Dive into a Rewarding Career: Become the Aquatics Manager at Fort Sill

Water-based recreation and physical training form the cornerstone of morale and operational readiness in the United States military. At Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the local community relies on premium aquatic services for physical fitness, competitive programming, life-saving instruction, and leisure. The Department of the Army is currently looking for an energetic, experienced, and highly organized professional to step into the role of Aquatics Manager (NF-04).

In this leadership position, you will transition from a traditional pool deck supervisor to a strategic administrator. Managing modern aquatic facilities, coordinating community-wide safety programs, and overseeing comprehensive budgets are just a few aspects of this dynamic position. If you possess a robust background in aquatics and a drive to serve military families, this could be the perfect professional leap for your career.

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About the Agency: Fort Sill Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation

The Department of the Army’s Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) organization operates the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. Fort Sill, located in Southwest Oklahoma, adjoins the thriving city of Lawton, forming a combined community of roughly 100,000 residents. Steeped in living history, Fort Sill is the only active Army installation on the Southern Plains built during the Indian Wars and remains a designated national historic landmark.

The MWR Aquatics division plays an essential role in keeping our service members physically fit, mentally refreshed, and operationally prepared. Serving this community means working in a supportive environment surrounded by historic charm, exceptional cooperative partnerships with Lawton, and reasonable costs of living. Furthermore, Fort Sill is conveniently situated only 1.5 hours from Oklahoma City and 3 hours from the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

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Job Responsibilities: Leading from the Pool Deck to the Boardroom

As the Aquatics Manager, you will report directly to the Director of Fitness and Athletics. This is a multi-faceted management role that blends hand-on instruction with executive-level administration.

Key responsibilities include:

• Program Administration & Leadership: Directing and managing daily aquatic operations. You will design, supervise, and execute aquatic initiatives that cover both indoor and outdoor activities, ensuring consistent safety standards across competitive and recreational programs.
• Curriculum Design & Training: Developing certification courses to keep facility staff qualified. You will establish and lead curricula for Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Instructor training, Water Safety Instruction (WSI), water fitness, and broader community safety courses.
• Financial Oversight & Budgeting: Organizing and drafting monthly, quarterly, and annual budget reports. You will work side-by-side with the Director of Fitness and Athletics to review budget execution, prepare Unfunded Requirements (UFR) documentation, and formulate requests for special recreational funding.
• Community Program Coordination: Mapping out recurring and nonrecurring fitness, competitive, and instructional activities. You will foster collaboration with joint community programs to drive engagement across the installation.

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Key Requirements & Certifications

To qualify for this NF-04 position, you must present a resume that clearly showcases your skills and directly aligns with the required qualifications. Candidates are required to demonstrate prior experience in planning, scheduling, executing, and supervising aquatics programs at a level equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Additionally, you must hold and maintain the following active certifications:

1. Lifeguard Instructor (LGI)
2. Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
3. First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer (or an authorized equivalent)
4. Aquatic Facilities Operator (AFO) or Certified Pool Operator (CPO)

Crucial Application Note: Your resume must be strictly limited to two (2) pages or less. Resumes exceeding this limit will not be considered, which makes brief, high-impact writing essential.

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Salary Overview & Financial Perks

The Aquatics Manager position is classified under the NF-04 grade band, offering a competitive and stable pay structure.

Feature	Fort Sill Aquatics Manager (NF-04)	Typical Civilian Aquatics Manager
Annual Salary Range	$52,727 to $57,000 per year	$45,000 to $55,000 per year (average)
Retirement & 401(k)	Dual options: NAF Retirement Plan + 401(k) matching	Standard single 401(k) or none
Work-Life Balance	Guaranteed 40 hours per week schedule	High rates of unscheduled, unpaid overtime
Operational Scale	Dual-facility military installations, garrison size	Usually restricted to single municipal pools
Facility Access Perks	Free on-base gyms, libraries, and MWR amenities	Restricted to work facility only

In addition to the base salary, regularly scheduled employees may receive Sunday premium pay and night differential adjustments as authorized by the Garrison Commander.

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Comprehensive Benefits Package

Working as a Department of the Army NAF employee offers benefits designed to protect your physical health, financial future, and general peace of mind. Regular full-time employees enjoy:

• Comprehensive Health & Life Insurance: Access to affordable medical, dental, and life coverage plans.
• Dual-Retirement Plan Savings: Build a solid foundation for your future by contributing to the NAF retirement plan alongside an employer-matched 401(k).
• Generous Leave Accrual: Earn paid personal time off (PTO) alongside standard federal holiday pay.
• Base Access Privileges: Enjoy access to modern on-base facilities, including libraries, discount exchanges, and fully-equipped fitness centers.
• Career Development Pathways: Utilize MWR education programs, leadership courses, and specialized certifications to advance within the federal civilian service network.

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Essential Application Tips

Applying for a federal position requires meticulous attention to detail. Follow these steps to maximize your chances of moving forward in the review process:

• Keep It Brief: Ensure your resume does not exceed the mandatory two-page limit. Focus only on relevant aquatics leadership, technical qualifications, and certifications.
• Preserve Your Formatting: Save your resume as a PDF before uploading it. This ensures that layout changes, margins, or fonts do not push your document over the page limit during the USA Staffing system transfer.
• Match Your Certifications: Upload every required certification (WSI, LGI, CPR, AFO/CPO) as a separate supporting document. Ensure the names on your certifications match your application documents exactly.
• Answer the Questionnaire Honestly: Be precise and truthful when completing the online assessment. Ensure that the experience detailed on your resume clearly supports your answers in the questionnaire.
• Submit Early: Aim to submit your application package before the initial cut-off date of September 8, 2026, to be in the first wave of referred candidates.

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Is a drug test or security clearance required for the NF-04 role?

This position is classified as Non-sensitive/Low Risk, meaning a secret clearance is not required. However, applicants must pass standard suitability and fitness adjudications prior to official employment. A pre-employment drug test is not indicated for this announcement.

How will I know if my application went through?

Once you submit your application through USA Staffing, you will receive an automated confirmation email. You can check your current status anytime by logging into your USAJOBS profile and checking your application dashboard.

What if I cannot complete the online application?

If you have special circumstances that prevent you from applying online, you can request a paper application. Contact the local Fort Sill NAF Human Resources office directly to initiate a manual request before the 12:00 PM CST deadline on September 15, 2026.

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Stepping into the role of Aquatics Manager at Fort Sill is more than just managing a local pool; it is a chance to lead, organize, and administer a vital health and wellness resource for the United States Army. This position offers a distinct blend of executive responsibilities, specialized training curriculum design, and competitive federal benefits.

If you possess the required certifications, have experience coordinating recreation programs, and want to support our service members on the historic Southern Plains, do not let this opportunity pass you by. Review your certifications, refine your two-page resume, and submit your application package before the final closing date!