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

USMC0517 Newcomer Denver

I voted for the Marines because I am one, but seriously I wouldn't join the Marines unless you want to be one, not just because its a path to the FAA.

Life in the Marines is going to be more rough (living conditions not as nice, more PT, more BS etc, etc) than the other sister branches you picked. Pay is exactly the same for EVERY branch of the military so not sure where you heard the salary was better. You aren't paid off of "higher level bases" either. Everyone is paid according to rank and you move up when you meet the cutting score, or time in grade if your at the bottom. Also, 90000 a year is not going to happen (consistently) unless your an officer and at least a Major, which will take 10 years at the LEAST to make 04. As for bonuses, with the military cutbacks, and the wars coming to an end I would not even consider them in your decision. Most bonuses in the Marines were gone in 2008-09 when Obama took office....Just keep that stuff in mind with your decision..(military pay and promotions is way more complex then what I just wrote, so if you have any military questions PM me i'll explain in more detail..I wasn't ATC in the Marines so don't ask anything ATC specific)

As for the bases you are correct that there are less places to go in the Marines, however that can be a good thing. The majority of Marine bases are near a coast and you will more than likely end up stationed in California, North Carolina, Florida, Japan, or Hawaii...These are all pretty good places to live lol...I'm not positive about the AF but I'm pretty sure you can end up anywhere....

Not trying to discourage you from the military route, just trying to give you a realistic picture. Keep in mind if you don't go the military route, and wait to retake, what if you get a Q again? You have a very good chance of never getting picked up.....

The FAA job outlook showed the hiring numbers staying pretty consistent for the next 10 years, and I read that they had 5000 eligible applicants and they were trying to get between 2000-3000 lol. Now that the CTI schools are graduating more and more students every year, the elgibile applicants is going to continue to grow faster than the rate of higher, which is probably going to mean a much more competitve hiring process in the near future...IMO.... This is already starting with the hiring changes they are implementing.....

If I were you I would go the military route.....Plus, if you get picked up in say 4 years from now through CTI, they will probably hold your TOL until you get out....(maybe)

liondave Senior Member Seattle

Air Force gets all kinds of "substandard living stipends" and other bs like that. If they are living on a Marine or Army base then they are making more than their Army/Marine neighbors.
Also, their PT is a joke.
Also, I should have joined the Air Force instead the Army...

USMC0517 Newcomer Denver

Technically the allowance is available to all branches, but Air Force is the only branch that is realistically going to pay it. There are also regs on how bad the living quarters have to be...If your getting that detailed in to pay, you could argue that Marines and Army could get more because they are entitled to Imminent Danger pay, combat pay etc. (some airmen get this as well, but less likely) Then you could say the Navy and Marines get paid more because of Sea duty pay....Theres a 100 different ways you could argue who get more based on allowances, but in the end you'll make the same and these allowances are very small and are only temporary based on the situation.

RFDATM Trusted Contributor IL

The answer should be simple - are you looking for a job or an exciting career? If ATC is your passion then actually do it in the military instead of siting around waiting to retake a test or maybe get selected. Have you looked over the CWP and the numbers in the pool waiting?