Quick Question

rampboss Newcomer

Out of curiosity..

I am going to OKC as an OTS applicant. I have no previous ATC experience nor military time.

After I graduate OKC and get checked out at my facility, How would joining the guard or reserve unit work while already being an FAA controller? Could they discriminate against me? Does getting checked out at enroute facility matter? Would I be eligible for enlistment at advanced rank (I know the army has something like this)?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

speediebang Senior Member Gulfport, Mississippi

Out of curiosity...

Why would you want to? Check out what may happen when you are still guard and pushing 52. Your guard pay will factor into your FAA retirement and that is bad if you get deployed at 40K a year during your top 3 in the FAA. I could be wrong, but REALLY look into the retirement before you make a decision. 2 retirements sounds good, but that 40K year will hurt your top 3 years.

rampboss Newcomer

I realize that! Thanks though!

Just something I should have did right out of high school. Still want to...just don't want to let the FAA pass by when I am this close.

polo708 Epic Member tower

you cant pull 2 government retirements at once...

also, if you are going to a center you will be making over 100K/year checked out. Why carry the burden of the ANG?

rampboss Newcomer

I am crazy.....

Seriously though, something I have just always wanted to do. I guess if you knew me you would understand.

Money and building some high $$ years is nice for retirement, but money isnt everything. I don't want to go any further in life and regret not doing something...

Thanks for the replies!

speediebang Senior Member Gulfport, Mississippi

Second that!

DASAUTO Banned

You're not crazy..otherwise you would have went active duty and joined PJ or Combat Control. Maybe putting on the uniform and rolling around in the dirt one weekend a month appeals to you or makes you feel like a "badass."

Either way, at this point, i would not recommend it. It's gonna take 3-4 years to get checked out in a center from the time you start training in OKC. During that time, the AF can...and likely will deploy you, further delaying your training at the Center and your full CPC pay. It will take FOREVER to build 20 years in the guard for retirement.

I can understand that the military was always on your "to do" list, but if you haven't done it by now, what's the point? Focus on getting qualified in the Center, and build up your retirement that way.

TOWER_BOY1 Senior Member brooklyn NY

ok now it makes sense.....

whegner Junior Member

I appreciate and respect your sense of duty to country. I assume you are a young man who sees others of your generation who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and you feel frustration or maybe guilt that you have not shared in their sacrifices. I get it. I also think I know the feeling you have towards "doing something that matters".

ATC matters.

As a controller you are responsible for not only making sure that millions of people are able to safely get into flying metal tubes and be magically transported to the other side of the earth on a daily basis. What you may not realize is you are also responsible for the defense of the United States. When 9/11 happened, ATC was instrumental in identifying the perpetrators, alerting other aircraft and keeping them out of the way, safely landing those aircraft, closing off the airspace to other threats, and assisting the military in securing us. ATC directly or indirectly helped save thousands that day.

I served 10 years in the military and I respect your desire to join, however it would not be good council for anyone here to advise you to join after getting into the job. It will only stunt your growth in the profession. When I was in I did a tour on an I & I Staff (Active duty trainer) for a reserve ATC unit. We had two FAA controllers assigned to us who were prior active then went FAA. In both cases, they were rarely permitted to attend drills and never were allowed to deploy. Both left the reserves within a year or two. In the reserve and guard you gain retirement points based on attendance. If you can't attend, you can't get points or promotions and you'll never gain enough to retire. Additionally, since we were an ATC unit we were lenient towards these guys...we understood. If you end up in the MP's, Avionics, or anything non-ATC, your unit probably won't. Just my 2 cents. Good luck in pursuing your career goals