15Q Air Traffic Control Operator

Take control of the skies as an Air Traffic Control Operator for The Army National Guard! You will utilize your organizational skills to track planes and helicopters, and ensure safe flight operations by providing precise instructions to your crew.
Advanced Air Traffic Control Operators provide guidance on technical issues to other Soldiers. They also brief shift personnel on runway utilization, airfield conditions, weather, and ground activity. The skills you learn as an Air Traffic Control Operator will qualify you to work in civilian air traffic control towers and centers at airports and airfields.

Job Duties
• Control airborne and ground traffic
• Assist in the installation/relocation of tactical air traffic control facilities
• Process flight plan data and maintain logs, records, files, and tape recordings of voice communications

Some of the Skills You’ll Learn
• Air traffic control management and operational procedures
• Communications and radar procedures
• Aircraft recognition
• Takeoff, landing, and ground control procedures

Helpful Skills
• Interest in work requiring accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Decisiveness and working within strict standards
• Ability to work as a team member

Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with aircraft manufacturers, commercial airlines, and government agencies.

Earn While You Learn
Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to learn. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.

Job training for an Air Traffic Control Operator requires 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you learn basic Soldiering skills. Then you will attend Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which consists of 14 weeks of additional training. Part of this time is spent in a classroom and part in the field under simulated combat conditions.