Likelyhood of a military controller coverting to civil?
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Likelyhood of a military controller coverting to civil?
Hi guys,
What’s the likelihood of a military controller (RAF for example) after service successfully becoming a civil controller?
Is there any point in the joining the RAF in the hopes of obtaining this goal?
Current status: Failed nats s1, eurocontrol said I'm 1 month too old to even be allowed the chance to fill in there application form.
Is the best course to just wait another year?
What’s the likelihood of a military controller (RAF for example) after service successfully becoming a civil controller?
Is there any point in the joining the RAF in the hopes of obtaining this goal?
Current status: Failed nats s1, eurocontrol said I'm 1 month too old to even be allowed the chance to fill in there application form.
Is the best course to just wait another year?
Quite a few instructors at the college are former forces controllers, so it's not uncommon I would say. If nothing else it will give you a chance to do similar aptitude tests before your next NATS attempt. Do you actually want to be in the armed forces? It's just that the RAF will want to see that you are keen to join.
Ginger
Ginger
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You would be required to complete the civil ATC course. But yes off course you can go from Military to civil.
If you speak to any of the colleges they have experience in dealing with military-civilian conversion.
What rank would you be interested in? If you are going in as an Officer, the selection process is arguably harder than the selection process for NATS. With alot more preparation required on a physical and mental level as they are recruiting for many trades.
Also remember you would be an Officer first and ATC second.
I would not look at military purely as a route to civil ATC.
There are no real back doors into ATC.
Good luck in whatever you do.
If you speak to any of the colleges they have experience in dealing with military-civilian conversion.
What rank would you be interested in? If you are going in as an Officer, the selection process is arguably harder than the selection process for NATS. With alot more preparation required on a physical and mental level as they are recruiting for many trades.
Also remember you would be an Officer first and ATC second.
I would not look at military purely as a route to civil ATC.
There are no real back doors into ATC.
Good luck in whatever you do.
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Ghost,
I am a NATS TC Controller, ex RN Lynx Observer and latterly mil ATCO. It can be done, though if you go down the area route of civil ATC, it is a world apart from mil controlling.
On the area side, TC is most akin to military controlling, (less long range planning and more dynamic). The course at NATS college was more aligned to en-route area when I went through, not sure if that is changing now, but it made it quite hard work having to unlearn old habits and learn new ones.
The selection process for entry as an Officer is harder/more in depth than the NATS entry, you need to do a lot of background reading up, not just on the Armed Forces, but also current affairs etc, as well as going through leadership tests and aptitude tests. If you are not totally committed to the career, you will fall at the first couple of hurdles
If you try to enter as an officer, you will specify which 'trade' you want to apply for, but your OLQ's (officer-like qualities) will be tested first and foremost as this will be your primary function. You will be Officer first, trade (Say ATCO) second.
You can join as an assistant and work your way up that way if you wish - the entry selection on this route is not so severe.
Either way, if you want to cross over to civvy ATC, you need to make sure you do it at an appropriate time - leave it too late and you will find age will be more of a hinderance on the course than benefit gained from your experience.
Either way, if you enjoy a challenge and like to be mentally stimulated, you will find a career in ATC rewarding either in the military or in Civvy street.
Good luck
I am a NATS TC Controller, ex RN Lynx Observer and latterly mil ATCO. It can be done, though if you go down the area route of civil ATC, it is a world apart from mil controlling.
On the area side, TC is most akin to military controlling, (less long range planning and more dynamic). The course at NATS college was more aligned to en-route area when I went through, not sure if that is changing now, but it made it quite hard work having to unlearn old habits and learn new ones.
The selection process for entry as an Officer is harder/more in depth than the NATS entry, you need to do a lot of background reading up, not just on the Armed Forces, but also current affairs etc, as well as going through leadership tests and aptitude tests. If you are not totally committed to the career, you will fall at the first couple of hurdles
If you try to enter as an officer, you will specify which 'trade' you want to apply for, but your OLQ's (officer-like qualities) will be tested first and foremost as this will be your primary function. You will be Officer first, trade (Say ATCO) second.
You can join as an assistant and work your way up that way if you wish - the entry selection on this route is not so severe.
Either way, if you want to cross over to civvy ATC, you need to make sure you do it at an appropriate time - leave it too late and you will find age will be more of a hinderance on the course than benefit gained from your experience.
Either way, if you enjoy a challenge and like to be mentally stimulated, you will find a career in ATC rewarding either in the military or in Civvy street.
Good luck
