Weighing Options between Military and FAA

JHNWALKERJR · Posted: 10-28-2009, 10:30 PM

I'm a SGT in the Army and have 2 CTO's and one is a from an international airport. I will have had 7 years doing ATC and plan on getting out in early 2011 to pursue a career as a tower controller with the FAA. Im being told by senior NCO's that I should stay in because there is a good chance that I wont get hired because the competition is so dense. I feel a lot of hate in the air, or are they right?

CAZ · Posted: 10-28-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHNWALKERJR

Im a SGT in the Army and have 2 CTO's and one is a from an international airport. I will have had 7 years doing ATC and plan on getting out in early 2011 to pursue a career as a tower controller with the FAA. Im being told by senior NCO's that I should stay in because there is a good chance that I wont get hired because the competition is so dense. I feel a lot of hate in the air, or are they right?

Typical Army Senior NCO thinking, hating and nonsense... If you have 2 CTO's and are well under 31, you will NOT have a problem getting in under the VRA announcement specifically or under the CTO annoucement. Being ex-military will give you an advantage over the other applicants. Take into consideration that you can work contract tower while you wait for the FAA. The FAA hiring plan goes up to 2017. When I got out the military I was in for over 7 years and got out as an E-6, many of them also try to discourage me and try to give me the same nonsense speech. I have been actively controlling at many different places since then in the civilian sector. I have yet to regret my decision. Is ultimately your decision, but it is very likely that you will get a job if you get out. Best of luck and hope this helps.

kalpha_25 · Posted: 10-28-2009, 11:04 PM

Well, a lot depends on whether you have a family and wanna risk not getting hired right away. Although, the senior NCO's are probably gonna tell you that because they are trying to retain you. That is part of their job, I had it happen to me getting out of the Air Force. I would look into the hiring forecast for 2011, but then that might be misleading. I will put it this way, I got out 3 1/2 years ago and am just now leaving for OKC for training. My trainee I put through while in the service got hired after a year out. and I know of a guy that got hired before he was out of AF. It's really a crap shoot, but you cant beat the pay civi wise. Good thing for you is that you have a CTO, and can do contract while waiting. I only had RAPC. Good luck either way. Also, are you stationed at the JAX airfield? I almost joined the Nat Guard up there for ATC

JHNWALKERJR · Posted: 10-28-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalpha_25

Well, a lot depends on whether you have a family and wanna risk not getting hired right away. Although, the senior NCO's are probably gonna tell you that because they are trying to retain you. That is part of their job, I had it happen to me getting out of the Air Force. I would look into the hiring forecast for 2011, but then that might be misleading. I will put it this way, I got out 3 1/2 years ago and am just now leaving for OKC for training. My trainee I put through while in the service got hired after a year out. and I know of a guy that got hired before he was out of AF. It's really a crap shoot, but you cant beat the pay civi wise. Good thing for you is that you have a CTO, and can do contract while waiting. I only had RAPC. Good luck either way. Also, are you stationed at the JAX airfield? I almost joined the Nat Guard up there for ATC

Naw, Im regular Army...Im staioned in Germany but in Iraq right now.

JHNWALKERJR · Posted: 10-28-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAZ

Typical Army Senior NCO thinking, hating and nonsense... If you have 2 CTO's and are well under 31, you will NOT have a problem getting in under the VRA announcement specifically or under the CTO annoucement. Being ex-military will give you an advantage over the other applicants. Take into consideration that you can work contract tower while you wait for the FAA. The FAA hiring plan goes up to 2017. When I got out the military I was in for over 7 years and got out as an E-6, many of them also try to discourage me and try to give me the same nonsense speech. I have been actively controlling at many different places since then in the civilian sector. I have yet to regret my decision. Is ultimately your decision, but it is very likely that you will get a job if you get out. Best of luck and hope this helps.

Thanks, I didnt think about contract work.

Roddy_Piper · Posted: 10-29-2009, 12:01 PM

you will NOT have a problem getting hired by the FAA. apply and get out.

Smitty · Posted: 10-29-2009, 01:14 PM

Yeah I would suggest getting out but its different for everyone. Im sure they will still be hiring. Save some money and you'll be ok.

Roddy_Piper · Posted: 10-29-2009, 01:16 PM

as long as they continue to hire people off the street, that shows the demand is there. plus, u have 2 CTOs and will be hired for sure.

Radium · Posted: 10-29-2009, 10:36 PM

ya management is bullshit:

we actually KICKED A GUY (trainee, no ratings) OUT OF THE AF (ATC) for UNDERAGE DRINKING.... 6months later he was working for the FAA.

I was annoyed.

I then got in trouble for talking about him getting picked up so easy.... we were banned from talking about it by the chief

SkylinesSuck · Posted: 10-30-2009, 02:27 AM

Yeah, I had fun the last time our functional Chief for PACAF came to Kadena to try and convince us to re-enlist. He even told us the numbers he was throwing out didnt' reflect real civilain ATC GS pay figures, or FAA pay numbers. After like 2 minutes of arguing with him he said basically, if you want to stay in the AF, it's not for the money, it's for other reason. I agreed. I want money, so c-ya :-)

Weighing Options between Military and FAA

Stuck Mic - Air Traffic Control - ATC - Aviation