How many VRA are in job pool?

SSgt Young StuckMic Marine Corps Liaison California

Everytime i reenlisted it wasn't a big deal. Meaning no one said I had to or anything. I did it the first time to get my rapcon rating. I did it the second time to get some deployments. Now that i'm thinking of getting out I have to explain my reasons and give them an opportunity to try to talk me out of it, but once i've made up my mind they will be pretty cool about it. The 50% first term departure rate also takes into account the drops or medically DQ'ed

drsarp22 Rookie

In the USAF being a controller, in my opinion is like almost being in the military. You call everyone buy their initials, usually exempt from PT and other random events. This is of course is depending on your Chief Controller. I was fortunate to always have good ones.

I was deployed right up to when I got out and I didn't tell anyone I was getting out; so no one hassled me. The reenlistment bonus was 90k and if I knew it would take me 2 years to get a class date with the FAA I would still be a military controller.

The deployment rate changes all the time. It used to be a guranteed 2 years between deployments. I got back from balad in Nov 08 and I have two buddies that I was there with that are already deployed there again. Then agian I know people that have been in the USAF as a controller for 7 or 8 years and have not deployed.

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

depends on the base, but its pretty much the only job in AF that has 8hr days (unless your personnel/finance/medical in which case it seems they work 8hr weeks...) deploying is fickle, there are people that deployed every year because they loved it. then theyre are the people like me which wanted to do absolutely nothing except get my ratings and get the fu*k out.

getting out was a hassle for me. the stories of getting ambushed by chiefs, lt. cols, full birds, etc. happen... not all the time but they do happen. i got asked damn near everyday "why you getting out of the airforce, AC?" every single time i'd say "more money, no deploying, no pt, no uniforms, no commanders calls, no excersises, no facility cleanup, no military bullshit" the way i thought of the air force as was a stepping stone, and thats what a lot of first term atc'ers are doing.

to put it in perspective of the 25 people i went through tech school with (2 classes) back in 05, 22 of them are in the FAA now, or waiting for an academy date.

so take the 2500 airforce controllers
roughly 300 SNCO's
another 700 nco's
and 1500 airmen

you figure of the nco's that are still under the age limit, that arent "lifers" is about 250.
of the 1500 airmen, 700 or so wont reenlist.

now you just have to break it down by year... so 950 total, over a "4 year enlistment span" is around 230ish...

so a pretty good guesstimate is 230 give or take a few a year.

Adam354 Junior Member New Orleans

Fantastic. Thanks for the info and numbers there. Then + those numbers to the other branches. It makes me wonder why they ever needed OTS in the first place.

Shoot, when I got out, my CSM told me more than once that getting out was irresponsible for my future family (I didn't even have a girlfriend yet) and that I'd be lazy if I wasn't forced to make money. (as if I was lazy when I joined) lol.

My first sergeant made me consider it for a couple half seconds... pretty cool guy, but for me, experience. What would it be like as a civilian afterwards? I could also go back etc... But now not planning on it, or even close to it. Thought about LE, now ATC.

I wasn't ATC though, I would have just left it as more money for my reason, or deployment, and schooling. My experience and adventure logic for getting out seemed to just confuse people.

P_to_the_R Ruler of the Movement Area funkytown

Your 2500 number is current active duty air force controllers, but there are plenty more that already got out and at least a couple hundred in the air national guard. The pool is, in my guesstimation, more than 1000. Add the same formula I just typed and the number continues to grow with prior service navy, army, and marines.

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

then theres that phoenix program that lets 20yr military retirees and DoD controllers apply too, not to mention the DoD controllers that are under age limit and waiting... add another 200-400 total

Adam354 Junior Member New Orleans

Whatever guys. If there was 5000 VRA applicants there would never have been an OTS.

:P.. lol

RadarContact Scope Dope High Desert TRACON

Yeah, also keep in mind with the "pool" you speak of... don't assume all the military guys getting out want to do ATC. I can't tell you how many people at my former facility could care less about doing it forever. Lots I know wanted to be chefs, doctors, go back to school and be professional students/drunks/etc.

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

Google FAA hiring plan... If I remember reading the the numbers right, it said 2500ish total VRA's and 800 cti's in the current job pool

Adam354 Junior Member New Orleans

oh... lol i need to find that. thanks a bunch