Hello from TX! Questions.

Plansight Newcomer

Hey everyone, very excited to be here! I have always had an interest in aviation and I'm hoping ATC will be in my future one day.

I have one question. If I were to join the Air Force for a "job" not related to ATC for 4 years, once my time is done, is it possible to take the AT-SAT and attend the training in OKC like everyone else?

Would I be not be able to attend the training due to my age once I get out out of the Air Force at 22?

And being in the Military, would it help me at all in the application process?

Thank you so much! I am not too familiar with the ATC business, but looking around through this site should clear many things out for me!

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

You can definitely join the Air Force for 4 years and apply when you get out. If you work in a field other than ATC, you will be considered with the rest of the off the street applicants. There are several rumors swirling around about when and if OTS hiring will cease and if that happens, you will not qualify. You would then need to go to a CTI school.

Have you already signed up for the Air Force? Can you get ATC as your specialty? That would be your best bet if you really want this career. There aren't any guarantees at this moment other than the FAA still needing controllers and still preferring military veterans with ATC experience.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

psachs Trusted Member Chicago

RdRunner said it. If you can push for specializing in ATC and do that in the AF for a few years, you'd be in a good position to get hired by the FAA under the VRA once you leave the AF. There's no guarantee that Pubnats will continue, but the FAA will keep needing controllers and pulling from CTI and VRA first to meet those needs. If you're done with the AF at 22 or 25 or whatever, that gives you plenty of time to get in under a VRA announcement before the age-31 cutoff.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

welcome to the site plansight. military ATC is a great start. going military in other than ATC will not help u enough to matter. hope u consider just signing for ATC in any of the military choices available to u.

Plansight Newcomer

Thanks for the reply! If they do stop OTS hiring, i could always use the G.I Bill to help me through the CTI school.

As for Air Force ATC, it is a 6 year commitment, and from what I've heard the technical school is very very tough. If I don't make it passed ATC tech school, I will be taken out of ATC and put into a job that the Air Force needs the most for SIX YEARS!

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

that's what u were planning anyway though right?? going into the military as something other than ATC? you'll still get the GI bill. you'll still be able to go to CTI school.

i think you'll be offered out of your contract if u get ATC guaranteed and you don't pass the ATC tech school.

any chance u can afford to go to CTI school right now? it doesn't hurt to apply OTS and just see what happens.

DRod It is certainly an exciting field!! San Diego

Good luck with the pursuit of your ATC career! It is certainly an exciting field!!