Matty13 Senior Member

Good to hear it! It's better to come by higher pay honestly, by doing harder work.

Heart set on terminal? There's always Fort Worth and Miami or Jax centers.

P_to_the_R Senior Member philly

go to faa website, click on jobs, get to the screen that has drop down menus, click on faa employees for job search and 2152 for the series...you will see the qualifications.

HowBoutThemBoys Rookie

I never met an officer in the Air Force that could control worth a shit. All officers suck at controlling unless they were prior enlisted! You just don't have the time to get good with all the additional duties that you'll be assigned...you'll get your ratings(which will be given to you regardless of your skill level) and then you'll come in once a month and work your hour per position(you'll likely come in when the airspace is dead and won't even talk to any planes)!

psachs Trusted Member Chicago

It's interesting that those job listings say a lot about what makes a good manager, but not much about what an FLM actually does...

That was the entire "duties" section, by the way.

AF_ATC Newcomer

I am not claiming I will be very skilled once my time in the Air Force is up. I do plan on doing whatever I can while in the Air Force but I understand that it is 'officer first.'

Since you all have made me aware of the fact that I will probably not be anywhere close to 'current' when trying to get in with the FAA, can someone say how difficult the transition will be? I already know I will have a lot of "catching up" to do but from my understanding VRAs still go to the Academy so I would think I'd have at least somewhat of a leg-up on someone just of the street.

Also with the fact that officers are not good controllers while in, does anyone know any officers now working with the FAA who are good controllers? What would you suggest or advise me of if I am thinking of making this transition one day? Tips while I am opn active duty and during the transition period? Thanks in advance!

P_to_the_R Senior Member philly

Dont listen to howboutthemboys...he knows nothing. A good air traffic controller is a good air traffic controller regardless. I know plenty of officers that are good controllers...some stayed in, others got out and are checked out in busy FAA facilities. Listen to your trainers and you will be successful

HowBoutThemBoys Rookie

I know nothing? What I said was on the money? I never said officers don't have the potential to be good controllers, what I said was you will not be allowed time to become a good(skilled) controller because you have more important things to do! Controlling is an enlisted job as an officer you will be managing controllers and assisting in managing Airfield Operations! As an officer you're all but given you're ratings no matter how bad you are because you'll only be controlling a few hours a month during dead time and you're not really given an oppurtunity to go through the training program the right way, you'll be rushed and have a hard time getting free of other duties to sit in position! Anyone says anthing else and they're just lying...

Radium Senior Analyst Southern Cali

If you get hired VRA, in my opinion you would be behind the power curve @ the acad. Not saying that you will fail, because hell, there were people in my class behind the powercurve... but say you get picked up VRA to Center, going from ATC Officer... would be a lil bit of a tough run.