I think I found the perfect place

Unmanedpilot Rookie Mesa, Az

Hello everyone!

Looks like I found probably the best forum I could find at a time like this! I warn you I'm about to tell you half my life story here but here's the main point: I want to become an Air Traffic Controller. Tell me everything you know.

Here's what I have for you.

I am currently enrolled in Arizona State University getting a Bachelors for Air Traffic Control. However, school is not my strong suit, mainly cause I don't like it. And college has been worse beacuse its self paced. My life goal is to become an FAA controller and I feel (and my school adviser also agrees) that Air Force is really the way to go right now. The way he put it is why go into debt learning the same thing I could be learning through the AF and getting paid for it.

My family is all right with me joining but my grandpa's main concern is the fact that its not guaranteed. However I read in another thread on here that It can be guaranteed? Can someone confirm?

I haven't talked to a recruiter yet (I will be sometime next week) but I know that they will tell me whatever they want to reach their quota. Ive been bugged by Navy, Army, and National Guard recruiters so I know how they can be which is why I'm on here. But what should I ask them? I'm getting most of my information about the AF from anybody BUT a recruiter so I would like to know what I should be asking him.

So my next question is this, I know FAA is in desperate need of ATC. How does the AF compare to that? If I do sign up what are the chances that I'll be taken into the program? I think I read before that I can guarantee the ATC job with the recruiter, and the minimum enlistment is 6 years? And if I do enlist for 6 years does that give me the advantage of starting out as an E-3? (I read that here Ask.com : US Military ) And is there any enlistment bonus for ATC right now?

I'm not sure what else I need to ask you at this point, fill me with what you know! I'm all ears.

Finally can someone confirm what my ASVAB scores need to be? I think I read somewhere that ATC wants at least 55? (again Ask.com)

I'll post my scores below as I'm curious as to how I did compared compared to other people. I'm going to try and improve my scores I'm just wondering what I should work on.

General Science - 72
Arithmetic Reasoning - 80
Word Knowledge - 60
Paragraph Comprehension - 73.3
Auto & Shop Information - 48
Mathematics Knowledge - 76
Mechanical Comprehension - 28
Electronics Information - 70

All scores are in percentage.

Finally, unrelated to enlistment, what jobs are available as a military ATC facility wise? I'd prefer to work as a Tower, but does the AF have Approach and Center positions as well? I can see how they would have approach, but they wouldn't have Centers would they? All that airspace between FL180 and FL600 must be all FAA correct?

Thanks for reading through, I'm excited that I found this forum and look forward to any answers you may have!

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

How old are you? That has a lot to do with what advice you will get.

...oh, and welcome to the forum!

geardown Junior Member GA

I do not think you start out E-3 just because you sign for 6 yrs. I know if you have so many hrs of college credit you can start at E-3. Does not really make a big difference. E-1 through E-3 is about the same anyway. Not sure your recruiter can guarantee you ATC. You have to score high enough on the test and then the person at MEPS will tell you what you qualify for. Just take the ASVAB and go from there.

Unmanedpilot Rookie Mesa, Az

Ok I may have gotten the E-3 thing mixed up with the school credits.

And I'm 19. I'll probably be 20 once I actually start training, I want to finish this semester out first.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

You definitely have time on your side, which is better than some. You also have the option of Off The Street (OTS), but I would either focus on the CTI degree or the military. Is there a chance you'll be able to get your grades up and finish? Since you've already started, that would be my first choice.

Since you're only 19 and if the college just won't work, me personally, I'd suggest the military. The AF and the Navy are probably your better options for getting the experience and qualifications you need. Even though I'm a Navy guy, the AF is probably the better of the two.

I'm not sure of the enlistment requirements, either 5 or 6. I'm sure there are people on here that can answer that question and whether or not you get E-3 after completing training.

geardown, if you he scores high enough, the recruiter can guarantee the job. Just make sure everything is in writing....EVERYTHING!!

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

yes to approach, tons of them

there are exceptions.

Nellis Approach (LSV in Vegas) works airspace from the ground up to God. so those guys receive an enroute/center rating, although it's not really a true enroute rating. it's only one sector that works the ultra-highs and not a center full of sectors.

another exception is SPORT radar, which is the DOD approach control facility for Edwards AFB CA. their civilians working for the DOD and not for the FAA. they own R-2515 from surface to God.

geardown Junior Member GA

I will tell you this much, if you go navy you only have to sign for 5. If you do not take a sign on bonus you can request to drop the last year because it is only an extension. Of course no one will tell you this because they want you to do the five years. The down side is that you could end up on a ship. Not sure the FAA cares what kind of controlling you do while on a ship. The up side is that you could get shore duty staight out of A school. If that were to happen you could do all of your time on land and get checked out in both radar and tower.

geardown Junior Member GA

Also, the navy does have a few TRACONS, but I am not sure how many.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

if you go USAF, you have to sign for 6 years. the 4 year option is not available at the moment. i wish i could remember the requirements for college credits to receive rank. a very very broad guess is something like 19 credits gets you to E-2 and 38 credits gets you to E-3. also, unless it has changed an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America gets you one stripe. so does 3 years of high school JROTC.

you can definitely go in guaranteed for ATC in the USAF. in fact if that was your goal i would make sure that happened before you sign any kind of commitment. if they don't offer it to you then simply walk out and tell them thanks but no thanks. UNDER NO CONDITION should you go in "Open General" if all you want it ATC.

is the ASU ATC program at the Tempe campus or is it at the Williams campus? I used to work the tower at Williams and I know ASU had a sh!t load of planes there. Is the pilot and ATC program at ASU the same?

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

The sea/shore rotation "was" 3/3 for E-5 and below. The FAA does not accept any shipboard ATC for experience. If you get the top of the class, you can pick your station. There were a lot of boots that got shore facilities for their first duty station. Geardown is correct, you have the option of turning down the bonus and dropping the last year. This might help you out if you get shore first time up. If you don't mind going overseas, you could go out to Diego Garcia and get checked out quick, then you have a CTO with experience. All done!