Military Retirement Vs FAA

Er_Trafik_Bruh Newcomer

I'm an Air Traffc Controller in the US Air Force for 10 yrs. Im 29 and was thinking should I stay in and retire or get out and Apply for FAA. Any suggestions?

VM_AIRBOSS Junior Member Melbourne, FL

Hmmm tough decision, given you are just past the 1/2 way mark. If you are dead set on a a career in ATC, now might be the time to get out and pursue the FAA, DoD or FCT program, rather waiting and betting that there will be a Phoenix 20 like program still in place, or DoD Age waivers, or FCT. I personally wouldn't bet on an FAA anything, even getting out and getting on before you 31st B-Day. There may be something available for you as a military retiree in the FAA in 10 years, but as with anything no guarantee.
As for the DoD, I would almost bet there would be more opportunities still, and in my case an age waiver was not hard to get at all. What you need to do, is find the regulation and quote it chapter and verse in your application on how you are eligible for one, and the procedure for the gaining command to go about getting one. A lot of the time, unless there is a really sharp ATM, facilities just don't know how to go about getting them, and think that they are harder to get approved than what they are.
As for FCT, contract towers, there is always going to be a need for those. The FAA makes out like a bandit on those.
Now with that said, I will tell you this. As a military retiree, with 23 yrs 8 mos of active duty, and 1 yr 4 mos of reserve time before that for a total of 25 years to the month of in uniform as a Marine when I retired in 2006 at the age of 43, I was able to get hired DoD/USAF, and I know quite a few of my peers that were able to do the same thing with various DoD/Component Agencies.
The point I am making is that every month, on the 1st, as long as my oxygen input continues to exceed my CO2 output, I get a very nice check from the gov't that is always there on time. Throw in the medical insurance, exchange/commissary benefits, as well as accsss to base recreation facilities and I don't regret one bit not jumping ship and going to the FAA/DoD earlier in my career.
Tack on VA disability and I am already making a nice salary before I even have to clock in...lol!
If you think about it, I don't think that there is one retiree out there that regrets staying around for the benefits and the priviledge of serving, but how many times have you heard others say or tell you, if I had only stayed in I would have been retired now, or, I wished I had stayed in, or, I should have never gotten out, or, if I could get back in I would?
I know I have heard all those and more, and the chances of getting back in after getting out are slim to none, unless you are willing to give up your time in grade, and/or come in at a lower rank.
Whatever, you do think about it and how fast the first 10 years went, cause the last 10 years goes by even faster...

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

I would say you have a 1 in 10 chance of making it to the FAA prior to your 31st, if you were 28, I'd bump it up to like 75%.
MAYBe thats a little harsh, but... the quest to get picked up is taking longer and longer now (even tho they are in desperate need still). You would be taking a HUGE gamble at 29... cause if you DONT get picked up by 31, you are wtf fucked. 10 yrs in the AF for nothing.

I told my buddy not to risk it, he was in your same shoes. So instead he just re-upped, got his 90g enlistment bonus... and is gonna coast his way to MSgt and retirement.

And our retired VM ctrler is correct... its solid cash making 40g's cash + benefits, and then another 65-85 as a DOD controller... even easier if you get picked up at an old base of yours, since there is no real training you need to do.

If you were 22-26 the money would be with the FAA, both during and thru retirement... but 10in, at 29... stay bro, coast till 20!

barnett Trusted Member

I'm kind of in the same boat, I've been in the navy for 7yrs and my enlistment ends at 9yrs. I definatly want to get out but with all of the waiting going on it's a little sketchy. Does anyone know how hard it is to get picked up where you want to go? And do you have to go to school in OK if you already have a TRACON ticket and a CTO?

atcbrownie Trusted Member Warrenton Va

everyone has to go to okc for school, but if you have qualifying experience you don't have to attend atc basics. As far as getting the facility you want it is impossible to guess whether you will or not, way to many factors.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

I don't think it's appropriate to take anyone's advice here, that's my advice. VMAirboss was kind enough to lay out the benefits involved and was also kind enough to not tell you what you should do, being the decision must ultimately be yours.

All I know is that I hate situations where I end up with "what if..." later on.

You can apply while you're in and make your availability around your terminal leave. The 31st B-day rule goes by your selection date... so say your bday is in June, and you got selected in May when you're 30. So long as you're selected, you're okay. You also retain the option to re-enlist if you don't get hired. So if you wanted in the FAA, I'd apply now, say that you're available immediately and willing to go anywhere. If, by the small chance, they select you and give you a class date before your terminal begins, just fudge around with your class date, my HR rep was willing to work with me. Do not, however, make a decision based on someone on a blog saying to go one way or another.

Also, the requirement to go to OKC may be waived by the facility.

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

I know I'm poking my nose in a forum that I don't belong in but the requirement for having a TOL before your 31st b-day is the same regardless of application type.

You must not only be selected, but you must receive your TOL before you turn 31. That's taking a lot of people a long time right now. There's a few threads in the VRA forum regarding this. People are still waiting on TOL's and it's been a month or two since being selected.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

oh, my bad... my TOL and selection date were the same... didn't know they could be different.

jamie10584 Senior Member

Woah, you have 2 years from your 31st birthday, and people think you should stay in?! I would say you would easily get picked up by then. Especially if you call around to different facilities to make sure you pick states that are hiring. I was picked up this last panel (OCT) and got my TOL the first of DEC. So as long as you have your app in before the next panel, you filled it out right, and you have called around to make sure you have picked states that are hiring, you should not have a problem!

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

They are cracking down on early apps tho... kicking them out if you apply b4 your "Date Of Sep" from the military... people wrote about it here... IDK I'd just really weigh out the options... I mean after 10yrs you coast to retirement anyway... its not like people are busting your ass to PT or something, this is the Air Force we are talking about.
Def make it a personal choice, just remember to have all your ducks in a line and be ready to take the 1st offer you get... You get Oakland center? Tough... you are too old to turn it down and pray you get another offer by 31... then hope to god you dont wash from the center and are 100% screwed.
*sry, someone has to be pessimistic on here*