If you enjoy aviation, but don’t have the desire to fly a plane or helicopter yourself, you should really consider the Army 15Q MOS: Air Traffic Controller. This is a great MOS that offers plenty of career opportunities both inside and outside of the Army.
What I’d like to do in the rest of this post is cover the duties and responsibilities, pre-requisites, AIT, job skills and other important information about this MOS, to give you a general overview and see if it is a good fit for you.
Army 15Q MOS: Duties and Responsibilities
Here is a brief list of the duties and responsibilities of the Air Traffic Controller.
- Control aircraft in support of Army aviation
- Operate tactical and non-tactical aircraft control facilities
- Relocate tactical facilities as needed
- Operate navigational aids
- Process and evaluate flight plans
- Provide air traffic information
- Update automated terminal systems
- Process computer generated traffic control data
- Maintain logs, records and voicetapes
- Identify/resource potential air traffic conflicts
Army 15Q MOS Prerequisites
Here are the prerequisites that I found online for this MOS. Please contact your local Army Recruiter, in case these things have changed.
- Soldier must hold a SECRET Security Clearance
- Complete Class 4 Physical
- Score a 101 in aptitude area ST on the ASVAB test
AIT for Army 15Q MOS
The AIT is at Fort Rucker, Alabama and is 14-weeks long. During AIT, you will learn things such as:
- Airspace management
- IFR Control
- Tactical Terminal Control System (TTCS)
- Tactical Airspace Integration System (TAIS)
- Tracking flights
- Maintaining logs
- Controlling airborne and ground traffic
Skills to Succeed in this Job
Here are a few skills that will help you succeed as an Air Traffic Controller.
- Teamwork
- Self-discipline
- Attention to detail
- Problem-Solving
- Ability to handle high stress
Career Opportunities for Army 15Q MOS
There are plenty of opportunities in the Army 15Q MOS, both inside and outside of the Army. If you plan on staying enlisted, you can work your way up to E-9. You’ll have the opportunity to serve in leadership positions, as an instructor, a recruiter, drill sergeant, or countless other things. There is also an opportunity to become a Warrant Officer (150A). If you decide to leave the Army at any point, you shouldn’t have a very hard time finding a job with another government agency, or at any airport.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that the Army 15Q MOS, Air Traffic Controller is a great career choice for the right person. It’s tough, challenging, rewarding and in demand. If you are looking for something you can make a career out of, this MOS might be exactly what you are looking for.
On a side note, I would love to hear from you. If you spent time as a 15Q Air Traffic Controller, I would to hear what your experience was like. If you could talk about your AIT, your daily duties, and what you learned from the experience, that would be great. Any tips for people considering serving in this MOS would also be appreciated. Just leave a comment below to share your thoughts.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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The ability to handle high stress cannot be overemphasized for this MOS. It is a great field for people who love aviation, and as you point out not everyone wants to actually fly aircraft. However people in this MOS carry direct responsibility for many lives each time they go to work. Great careers opportunities in the civilian world also, for people who enjoy this work.
Thanks for the comment, Chris. I agree that this is a great MOS for people who love aviation, but don’t want to fly themselves. They have a very important role in keeping everything in good working order. It might not have the sexiness of a pilot, but it’s equally important.
I believe this would be a very wise choice of an MOS. As you stated, there is a lot of room for advancement in the Army, and after a person leaves the Army, there would be no difficulty finding a job.
Air traffic control is a very stressful job, but it pays well. I know that there are an abundance of positions in this field at airports all over. There just are not very many people who have desired this type of work.
If I were to recommend any MOS, this MOS would be high on the list.
Good point. This would be great for life after the Army.
We often park near the airport here in Carolina, Puerto Rico and watch the many planes coming and going. I wonder how the air traffic controllers are able to keep such order. We see postal such as USPS and FedEX and UPS, along with Delta, American,Southwest, and JetBlue, along with the many small aircraft. It seems like chaos, but somehow these men and women keep it in control. Yes, air traffic control would be a great MOS.
I’d like to hope that technology makes their life easier, but I also realize how attentive to detail they must be. Even one small mistake could be catastrophic.