Become a Water Safety Instructor at Fort Knox: A Rewarding Aquatics Career

Are you looking to turn your passion for aquatics and safety into a career that truly makes a difference? The Department of the Army, under the United States Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), is seeking dedicated, active, and enthusiastic professionals to join the team at the Anderson Aquatics Center in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Operating as a Recreation Assistant (Water Safety Instructor) NF-02, this position is a vital role responsible for teaching safety, building survival confidence, and helping individuals of all ages discover the joy of swimming.

Whether you are an experienced swim coach looking for a flexible role or an advanced swimmer ready to obtain your certifications and support our military families, this position offers competitive compensation, a vibrant workplace, and a supportive community.

---

About the Agency: The Anderson Aquatics Center

Located in the heart of Fort Knox, Kentucky, the Anderson Aquatics Center is not just any local pool—it is a premium, multi-faceted community hub. Having undergone recent extensive renovations, the facility boasts a heated, indoor Olympic-sized pool measuring 50 meters, equipped with a 1-meter diving board, an exhilarating 50-foot tube water slide, and an integrated climbing rock wall.

Beyond pool-side activities, the facility is designed to support total wellness and family recreation. It includes:

• Large, fully equipped locker rooms with heated showers, suit dryers, and hair dryers.
• A dedicated cardiovascular fitness center featuring treadmills, elliptical trainers, stationary and recumbent bicycles, a rowing machine, and a Jacob's ladder climber.
• An indoor spray park and the seasonal outdoor Splash Town Spray Park, featuring extensive patio spaces for families to enjoy.
• A multipurpose room that serves as a community booking space for birthday parties, meetings, and military events.

By working here, you become an essential part of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) network, which provides quality-of-life programs and services to Army soldiers, retirees, civilian employees, and their families.

---

Job Responsibilities: Building Safe and Confident Swimmers

As a Recreation Assistant specializing in water safety instruction, you will interact with diverse groups of students daily. Your goal is to guide students safely through progressive levels of swimming competency.

Key responsibilities include:

• Class Management & Swim Instruction: Coordinate, schedule, and lead swimming lessons for individual students and groups. You will evaluate swimmers' baseline skills and place them in the appropriate instruction tier.
• Curriculum Development: Create and execute age-appropriate lesson plans aligned with water safety guidelines. You will actively track and promote students to higher-level swim courses as they master required survival skills.
• Intergenerational Teaching: Deliver instruction tailored to various age groups, ranging from infant aquatic familiarization to technical adult stroke refinement.
• Safety and Survival Training: Introduce critical water safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and active survival skills in accordance with national aquatic standards.
• Team Collaboration: Partner with on-duty lifeguards to monitor pool conditions, maintain clean instructional zones, and ensure the entire facility is operating safely.

---

Requirements & Qualifications

To qualify for the Recreation Assistant (Water Safety Instructor) position, candidates must prove they possess the expertise, focus, and physical readiness necessary for instructional duties.

Essential Requirements:

• Certifications: You must hold active, valid credentials in the following areas from a nationally recognized agency (such as the American Red Cross, Ellis & Associates, or Star Guard):
  • Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certification
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification
  • First Aid Certification
• Resume Guidelines: The Department of the Army enforces a strict limit on application materials. Your federal resume must be two pages or less, legibly outlining your past aquatics, instruction, and safety experience. Resumes exceeding this length will not be fully evaluated.
• Background Screening: Applicants must successfully clear a non-sensitive/low-risk background investigation (suitability/fitness adjudication).

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Possession of an active Lifeguard Certification is highly preferred and will make your application stand out during the HR review process.

---

Salary & Pay Structure: What to Expect

This position falls within the Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) pay-banded system at the NF-02 level. The hourly wage for this position ranges from $18.00 to $21.00 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.

Pay and Scheduling Details:

• FLEX Position: This is a flexible scheduling role. FLEX employees do not have a guaranteed weekly schedule and may work anywhere from 0 to 40 hours per week depending on season, facility hours, and scheduled swim programs.
• Additional Compensation: While allowances and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are not authorized for this domestic location, Sunday premium pay and night differential pay may be approved by the Garrison Commander for qualifying shifts.

---

Comparing NAF Employment Types

When applying for jobs within the Army Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) system, it is important to understand how different employment tracks operate. Below is a comparison highlighting the differences between FLEX and Regular status roles:

Employment Feature	FLEX (Flexible) Status	Regular (Part-Time / Full-Time) Status
Guaranteed Hours	No guaranteed hours (0–40 hours/week)	Guaranteed hours (typically 20–40 hours/week)
401(k) Savings Plan	Eligible for enrollment	Eligible for enrollment
Health Insurance	Eligible under specific circumstances	Guaranteed eligibility upon hiring
Paid Time Off (PTO)	Not typically provided	Accrued paid leave and paid federal holidays
Base Facility Access	Full access to fitness, recreation, and libraries	Full access to fitness, recreation, and libraries

---

Benefits & Perks of Army NAF Careers

Working as a NAF employee for the Department of the Army is highly rewarding. While FLEX positions do not carry the same leave accruals as full-time careers, they offer major benefits:

1. Retirement Savings: All domestic NAF flexible employees are eligible to enroll in the robust NAF 401(k) program to begin saving for their future.
2. Base Amenity Access: Employees enjoy on-base privileges, providing free or discounted access to top-tier gyms, fitness facilities, military libraries, and recreational areas.
3. Career Development: The Army offers outstanding professional growth, providing specialized training courses, certifications, and structural pathways to help you move into administrative or management-level recreation roles.
4. Community Impact: Your work directly boosts morale, helps military children develop life-saving physical skills, and provides crucial recreation outlets for active-duty personnel.

---

Application Steps & Tips

Applying for a federal position requires careful attention to detail. Follow these steps and tips to ensure your application package passes the screening phase.

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Prepare Your Documents: Draft a modern resume limited to exactly two pages. Save the document as a PDF to preserve formatting and keep the file size under 5 MB.
2. Gather Certifications: Scan your WSI, First Aid, and CPR certificates. If you are claiming hiring preferences, gather supporting documents like marriage certificates, military spouse PCS orders, or your DD-214.
3. Apply Online: Navigate to USAJOBS, search for announcement O3NAFDM-26-12955455, and click "Apply".
4. Complete the Assessment: You will be redirected to the USA Staffing system to complete an online questionnaire designed to assess your aquatic safety expertise.
5. Submit and Track: Verify all required uploads are categorized correctly (e.g., classifying your resume as "Resume" and your WSI certification as "Professional Certification") and submit.

Pro-Tips for Success:

• Certifications are Key: Do not forget to attach your actual certificates. Marking "Yes" to possessing them on the questionnaire without physical proof in your application will lead to automatic disqualification.
• Honesty is Mandatory: Ensure that the experience claimed in your questionnaire answers is fully supported by the text in your resume. Discrepancies can lead to a "not qualified" status.
• Include References: Speed up your background check by listing the names, phone numbers, and emails of professional references directly on your resume.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is this a permanent position?

This is an open continuous announcement designed to build a pool of qualified applicants. Referrals will be sent to the hiring authority as openings arise throughout the season. The announcement closes on September 3, 2026.

2. Can I apply if I live outside of Fort Knox?

This position is open to candidates who reside in the local commuting area of Fort Knox. Military spouses and involuntarily separated military members who are relocating to the area under official orders are also included in the area of consideration.

3. Will the government cover my relocation costs?

No. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized for this pay-banded position because relocation is not determined to be in the government's primary interest.

4. Do I need a specific driver's license to get on base?

Yes. Accessing Fort Knox requires a REAL ID-compliant driver's license (marked with a star) or an approved alternative like an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or valid passport.

---

If you love working around the water, helping children and adults succeed, and supporting our military community, the Recreation Assistant (Water Safety Instructor) role at Fort Knox is the perfect career move. With competitive pay, a state-of-the-art facility, and a highly supportive team environment, this is your chance to turn your skills into a rewarding community service role. Don't wait—gather your certifications, format your resume, and submit your application today!