WHATS IT LIKE TO BE A AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FOR THE AIR FORCE?

is stressful, exciting, boring, ect.


does it transfer well to civilian life


thanks!WHATS IT LIKE TO BE A AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FOR THE AIR FORCE?
Life in the USAF as a controller is, quite simply, awesome. You're required by law and AF regs to have 24 hours off consecutively every seven days, including on deployment. The guy who says he ';chose'; Security Forces? He probably failed to qualify--no one turns down an ATC slot. While on deployment, a buddy of mine and I watched a SF chick on duty, and talked with her a bit (she was supervising a TCN work detail, so she simply stood around with her weapon all day--whoopee). When she heard that we were on our day off, she was stunned and jealous, saying she'd worked something like 40 days straight. Of course, her duty day and ours are a lot different....





Yes, the training and work are stressful, but not how you'd think. Concentrating when the air space is dead is stressful. Working a full scope is a blast.





The benefits are great, beyond the typical Airman lifestyle. Everyone thinks your job is ****, even though they have no clue what it is you do.





One note: FAA pay for new hires dropped off the charts in 2005, and negotiations between FAA and the Controllers' Union are still underway. While AF experience DOES qualify you to work as a civilian, keep in mind that at this time, you'll be better off being a controller in the military.





If you can qualify, and finish training, there is no enlisted job in the US military that is better.WHATS IT LIKE TO BE A AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER FOR THE AIR FORCE?
very good job when it comes to transferring into the civilian life. up to lower six figures. i know because my uncle was an air traffic controller in the air force for a long time. now he works at DFW international airport. as far as stress levels go. let me put it to you this way. in the civilian world you will be responsible for thousand of peoples lives on a daily basis. but dont worries you will have plenty of training before the air force ever puts you directly in charge of controlling planes in the air and pn the ground.
I was going to go in as Air Traffic Controller but decided to go SF (Security Forces) instead. However, being that I was interested in the Air Traffic Controller Field, I did research it a bit and thought that it would be a fun and exciting job that can directly into the civilian sector. Who knows, maybe I'll cross train into the field and see you there! good Luck!!!
I am unsure about the stress or excitement of the job itself. But, what i can tell you is yes it does transfer very well into civilian life, just look at our airports and you see the men and women directing air planes? That is pretty much what your job will be if you decide to follow that path.