wlzeysing3 Newcomer Kansas City

I am getting ready to turn 25 and looking for the best way to join the FAA as a controller. From the information I've been able to gather so far OTS pubnats are sketchy and a gamble at best as of right now. CTI's are expensive and still not a guaranteed trip to the academy. What seems to be the most sure thing is to enter the military and once my enlistment ends transfer or apply with the FAA. I know most enlistments for controllers are 6 years and the FAA supposedly won't take you if you are 31 or older but when I looked at the VRA application it doesn't say anything about age like the CTI apps do. Any advice or tips you might be able to offer are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

jarhead0863 Senior Member CTI

Hey. Welcome to Stuckmic. Being 25 already, you are kind of in a pickle with joining the military. I am not completely sure, but I think you give the military 6 years then after that you Could go and work for the FAA. The problem being, you would be 31 then, so that may not work. You could try OTS, but right now it does not look well for many OTS candidates. Your last bet, probably the best right now, would be going the CTI route. I am in a CTI program (UND) right now. Granted I am only 20 years old, I still have some time until the age cut off. The are plenty of 2 and 4 year programs out there right now. If you already have a degree then maybe a 2 year program would work best. It would also be the least expensive. If you do not have a degree already, then maybe a 4 year program would be better. That's what I am doing right now. That way you could possibly double major or just do the program as it is layed out. If ATC would happen to not work out then you could go back and finish off 2 more years in another area of study. All in all, I say go for a 2 or 4 year CTI degree, but in the end it is your choice. Good luck!

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

The Marine Corps and the Navy do five year contracts for ATC. The Navy even offers an early out if you are picked up by the FAA in the last year. Still cutting it close and you may not get the training you need to apply for VRA but you do still get veteran's preference if you go pubnat.

noid Richard Cranium Jawja

The harsh reality is that you may have to stick with joining the military and then going for DoD/Contract unless you get into a CTI program yesterday. DoD is pretty good, just hard to get into. Join the military and network as your time is coming up.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Even under a VRA application you are held to the age 31 cutoff... if you happen to miss that or not get an offer by then you can apply for a DoD job up until you turn 35.

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

You can apply for DoD after 35 there isn't a cut-off other than the mandatory age 56 retirement.

DASAUTO Banned

There is an age cutoff for DoD, and it's not older than 36. The retired guys just get age waivers. I've never heard of the DoD denying the age waiver.

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

I stand corrected

TimShady Senior Member Illinois

The best way for a 25 year old is a 2 year CTI program. There are many to choose from, you should be able to find one near you and hopefully within your budget. Student loans man, if and when you get a job with the FAA making six figures you'll be able to pay them off easily. Just sayin.

sailor_pianist Junior Member Birmingham, AL

Really, the Navy will let you out early if you're picked up by the FAA during your last year? I heard it was almost impossible to get out early even with a class date. Do you have to have an OKC date before they'll let you out?