Join guard to get into CTI school?

nickjeezy08 Newcomer

I hope this is the right place to ask this type of question. Ive been looking at the website and everyone seems pretty knowledgable about ways to get into civilian ATC. Well first im about to turn 21, iv only been able to get a little college credit and iv been living on my own for almost a yr. Im trying to get into a CTI school in MN but i cant afford it with rent and bills and a non high paying job (cant move in with parents mom lives out of state and dad passed away) so im thinking about trying to join the guard since i heard that they help pay for school and its like another part time job. Im trying to look for the fastest way possible to become a civilian ATC and Air Force 6yrs seems like a long time, but id do it if it meant an ATC civilian job. Im 99% positive that the guard doesnt have ATC openings in MN so my question is should i take another part time guard job and have them help pay for the CTI school thats only 20min away.. or try take any of the open guard positions out of state and try that way.. or just go full Air Force? or possibly another way.. If i was able to graduate from a CTI school would the FAA not like that i was still with the reserves?

thanks in advance for all that reply

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

Welcome to the site! The whole CTI and guard thing has been talked about a lot. Some are gung ho for it and some say no way, so it's just personal opinion. Since were in a war a lot of people have been called on. I did hear about a guy that was CTI and in the guard and while he was off on duty somewhere he got the call and had to turn it down bc he was in the war. If you can't afford to go CTI I would go AF or Navy; from what everybody says they seem to turn out the best controllers. Your young enough to do it, and when you get out you could apply VRA and the way they hire is VRA/REINST, CTI, and OTS so you would be in the first pool of people they consider plus you get 5 or 10 points of vet preference. I'm not real sure exactly how that works but somebody else can probably clarify it for you a lot more. Anyways, I hope this helps!

nickjeezy08 Newcomer

well thanks that does help out. i guess i never really thought about other military branches to try and do ATC, so i guess ill have to talk to each of them and try and get the best answer possible. that is the one thing i wasnt sure about if i get an FAA job but suddenly got called up during Oklahoma training or something.

stasi2002 Junior Member

If you end up going Air Gaurd for ATC you will have to go through basic training and tech school and then be a full time employee until you a certified. Youd probably be looking at 1-2 years of full time work

GolfJuliet F*** Terrorism

If I was in your position I would go to the AF. I don't like the idea of being underneath a ship all day so that crosses of the Navy, the Marines are a little to hoo-rah for me, and the Army well...I'll give you $1 if you can find where somebody said something good about an Army controller(no offense to any Army controllers on the site but you guys seem to have a bad rap). You'd be looking at a six year(I think) commitment which in your case would work out good. You would get out at 27 and that gives you four years to get through the process and vets always go first so time would defiantly be on your side.