Military ATC or Civilian ATC?

sbheiser Newcomer Camp Pendleton, California

Good Afternoon,

I have been searching for this question in quite a few areas, but cannot seem to find a decent enough answer in the time that I have left. I currently serve in the USMC and I am on the verge of reenlistment and I am wondering if it would be smarter to reenlist as a military air traffic controller or get out and go to school to be an ATC? I know this career is really competitive, so I'm asking what would help benefit me more if I was trying to get a job in this career? I have been talking to my career counselor here, I know they always make it sound amazing just to make me reenlist, but I really would like a job as a ATC and I am willing to whatever I can to make me one step closer.

On another note, I'm looking at schools for CTI. Is there a school that the FAA hires from or prefers?

Thanks for helping!


Cpl Heiser, Stephen B
USMC
Stephen.heiser@usmc.mil
Stephen.heiser@cox.net

"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan

polo708 Epic Member tower

If you can get out in time to apply with the FAA(prior to 31) then definitely stay in and do ATC with the military IMO. They will pay you to learn the job plus all the years you earn in the USMC can be added to your retirement. CTI will cost you money and you will go in the pool with the thousands of CTI applicants. With military you can apply VRA and get grouped with a few hundred. Plus if you can manage a CTO certification you can get a good FCT job whle you wait on the FAA's slow hiring process.

sbheiser Newcomer Camp Pendleton, California

I will be under 31 with another enlistment. I just have a few questions for you if you dont mind. What is the VRA with the military? And what is a FCT job? Sorry im still learning and your input is very much appriciated!! Thanks

polo708 Epic Member tower

There are basically 3 ways to get into the FAA... VRA, CTI and OTS. (a few others too but they are for retirees and prior Federal employees)

VRA... The Veterans Readjustment Act is a way to get hired by the FAA that gives you preference since you have a military background and prior ATC experience. There are probably only a few hundred applicants at a time and your chances of being hired are very high.

CTI... is a process that applicants who have an ATC degree will use. Some people go to ATC college to learn aviation specific stuff and are able to apply this way. Chances seem to still be pretty good at getting hired, just not as good as VRA. Plus there are 1,000's of applicants at a time.

OTS... is "off the street". This is basically any Joe Blow off the street who has an interest in becoming an Air Traffic Controller but they dont have the ATC degree or prior experience. Chances of gettin g hired thru this announcemnt seems to be getting worse and worse as the FAA gets closer to meeting hiring goals. You will be in a pool with 10's of thousands of applicants.


FCT is a "Federal Contract Tower". If you hold a CTO (control tower operator) certification then you can apply to a FCT which is basically a slower tower that the FAA contracted out to private companies. Most make around $30/hr and are a great temp job while waiting for the FAA and even a great job if you choose to spend your entire career there. Decent benefits, relaxed work environment,, Medical and a 401K.

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

SB I am also at camp pendleton. I work in Bldg 13131 right across from the chapel. If you have any questions or need any help understanding what's going on come see me or pm me to get my number.

MikeATC Retired FAA, NATCA Member Nashville TN

First, Semper Fi, I served in the USMC back in the mid to late 70's.

In this economic and job market climate it isn't an easy decision whether to re-enlist or get out, go to college, and hope to get hired by the FAA. Here are a few things to consider that will hopefully help you decide on which path you take.

The job market in the civilian world sucks at this time, the majority of the companies are trying to get away with paying as little salaries and benefits as possible. My wife has people with Masters Degrees, with all kinds of business and technical experience that come into her store to apply for minimum wage jobs just to put food on the table. Life on the outside is rough right now!

There are a lot of colleges out there that provide ATC training, some cost a very large amount for tutition and some are reasonable. Emmery Riddle is among the most expensive, and Dade Community College in Florida among the least expensive to attend. Granted your GI Bill will help you pay for college, which gives you a huge leg up on all the kids depending on student loans or their parents.

This might interest you, I heard through a friend of mine that works at Grand Forks tower that the University of North Dakota (which also has an excellant CTI program) has started a UAV certification program. The military and most 3 letter agencies here in Afghanistan can't get their hands on enough UAV pilots/operators, salaries are rumored that they will be high in this very specialized career field. I don't know much about UND's UAV program so you would have to contact someone at UND, but this could open a whole new career path for you if it interest you. I have the feeling that your chances to get hired as a UAV pilot/operator would be a lot better than getting hired by the FAA.

On the other side, staying in the USMC until you reach retirement eligebility after going into the ATC side of the Corps has it's benefits too. One you would have a retirement check coming in every month, second, it does open up potential employement opportunities with the DOD or Federal contract towers after you retire. I'm working in Afghanistan now with 3 controllers (1 USMC, 1 Navy, 1 Airforce) that are retired military, I retired from the FAA. I have to say and they agree, that it is really nice knowing that we have a retirement check being deposited in our banks every month.

Your decision isn't an easy one, stay in the Marines and face multiple deployments, etc., get out go to CTI college and hope to get hired by the FAA (who knows when or if they will hire you). Check out other potential career paths, (maybe that UAV program at the University of North Dakota), either way you have alittle time to make an educated decision. Worse case, you get out, go to college, a good job/career doesn't pan out, and you enlist in the Guard or Army.

Good Luck, and keep the Faith.
Semper Fi