I'm nearing the end of my enlistment and looking at ATC opportunities outside of the Navy. My decision to get out of the Navy is based on many factors, most notably my age. To work for the FAA, I need to be offered a job prior to my 31st birthday. The FAA is not my only option, but the one I prefer. Other opportunities include civilian DoD (Department of Defense) and government contractors - primarily Midwest and Serco. If I get a DoD ATC job prior to my 31st birthday, I will still be eligible for the FAA later in my career. Midwest and Serco, however, do not lock in my age for the FAA.
I've been researching the hiring process for quite some time. There is far too much information for me to post here. The best resource I found is StuckMic - an ATC forum. There are many people much more knowledgeable on this subject than myself and post there regularly. Many rumors also circulate on that site, so research with discretion. I will continue to post to this blog with updates as my career progresses. Thanks for reading.
PS: I'm safe and back from Iraq. I just realized I haven't posted since my return.
