DOD Employment...what to do next!

xxthabronxbombaxx Newcomer

Hey whats going on fellas? Im a fellow ATC`er in Afghanistan and im approaching the magic 36 year old time frame...1 1/2 years to be exact. And my question is I have been appyling to all of the new DOD announcements and im getting what ya all are getting...Your resume has been refered and submitted..bla..bla..bla. Should I be more proactive...ie calling the HR or the facility itself??? Can anyone give me some info...appreciate it.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Alot more pro-active. DoD jobs are all about who you know. Managers have an idea of who is getting the job before hand, they just have to legally post a job announcment for it. Basically you need an edge.

xxthabronxbombaxx Newcomer

True...I have heard that for years. But it isnt 100 percent the case, they do every now and then pick the "best qualified". Well then let me pose another question. Has anyone on this board got a DOD position without the good old boy network. Just on the merit of their job qualifications. If so how did it go down. Did ya call the facilities or the HR people yourself...Im thinking of getting on the horn and beating down the doors...wish me luck.

moflo Newcomer

3 years ago, when i got my tentative offer from the faa, I got a job offer in Meridian, MS at Key Tower (DOD Air Force). I didn't know the manager or anybody there. So sometimes the buddy systems isn't in play. Before that I was hired at Ft Rucker and knowing somebody there did help me get the job. I turned down the job in Meridian because I was promised at the time by the faa that I would save pay. (NEVER TRUST WHAT THE FAA EVER TELLS YOU!!!) 9 months later I was told the truth about what my pay would really be and have regretted it ever since. As far as the current bids go, your guess is as good as mine. I'm trying to get a DOD job in the Carolinas but it is hard to tell what is going on with this usajobs thing. With the open bids now, you never truely know when there is an opening.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Word is... the Air Force is losing alot of controllers and they plan to go to a more deployed schedule with active duty controllers, something like deply for 4 months then home for 8-12. This means that there will be alot more DoD slots opening up in the near future.

xxthabronxbombaxx Newcomer

That sounds good BZ I would take a job anywhere..Minot overseas etc. For #### sake im already in Afghanistan so it couldnt get worse eh? Moflo im sure being a 2152 at Rucker helped ya with that Air Force job...I need to get my foot in the door somewhere. Was Rucker a good place to work? If I did get selected would they notify me by E-Mail or by phone...reason I ask is I only have DSN. Who handles the selection process is it HR at belvoir or is it the manager after HR screened the applicants. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

moflo Newcomer

Rucker was a pretty good place to work. I worked at one of the towers. The only problem there is the higher ups on the post seem to not be good managers and rif's (reduction in force) were a common occurance. That was the only reason I left. If I ever went back though, I would want to go back to the arac. Busy level 4 but the pay is very good. The army I believe will call by phone and air force notifies you by email. The facility chief will make the selection but the regional CPAC or HR will notify you.

JStewart66 Newcomer FL

are u still in Afghanistan, and are you looking for Tower or Radar?

timmy2tone Newcomer

I'm current reserve Air force ATC, been trying DOD for years now, got 2 offers, minot and grand forks. Just was not up for that.

VBeachR32 Junior Member

I had gotten a job offer with a DOD contractor in Ft Greer Alaska. I was thinking of taking at first until I researched it and the place was in the middle of nowhere, real estate was ridiculous and there was no job security. The best job offer I got, other than the railroad job I have now, was with CSC (Computer Sciences Corp). It was in Vegas, but thats as much as they would tell me. It involved being flown into the site for 4 days and then off for 3. Only downfall was it took up to a year to pass the security clearance.