CTI Grad W/ "Q" ATSAT Score Looking at Military Option Please Help!!!

ABeckner · Posted: 05-02-2012, 09:04 PM

I am currently an Air Traffic Control CTI student at Broward College in FL and will be graduating this summer. I am 23 years old and turn 24 in October. I took the ATSAT exam on April 26th and received a "Q" rating. With this rating it could take me up to 4+ years to get hired by the FAA, being that I do not get lucky and get picked up with the "Q" rating and I retake the ATSAT after 3 years with hopes of receiving a "WQ" rating. My plan, along with everyone else looking for a job as an ATC, is to work for the FAA as soon as possible. I am worried that I will not get hired by the FAA anytime soon with this rating and am looking into other options to start a career in Air Traffic Control. I plan on choosing FL and OH as my two states because I have heard the panels look at your current location and where you were born during the hiring process. I know that FL is a highly picked state so I do not know if it is the best state to pick and I also don't think a lot of people would pick OH after having lived there for 18 years but who knows. I have also seen many people with the "Q" rating have been picked up in states such as AL and WV. I have spent countless hours reading through the forums of Stuckmic and have had many of my question answered but am still left with many questions that I can not find on the net or from recruiters. My next option is to serve in a branch of the Military as an ATC and file as VRA after my enlistment. I am considering the Marines, Air Force, and Air National Guard as options. The only reason I am not considering the Navy or Army is because you do not get credit for time on the ship in the Navy and I have heard Army controllers seem to come out the least qualified for ATC of the branches. Do you think joining one of these branches would be a good option for getting hired by the FAA quicker or should I just wait and retake the test and put my life on hold for the 4+ years? My worries with the Air Force is that I would be 30 at the end of the 6 year enlistment and would have maybe one panel to get lucky and be hired by the FAA which seems highly unlikely. Though the Air Force also does not seem like a bad idea to serve in as an ATC for 20 years until retirement, being that to my understanding, you can earn up to $90,000 a year and have a high reenlistment bonus. I have also read that many people do not reenlist in the Air Force for "political" and other various reasons at the bases and that training in the Air Force as far as Watch Supervisors is not as good as it used to be. My worries with the Marines are that there are not as many bases for ATC as there are in the Air Force so it seems like it would take longer to move up to a higher-level base to make the same salary as you could in the Air Force. I would get out of the Marines at 29 leaving a little more room for employment by the FAA but if I would not get hired by the FAA I don't know if serving 20 years for the Marines would be as comfortable as the Air Force as far as pay and living conditions. What would be the differences in serving and retiring as an ATC for the Marines than the Air Force? It seems that there is a better chance at training for ATC in the Marines than in the Air Force because there are already so many ATC's in the Air Force and not as many in the Marines. Also, I have read that you would be able to receive tower and radar experience with the Marines and the Air Force will only train you in one or the other. I have not found a lot of information on the Air National Guard but from what I have read it seems that it is a 6 year enlistment for ATC and training is for 52 weeks, then you serve for one deployment. The rest of your enlistment is 2 weeks out of the year and one weekend each month. After your first deployment you are eligible to file as VRA and are able to work with the FAA upon selection. While working for the FAA you must still serve for the rest of your enlistment. This seems like the most logical and fastest way of becoming an ATC for the FAA out the branches but it is not easy finding information on the ANG. I also do not know what the hiring process is going to be like 5 to 6 years from now so it seems like the sooner you get in the better. My questions for the ANG are what is the salary for the training period and deployment? When you get deployed are you deployed as ATC? What is the salary for the 2 weeks a year and 1 weekend a month after deployment? Also, do these 6 years of enlistment count toward retirement like the other branches? I would love to serve my country along with training for my career but I just want to make sure there will still be a career in the FAA as an ATC after I have served. I am also single and do not have kids and would not mind traveling the world for a bit. I know there are a lot of questions here and I am glad that we have a community such as Stuckmic for those who have been in each of these situations and have "been there done that" and can relay their information and knowledge to those of us just starting out in the field. If you are able to answer any of these questions or just have a small bit of information or advice that you could share or even some good ATC stories, I'm sure it would not only help me but many of the other ATC prospects who want to start working in the field but don't know which direction they should take. Thank you for your time and any information you can share is greatly appreciated.

flybyfive · Posted: 05-02-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABeckner

I am currently an Air Traffic Control CTI student at Broward College in FL and will be graduating this summer. I am 23 years old and turn 24 in October. I took the ATSAT exam on April 26th and received a "Q" rating. With this rating it could take me up to 4+ years to get hired by the FAA, being that I do not get lucky and get picked up with the "Q" rating and I retake the ATSAT after 3 years with hopes of receiving a "WQ" rating. My plan, along with everyone else looking for a job as an ATC, is to work for the FAA as soon as possible. I am worried that I will not get hired by the FAA anytime soon with this rating and am looking into other options to start a career in Air Traffic Control. I plan on choosing FL and OH as my two states because I have heard the panels look at your current location and where you were born during the hiring process. I know that FL is a highly picked state so I do not know if it is the best state to pick and I also don't think a lot of people would pick OH after having lived there for 18 years but who knows. I have also seen many people with the "Q" rating have been picked up in states such as AL and WV. I have spent countless hours reading through the forums of Stuckmic and have had many of my question answered but am still left with many questions that I can not find on the net or from recruiters. My next option is to serve in a branch of the Military as an ATC and file as VRA after my enlistment. I am considering the Marines, Air Force, and Air National Guard as options. The only reason I am not considering the Navy or Army is because you do not get credit for time on the ship in the Navy and I have heard Army controllers seem to come out the least qualified for ATC of the branches. Do you think joining one of these branches would be a good option for getting hired by the FAA quicker or should I just wait and retake the test and put my life on hold for the 4+ years? My worries with the Air Force is that I would be 30 at the end of the 6 year enlistment and would have maybe one panel to get lucky and be hired by the FAA which seems highly unlikely. Though the Air Force also does not seem like a bad idea to serve in as an ATC for 20 years until retirement, being that to my understanding, you can earn up to $90,000 a year and have a high reenlistment bonus. I have also read that many people do not reenlist in the Air Force for "political" and other various reasons at the bases and that training in the Air Force as far as Watch Supervisors is not as good as it used to be. My worries with the Marines are that there are not as many bases for ATC as there are in the Air Force so it seems like it would take longer to move up to a higher-level base to make the same salary as you could in the Air Force. I would get out of the Marines at 29 leaving a little more room for employment by the FAA but if I would not get hired by the FAA I don't know if serving 20 years for the Marines would be as comfortable as the Air Force as far as pay and living conditions. What would be the differences in serving and retiring as an ATC for the Marines than the Air Force? It seems that there is a better chance at training for ATC in the Marines than in the Air Force because there are already so many ATC's in the Air Force and not as many in the Marines. Also, I have read that you would be able to receive tower and radar experience with the Marines and the Air Force will only train you in one or the other. I have not found a lot of information on the Air National Guard but from what I have read it seems that it is a 6 year enlistment for ATC and training is for 52 weeks, then you serve for one deployment. The rest of your enlistment is 2 weeks out of the year and one weekend each month. After your first deployment you are eligible to file as VRA and are able to work with the FAA upon selection. While working for the FAA you must still serve for the rest of your enlistment. This seems like the most logical and fastest way of becoming an ATC for the FAA out the branches but it is not easy finding information on the ANG. I also do not know what the hiring process is going to be like 5 to 6 years from now so it seems like the sooner you get in the better. My questions for the ANG are what is the salary for the training period and deployment? When you get deployed are you deployed as ATC? What is the salary for the 2 weeks a year and 1 weekend a month after deployment? Also, do these 6 years of enlistment count toward retirement like the other branches? I would love to serve my country along with training for my career but I just want to make sure there will still be a career in the FAA as an ATC after I have served. I am also single and do not have kids and would not mind traveling the world for a bit. I know there are a lot of questions here and I am glad that we have a community such as Stuckmic for those who have been in each of these situations and have "been there done that" and can relay their information and knowledge to those of us just starting out in the field. If you are able to answer any of these questions or just have a small bit of information or advice that you could share or even some good ATC stories, I'm sure it would not only help me but many of the other ATC prospects who want to start working in the field but don't know which direction they should take. Thank you for your time and any information you can share is greatly appreciated.

Air National Guard. Quickest route to get a CTO. Or wait 3 years and retake the AT-SAT. Most enlistments are going to put you close to 30. Go Guard.

That being said, from your tone it sounds like your #1 priority is to be an ATC. Active duty in any branch will allow you to fulfill that. Whatever you choose, good luck!

FL_CTI · Posted: 05-02-2012, 09:32 PM

Broward CTI Grad, December 2010, "Q" score, got picked up this panel, age 27. PM me with questions.

TAJ · Posted: 05-02-2012, 09:37 PM

ANG sounds like a good plan, really any reserve branch of the military, so you can accept an offer from the faa without dishonorable discharge/tar and feathering/whatever the military does if you quit.

UNDgrad06 · Posted: 05-02-2012, 10:31 PM

First thing I would do is buy a Keyboard with a return key and make a few paragraphs out that nonsense.

N_Trutza · Posted: 05-02-2012, 11:37 PM

you'd be 28 with the almost mandatory stint in the Navy to be an AC. There's no gaurentee that you'll not go straight to a ship after school... yes you'll probably still have to go. Also in the marines if you're not off the charts in the ASFAB I doubt they'll let you go atc.
No suggestions from me but this is what i know from experience.

N_Trutza · Posted: 05-02-2012, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNDgrad06

First thing I would do is buy a Keyboard with a return key and make a few paragraphs out that nonsense.

+1500 on this it's hard to read with no real breaks.

ABeckner · Posted: 05-03-2012, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNDgrad06

First thing I would do is buy a Keyboard with a return key and make a few paragraphs out that nonsense.

Yeah your right I guess that would help...

Trying to edit now but it wont seem to let me. I made a new thread with separate paragraphs but do not know how to delete this thread. If you are unable read this thread please comment on the other thread page. Thanks again!!! CTI Grad W/ "Q" ATSAT Score Looking at Military Option Please Help!!!

slip2117 · Posted: 05-03-2012, 11:00 AM

I graduated in '09 with a Qualifying score and just had my interview today. It can be done. I didn't network either, didn't have time, just got lucky. Personally, I would wait it out and see what happens. Pick smaller states that most don't want to go to. I got picked up for Iowa, but my wife and me actually like Iowa (stop laughing) so that is why I threw it down. Keep your head up.

phillyman2633 · Posted: 05-03-2012, 12:02 PM

Why are there 2 threads open on this? You could have taken UND's advice and edited your post without creating a new thread, yo.

View Poll Results: In my position which option would you choose?
Wait to retake ATSAT	11	40.74%
Air Force	6	22.22%
Marines	3	11.11%
Air National Guard	2	7.41%
Other	5	18.52%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

The Following 18 Users Say Thank You to UNDgrad06 For This Useful Post:
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CTI Grad W/ "Q" ATSAT Score Looking at Military Option Please Help!!!

Stuck Mic - Air Traffic Control - ATC - Aviation