Ask the USAF ATC Instructor!

polo708 Epic Member tower

Military traffic is fun for sure... Fighter traffic was one thing that was making me second guess getting out. Luckily the FAA tower I got picked up with runs an F16 wing of about 100 jets along with the airliners. I cant think of better traffic to work... I get to keep my fighter jet fix.

As for Nellis traffic there is 1 word... canned, lol.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

I know when I was there it wasn't canned. I was tower though, so there was a lot more "thinking on your feet". When you have a flight of 2/B1's, 4 F16's, a flight F15's and GR-3's, inbound A-10's, and a couple of departures to get out (not counting helos) it can get messy....

Needless to say it was a lot of fun during Red Flag, but that was about it. Oh yea, and I was shit hot there, or so I was told. haha.

mah584jr Newcomer

Thank you all for the responses thus far.

Is Air Traffic Control in the USAF a difficult program to get into?

Are there lots of openings?

Did y'all find your jobs rewarding?

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

ATC is any service shouldnt be too hard to get into, since its a highly needed field in both military and civilian (as far as staffing)... its easy to get placed.... a thousand time easier than say, being a USAF FireFighter.

A good % of Military ATCers do one-two tours, then go to the FAA.... so the mil is ALWAYS looking for more controllers. Works out well for everyone.

As far as REWARDING... its what you make out of it... do you get self satisfaction by pushing tin, serving your country, making money... what? Personally, I loved working planes, I loved deploying to Iraq, I love how my job is entertaining, and I love how Military ATC lead me to FAA ATC.

Rewarding is an interesting thing to ask... because you can always find something you love and hate about the job, the assignment, the co-workers. IMO, ATC is cool enough on its own, that you can make it into whatever experiance you want it to be.

*doh, sry for hijacking your thread left and right Bang. Tell engle*** hes a douch for giving me a LOC for "not studying" after I got a 100% on a quiz.

mah584jr Newcomer

I guess my last questions would be how do you get through basic training. I've never really been into exercising (although I'm in decent shape). How do get yourself into the right mindset? Will the experience change my mindset about physical exercise? I guess I'm just worried I'd fail out somehow.

Thanks in advance for all of your responses. You guys have really set up a nice picture of life in the Air Force.

polo708 Epic Member tower

USAF boot camp is a joke... you basically run and do pushups and situps for an hour a day. Then you need to be able to pass a test which is pretty routine and not too hard. If you are in decent shape I wouldnt sweat it.

speediebang Senior Member Gulfport, Mississippi

Polo is correct, anyone can make it through basic, so long as you want to. Basic has now been extended to 8 weeks as I'm sure you read. With that there is increased field "warrior" training. Tell you right now, it's a bit (a very little bit) tougher now more than ever. However, I've seen the knuckleheads who have made it through... you have very small shoes to fill bro! Most never did exercise prior to going in either, however going for jogs prior to entering is a good step, especially if you are heading toward TX in the summertime. But that is in no way a requisite. So far, the longest I've heard people had to run at Basic is 2.5 miles timed or 30 minutes jogging. If you think by the end of 8 weeks you can accomplish that you are good.

In Basic you also gotta remember that it is a mind game. If you want it bad enough the instructors (as well as at tech school) will ensure your graduation. Some rocks however no matter how bad they want it, you just can't help. But like I said, if you show you want it, take it, hell they will give it to you, as long as YOU put in the effort.

The exercise portion is also limited at the beginning and works gradually up to where you need to be. If exercise is holding you back from joining, bad mistake. I've seen VERY VERY few people not be able to make it due to exercise. Just push it out for 8 weeks. You'll be fine.

(Radium, dude, you can pirate my thread all you want. I definately don't have all the answers, that's why I had a scantron! HA!)

mah584jr Newcomer

Thanks again speedie for your elaborate answers.

This is a bit off topic but do you know anything about being a loadmaster?? How tough is it to get a position in that field? What have you heard from loadmasters you may have met? Do a lot of people apply for that afsc?

saw1879 Newcomer

If you are single and wanna see the world then loadmaster is a great job. Not too many jobs out of the military though, mostly UPS, FedEx, etc. Most loads I know get out because the job is pretty boring and they are gone all the time. Most enlisted aviator jobs are easy to get into as long as you can pass the flight physical.

You can PM me and I can fill you in on some of the aspects of the job. I have a couple good friends that are enlisted flyers. One is a boom operator and the other a loadmaster.

speediebang Senior Member Gulfport, Mississippi

Thanks SAW totally clueless on that one, other than they have SOME training at Keesler AFB, MS for a short time for SOME of them. Tell you what though, looks like they have to be in shape.