does the army give you a cto?

Lpingel Newcomer

Hello I was wondering <title>? Also would I be good to go with a contract job with this cto...I know there is talk about needing 6 mo exp does this military experience count towards this 6 mo...so could I get out the army and land a contract job right away? thanks!

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

They can if you are working in a tower. It would be good for getting a contract job or FAA job when your done.

Resoof Newcomer Wichita, KS

yes.

Problem is that there are not many VFR towers in the Army. Most Army controllers end up in tactical units. I got my CTO at Fort Sill in 1995, then got out of the Army in 1999. After being out for 10 years I was able to land a job with Midwest.

dan Rookie Lake Charles, LA (CWF)

The Army does issue CTO's for VFR towers. All of the stagefields at Ft Rucker are CTO facilities, and the base fields at Rucker are CTO, but are mostly controlled by DoD. There is also Cairns Army (KOZR) at Rucker, and then there are towers at Ft Hood, Ft Bliss, Ft Stewart, Ft Campbell, Ft Sill, Ft Polk, Ft Eustis, Ft Drum, and a few more. Then there are also a few places in combat zones that offer CTO's.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Ft Polk Tower is DOD and their tactical ops are run by an Air Force detatchment.

Also, pretty much all Army Towers are DOD now. Active Duty Army "controllers" will probably never see a CTO now a days. When I left Polk the final Active Duty controller was on his way out.

dan Rookie Lake Charles, LA (CWF)

You're right about Ft Polk being DOD, but like most other Army DOD facilities they still keep a few "Green Suiters" on board, but I don't have any exact numbers as of now.

And as I said above ALL of the Stage Fields at Ft Rucker are still ran solely by Active Duty Army "controllers". I just spoke to a friend that is actually working at one the Base Fields at Ft Rucker (Lowe and Shell), and she gave me some new info. Those facilities were almost completely DOD, but they have scaled back to less than half of the staff as DOD.

polo708 Epic Member tower

Well I only worked there, but your "hearsay" from the combat weather flight is probably way more accurate.

Bottom line, your chances of getting a CTO from the army aren't that great, especially if you think you will do the minimum enlistment and bail. Contract companies will overlook a controller with Army only experience, especially if its followed by the minimum of 6 months. With the FAA, they just want a CTO period. They dont care who you are or where you got it.

dan Rookie Lake Charles, LA (CWF)

Ok, since last night I have made a phone call in regard to Ft Polk, and you are correct sir. My source was wrong before, my apologies.

What the hell is combat weather flight? I do have to agree with you on the fact that most contract companies overlook Army controllers for the most part, and I personally think it to be foolish for them to do it so blatantly, but what do I know...
I believe Secro will take folks with only 6 months but RVA and CI2 both require at least 2 years experience w/CTO, so those guys that bounced around the Navy and Marine Corp as Flight Data and Ground junkies are out of luck. I don't have any details for Midwest, so I will refrain from making any assumptions.

polo708 Epic Member tower

I see "CWF" in your profile... thought it was Combat Weather, nevermind.

And im not saying that an army CTO with minimum time will not get you hired in the FCT world, but there will be PLENTY considered before you.

dan Rookie Lake Charles, LA (CWF)

Nah, CWF is the airport that I am currently stuck at.

Again I have to agree with you, the Army guys that have came into the FCT system with "gimmie" CTO's and couldn't cut the mustard have made life a lot harder for those following them.