From what I have heard, the person posted to Gibraltar either volunteered or agreed to it before finishing the course.

I'm afraid it is about the posting: I doubt very much that those who got what they'd hoped for are complaining. So it's not you that's "suffering" then? It's someone else who's been offered a career with one of the most respected ANSPs, with great pay & benefits, subject to them passing their final check exams? The only flaw, not at the destination they'd set their heart on. This, in spite of clearly & regularly being advised, & signing to that effect, that there's no guaranteed postings, & also told, it's a mobile contract, you can move or be moved, that's the business. That's not the case for many of those outside the larger ANSPs, it's application after application, trying to find somewhere to fit, & moving around the country to make it work - and this after paying for their training, not having it paid for them.

The two NATS managers (not"representatives") are the people responsible for their training, & who they report to: they made the effort to drive a 200 mile + round trip, in their own time, to take the course for a meal to pass on the news - rather than by post or email & that's a jolly is it? Sounds more like dedication to doing the best they can to me; certainly knowing the people involved, they don't enjoy giving uncomfortable news. How do you know they didn't ask for quieter facilities, & that simply wasn't available for reasons beyond their control? You think people go out of their way to make life difficult? Hardly, life's difficult enough as it is.

Of course people find out their posting at the end of the course - how else do you propose to balance the business need with unit requirements & personal desires, when there's no guarantee how many people there'll be until they've passed all their assessments? If there was a better system, they'd be using it. The units don't want "maybes", they want someone with a student licence, ready for unit training.

No, the person going to Gibraltar didn't know he was going there until he read his posting letter. To be posted outside the UK, he has to be comfortable with the decision, & can decline it, the NATS union agreements are clear about that. However, he'd have no say over any alternative option, he'd be back in the pot with everyone else. He may not have been the only one to say he'd be happy if the option was there, either; so it's quite possible someone else didn't get Gib, when they wanted it, too.

If people don't want to take the risk of being posted somewhere they don't like, then there are other options available to them. Most people are just happy with the immense sense of relief that they've passed that hurdle & are onto the next phase of their career.

On my ATCO Cadet Course (graduating in 1974) the Course Manager, 'Mike' Hunt (try saying that quickly when you're p1ssed) sat down with each of us individually during our final course at the college (about 9 months before graduation) and discussed where we would like to go. I had already expressed a preference for Area Radar but he asked how I would feel if sent to Farnborough. A friend from my old ATC Squadron was already there and had told me about it so I said yes. He then said I could go to Heathrow if I wanted and I was tempted but I stuck to my guns and spent 34 years at Farnborough.

Cheesefootball - you've listed 14 postings. Do you know how many started the course ?

If I had my time at the College again and was offered Gib, I'd take it. When I was kicked out in 95, I'd have taken it.
Sadly now, I'm too long in the tooth and married to a woman who wants my next job to be in Palma. Like there's a cat in hell's chance!

All you've gotta do is learn Level 4 Spanish.

And earn 4.000€/month, 5 on 3 off, but from may to september most of shifts 6 on 2 off. But don't worry, after 15 years you'll get to earn 4.700€/month

In 15 years time I'll be retired and hopefully living out there anyway, might as well stay here for now and earn enough to pay for it.
Oh, and get my Spanish up to scratch!

Bump
 

Thanks for the info, so it seems like the first posting would be at NATS discretion; what then are the chances of moving within the company at a later date? I’m keen to remain an air traffic controller after leaving the military but my wife is desperate to live in Scotland so NATS is an easier sell if there’s a possibility of moving in a few years.

Have you considered applying to ANS Edinburgh?