VRA to FAA Transition Tips

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Shipboard quals do not count as ATC experience. Any shore facility experience, outside of GCA, is what they are looking for. The rotation is still 3/3 for E5 and below right? Do you have any quals from a shore based facility? What ship were you on?

RaginKajun Newcomer Atlanta, Ga

I was on the Tarawa an amphib. I have my CTO from NAS North Island along with Arrival Controller. I also have ground and radar from NAS Fallon.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Sounds good. You'll have no problem meeting the requirements for the VRA announcement. Where do you want to go? Good luck with the process.

NYcGaNgStEr Senior Member Brooklyn, NY

How's it going guys? I've been getting great advice from everyone on this forum. This is my situation.. I'm currently looking at the announcements that closes 30SEP09 for VRA, CTO, anything that gets me an FAA job. I don't start Terminal leave until mid FEB09 and complete separation in APR2010. What should I do? Do I just apply for this announcement and see what happens or do I wait until the next posting opens and then submit an application on ASAP. I've read that 3-4 months out is ideal but I'm looking at 5 months. I don't wanna time it wrong and possibly get screwed over. I got a family to support and need minimal time of no income. What do you guys think is best?

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

Term leave on Feb10, I assume thats a type-o.

I applied in Feb, had my interview in April, and expecting a class date in Oct. So as long as your (military) facility is cool with you taking some leave for your interview, I dont think it will be a problem. I'd prolly apply 5 months out no problem! Apply while you are in, interview while in, finally go on term leave while you are waiting on your class date.

alexb45 Newcomer san diego

Do you have to have a CTO for 52 weeks in order for it to count on an FAA resume?
I know you have to have it that long to get the bonus of up to 20k.

bradporto Rookie Texas

The best you can do is list it. I saw a guy posting in this forum who has been applying OTS for a year and they haven't selected him yet. Aside from him, it's my impression that they're hiring everyone who scores well on the AT-SAT who isn't some kind of retard idiot-savant.

OrTgAsM Junior Member Omaha

I tell you what brother...I was in your boat last year after 11 years in the AF. I just separated on the 10th of June and was selected on the 30 Nov 2008 announcement. I went to the PEPC in March, was told to expect to hear back from us in 4-6 weeks (BS), started terminal 1 April 2009, 10 June 2009 separated now working at a golf course and still haven't heard from the folks in OKC. There's a problem right now with the school house and a line from here to hell and back. Especially for the En-Route side. There is no easy way unless your family runs the DOT. I started about 11 months out and got lucky with this one. But I'm still looking at about a year wait time to just step foot in the school. ADVICE- Start saving NOW! Get something lined up along the way and tell them of your intentions. There are a lot of good paying temp jobs with the stimulus that can carry you to the school house. The big thing for me was health care for my wife and I. I joined the Guard as a supplement so I can retain some TRICARE benefits. It's a little pricey but it's in my comfort zone and we're covered. The FAA is not going to come to you, you have to go and get it and get it now while the getting is good. It's not like the AF where they classify who's good and who's a joke to ATC, from what I've heard from the peeps at the facility I'm going to....we are all equally worthless. I don't agree with that but that's just the way it is and it's another BS goverment head game that I'll just have to play. Keep your head up and be patient. Let me know how things go.

thatguynamedzach RADAR is where its AT! The Emerald City

Yea I agree I have started saving like crazy. Me and the wife don't go out much at all. Cars paid off and I'm just saving for the worst. I'm sure I will be selected at the next panels but who knows when I will get an academy start date. It would be nice to be able to skip the School cuz its just a waist of time for us VRA's imo..unless your going to a artcc. I'm just hopin things wont be that bad. I wish I would have applied earlier this year and gone to the July PEPC cuz that would have been perfect timing to the class dates would be right when I'm on terminal. Now I'm thinkin I wont go to a PEPC until maybe OCT. or Late Sept...

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

imo you're pepc will be oct if they grab ya, and then school in say.... june?