then you will go to the “Introduction to NRCS”, which includes employee orientation, civil rights, and ethical conduct.

If you are having troubles registering for your eAuthentication password refer to the help instructions in - EAuthentication Job Aid for New Employees (PDF; 591 Kb)

Remember these log ons and passwords for future use.

Instructions for registration under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

All eligible employees are required to register under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

You must register even though you do not wish coverage. For information, read - Federal Employees Health Benefits Program information booklet.

Following are the procedures for registration:

  1. Review General Manual, Part 417, Health and Life Insurance, Subpart A - Health Insurance. A copy of the General Manual is available at each field headquarters.

  2. Make a decision regarding coverage and complete Form SF-2809, "Health Benefits Registration Form", which has been sent to your supervisor. The form must be returned to Human Resources within 31 days after you report for duty.

  3. If you have included a dependent child 22 or over who is incapable of self-support, attach a "Certificate of Dependency", to substantiate their incapacity for self-support. This form may be obtained from Human Resources.

  4. If you have selected coverage, and the SF-2809 and necessary supporting statements have been completed properly, your enrollment will be effective on the first day of the first pay period, after your registration form has been received in the State Office. You will have an opportunity to enroll, to change your enrollment from one plan to another, or to change to a different option within a plan during the open season, which will be designated by the Office of Personnel Management.

  5. The Federal Employee Part-time Career Act of 1978 provides that employees on a part-time tour of duty will receive a government contribution toward the cost of their health benefits in direct proportion to the percentage of full-time service performed by Full-time employees. The employee will pay the balance. Contact Human Resources for more detailed information.

A Snapshot of Insurance Benefits (PDF; 36 KB) for New/Newly Eligible Federal Employees - Please read.

Please visit the The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) web site for information concerning Dental and Vision Insurance.

Instructions for registration under the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program

Basic Life Insurance, unless it is waived, is automatic from the date you enter on duty. You should retain the SF-2817A to keep with your copy of the certified Life Insurance Election form you will receive after you report for duty.

Thrift Saving Plan (TSP)

You will be eligible to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) following your appointment to a position subject to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Information on TSP is provided for your review.

For additional information go to the TSP Fact Sheets.

To enroll in TSP, complete and return form TSP-1 (PDF; 25 Kb) or enroll through the Employees Personal Page (EPP) after receipt of your PIN Number.

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) booklet- An Overview of Your Benefits (PDF;450 Kb)

Please read these important booklets and handouts material in their entirety.

Employee Development

A. Your supervisor will be preparing your Employee Development Plan (EDP). You have the responsibility for ensuring your training is completed and documented on your EDP.  A current EDP will be maintained throughout your career.

B. You will also need to enter all training on the Texas Training Database. Your Supervisor will provide instructions on how to enter this data.

An Employee Personal Page (EPP) Password from The National Finance Center (NFC) will be mailed to your home address approximately 4 weeks after you enter on duty.

What is EPP?

With the Employee Personal Page (EPP) you can view your payroll, leave, travel, health and life insurance, savings bond, and other personal information, read news items from your agency or NFC, and link to your favorite sites.

The Self-Service option is available for employees whose agency has elected to offer this option. You can change your Residence Address, Federal and State Tax withholding, Financial Allotments, and Direct Deposit information.

The Work Number for Everyone (PDF; 21 Kb) The Work Number for Everyone is an automated system that provides employment & salary verification to specific creditors and potential lenders. Through use of a touch-tone phone, employees can authorize potential creditors the access needed in order to obtain information required for apartment rental, reference checks, short-term, and major loans including mortgages through this automated system.

Military Reservists: Federal employees are required to advise their employing offices at such time they become eligible for retired or retainer pay from the military reserves.

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