choosing a location please help

lance Newcomer

I am looking for opinions on what people thought of the base they were stationed at when they got out of tech school. I would like florida, texas and colorado possibly alaska. I will be an E-3 with family= wife and three kids.

LennyB Rookie Claremore, OK

My first base was Sheppard in Wichita Falls, TX. Overall the location was okay, but has a nice family mid-western feel to it. It's a good training base, especially if you're going to the RAPCON.

AlphaLima Senior Member Florida

FYI Florida is going to be rather hard to get coming out of tech school, there are rated 5 levels waiting in line for all the bases there. Alaska is technically considered overseas so i'm not sure if 3 levels can even go there any more, since they arnt allowed to go to any other overseas bases.

atcguruaf Rico Suave AZ

I'm guessing you're AF.

It depends on what you're looking for.

For example, at Nellis, you'll gain experience with aircraft from all over the world. You'll learn MANY different airframes as well as busy traffic (at least during Red Flag). The RAPCON there (aka NATCF) works sorta like a center and a Tracon. So you may get that experience too. As far as the lifestyle... well, good luck staying married. Not impossible, just if you're about 21, you're gonna have a lot of friends that want to party! (btw, my wife and I are still married, just hit a rough spout in Vegas)

If you go to a training base, (Columbus, MS, Moody AFB, GA), those will be good first bases (as would Sheppard, as someone mentioned). Mainly because they're not WAAAYYY busy. They're busy enough to get your feet wet without overwhelming you.

If you go to Luke AFB, AZ, or Eglin AFB, FL, be prepared to work traffic! These places are humping for training bases, and a lot of people don't make it. After receiving training at Moody, Columbus, Sheppard, etc, if the pilots graduate T-38's/Tex2's, they get sent to a base like this and fly F-15's, F-16's, and F-22's. Typically, at these bases, you'll have pilots that are already experienced, so you can trust (for the most part) they'll do what you expect.

Again, it all depends on what you're looking for. I was only at Moody and Nellis. Nellis was an awesome place to work traffic. People did wash out there, because they couldn't handle mixing in the airframes and applying all the rules involved. I think I only made it there because I went to Moody, a training base with T-38's, Tex2's (T-6's), C-130's, and HH-60's. Once I had some experience under my belt, it was easier to take on more.

Good luck!

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

What is just as important is going someplace that will give you a good opportunity to become fully certified, has employment opportunities for you wife if she wants to work, then consider whether you want to claim that state as your legal residence (is there state income taxes, county taxes, etc.)

Going to a base that offers a good mix of traffic and radar approach experience will give you the best background should you decide down the road to go FAA.

lance Newcomer

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Yes I'm going into the airforce, I wouldn't mind going to sheppard. Does anyone know about lackland?

ATC_MAN Newcomer Walton, KY

I know some bases in Alaska takes level 3's. If you go to about.com and search for Air Traffic Control, you can see a list of bases and what level you need to work them.

MZ2009 Rookie luke afb, az

+1 for Luke...thats where im at now and its a great place for a first base gives you a good foundation to build on, i didnt have any problem getting rated when i went to balad which last time i heard is still the busiest base in the dod. the local area is great lots of stuff to do good place for the wife and kids.

LennyB Rookie Claremore, OK

I'm quite sure that only civilian controllers can work there now.

lance Newcomer

thanks everyone for the feedback. I think im going to try and push for texas arizona and possibly alaska=the wifes choice. where can i find out what the operating hours are for each base?