Air Traffic Controller — Trainee

You are an Air Traffic Controller in training — technically designated 7251 until you earn your 7257 rating. You are building toward one of the most technically demanding qualifications in Marine aviation, and the pipeline does not shorten for anyone.

Complete the ATC schoolhouse curriculum at the FAA-accredited ATC school pipeline used by the Marine Corps. Learn the theory and application of aircraft separation standards, radar fundamentals, weather reading for ATC purposes, and the phraseology that is the language of controlled airspace. Work through the qualification stages: flight data/clearance delivery, ground control, local control (tower), then radar approaches. Practice in simulators until the standards feel automatic. Maintain physical standards and security clearance requirements throughout the pipeline. The washout rate is real — study harder than the person next to you.

• 01ATC phraseology, aircraft separation standards basics, flight data and clearance delivery procedures, ground control procedures, weather reading for ATIS, simulator proficiency, ICAO/FAA standard terminology

• —FAA JO 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control), NAVAIR 00-80T-114 (NATOPS Air Traffic Control Manual), applicable training syllabi for the ATC pipeline, ICAO Annex 11

• —Pass each pipeline qualification stage to advance; simulation performance meeting training syllabi standards; zero deviations from ATC phraseology that would be considered a safety violation; maintain required GPA/pass rates through formal training

• —Memorizing phraseology without understanding the why — when a non-standard situation occurs, rote memory fails and understanding survives. Not practicing callsigns and read-backs in off-duty time. Underestimating radar approach procedures because ground control seemed manageable.

The ATC trainee who studies the FAA 7110.65 beyond what the syllabus requires, who can explain aircraft separation standards from first principles rather than from memory, and who treats every simulator session as a live position. They are not working toward a qualification — they are working toward understanding controlled airspace. The qualification follows.

You are either still in the ATC pipeline completing your ratings, or you have recently qualified and transitioned to 7257 at this rank. The 7251 designation at Corporal means you are a qualified controller still completing advanced ratings or certifications.

Continue building tower, radar approach, or en route control qualifications as directed by your facility training program. Work live positions under Certified Professional Controller (CPC) supervision at your assigned ATCF. Handle routine aircraft operations on your qualified positions while supervisors monitor your performance. Begin learning facility-specific procedures, local airspace, and the patterns and habits of units operating from your airfield. Study for your next rating. At this tier, you are being evaluated continuously — your supervisor is always watching, even when they are not sitting next to you.

• 01Live position execution under CPC supervision, facility-specific procedures, local airspace familiarity, standard separation application on live traffic, non-standard situation recognition, position relief briefing

• —FAA JO 7110.65 (current edition), NAVAIR 00-80T-114, facility-specific SOPs, NATOPS for local airfield type (field or carrier),

• —Zero separation standard deviations; all transmissions in prescribed phraseology; position relief briefings complete before assuming position; supervisor proficiency check outcomes positive; training record current

• —Developing facility-specific habits that deviate from standard procedures — bad habits built on low-traffic days are disasters on high-traffic days. Calling "unable" when a non-standard request comes in without first consulting a supervisor — that is the right action, but new controllers freeze instead of asking.

A Corporal controller who reads back the facility SOP after every procedural change and who flags non-standard situations to the supervisor immediately rather than improvising. They work the position cleanly on routine traffic and own their errors in debriefs — not defensive, just accurate. That controller earns additional ratings quickly.

By Sergeant you should be a Certified Professional Controller on your primary position(s), working live traffic independently. You are beginning to supervise, train junior controllers, and own a position with real accountability.

Work as a CPC on assigned ATC positions — tower local control, ground control, radar approach, or some combination depending on facility type. Serve as a supervisor trainee or full-facility supervisor during assigned shifts, responsible for the safe and efficient operation of all positions under your watch. Train junior 7251 trainees and 7257 controllers on facility procedures. Conduct position proficiency checks on assigned controllers. Manage the ATIS and airfield weather coordination. Interface with operations officers and pilots on non-standard requests. Maintain facility currency and complete required continuing professional training.

• 01CPC position proficiency, facility supervisor duties, controller training and evaluation, non-standard situation management, ATIS management, operations coordination, continuing professional training management

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, facility SOP, applicable controller evaluation standards

• —CPC currency maintained on all assigned positions; supervisor duties executed without safety violations; controller training records accurate and current; zero open safety investigations from your watch periods

• —Supervisor complacency — working a position yourself instead of monitoring the controller who is supposed to be working it. Allowing progressive phraseology erosion in the facility because "everyone knows what we mean." Skipping the position relief briefing because you've worked the same controller a hundred times.

A Sgt who runs the controller training program with actual rigor — not just signing off qualifications but building controller competence. When a non-standard situation comes up on their watch, the right actions happen and the documentation is clean. They own every shift, every controller, every frequency.

You are a senior controller, facility supervisor, and training program manager. The facility's standards, procedures, and controller development all run through you at the operational level.

Serve as facility supervisor or watch officer for the ATCF, owning the operational readiness of the control positions and the quality of ATC service provided. Manage the facility training program — track controller currency, schedule position proficiency checks, manage the 7251 pipeline within the facility, and maintain training records to FAA and NAVAIR standards. Interface with the operations officer, airfield commander, and tenant units on airfield operations. Manage facility procedures updates when regulatory changes require SOP revisions. Represent the ATC facility at airfield operations coordination meetings. Lead facility self-assessment and inspection preparation.

• 01Facility watch officer duties, training program management, FAA/NAVAIR regulatory compliance, airfield operations coordination, self-assessment leadership, SOP maintenance, controller currency and proficiency management

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, DoD Flight Information Publication procedures, NAVMETOCCOM interface for weather services, MCO on ATCF management

• —Facility operating without safety violations; all controllers current and proficiency checks completed on schedule; SOP current with all regulatory changes incorporated; training program documentation inspection-ready at all times

• —Allowing controllers to self-certify currency checks instead of conducting formal position proficiency evaluations. Deferring SOP updates because the workload is high — the moment something non-standard happens, the outdated SOP is the first thing an investigator looks at.

An SSgt who can pull the training folder of any controller in the facility and show a complete, current, accurate training record — and whose facility passes every evaluation because the standards are enforced daily, not just before inspections. When an airfield incident occurs, their documentation is the thing that shows the facility did everything right.

You are the senior enlisted ATC authority at the airfield or MWSS level, responsible for the facility's technical standards, personnel development, and integration into the broader Marine aviation support mission.

Serve as the ATCF Chief or senior ATC advisor for an MWSS or MAG. Own the facility's technical standards, training program, and regulatory compliance posture. Advise the commanding officer and operations officer on ATC capability, staffing, and limitations that affect flight operations. Manage facility-wide qualification tracking, controller hiring, and pipeline development. Coordinate with the FAA (where applicable for jointly-used airfields), NAVMETOCCOM, and naval air operations on integration requirements. Represent ATC interests at airfield operations boards and MWSS staff meetings. Lead the facility through formal evaluations and continuous improvement.

• 01Facility chief duties, command-level ATC advisory, FAA coordination for joint-use airfields, evaluation management, manpower and pipeline planning, integration with aviation operations planning

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, DoD Instruction 4540.01 (Aviation on Military Operations), MCO 3800 series for aviation operations, applicable combatant command airspace management requirements

• —Facility maintains full regulatory compliance; all controllers current and facility staffed to support mission; no adverse evaluation findings without documented corrective action; commanding officer briefed accurately on ATC capability and limitations

• —Losing situational awareness of what the controllers are actually doing on the deck because the GySgt is too administrative. Facility chief who last worked a live position two years ago cannot credibly evaluate controller performance or catch degraded standards.

A GySgt who still sits the position periodically — not because they have to, but because it keeps them honest about what the job actually costs and what the controllers need. Their facility evaluations go well because the standards are real, not performative.

You are the senior enlisted leader for Marine Corps ATC at the wing, force, or community level — responsible for the professional standards, training pipeline, and operational capability of the entire 7257/7251 workforce.

Serve as the senior ATC enlisted advisor at the MAW, Marine Forces, or HQMC level. Shape ATC training standards, qualification requirements, and the controller pipeline for the Marine Corps. Engage with FAA, NAVAIR, and DoD-level ATC policy forums to represent Marine requirements. Advise wing and force commanders on ATC capability sufficiency, staffing, and modernization requirements. Ensure the controller pipeline from initial training through senior certification is producing operationally ready Marines. Identify systemic deficiencies across the ATC community and build solutions. As 1stSgt or SgtMaj, lead the formation through the human side of a highly technical, high-accountability community.

• 01Wing/Force-level ATC advisory, FAA and DoD ATC policy engagement, pipeline and training standards development, systemic gap identification, commanding general advisory, senior enlisted formation leadership

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, DoD Instruction 4540.01, ICAO standards, HQMC aviation policy

• —Controller pipeline producing operationally ready Marines; community-wide qualification and currency rates meeting command standards; policy input submitted during regulatory review windows; commanding officers have accurate ATC capability pictures

• —Treating ATC policy input as something staff officers handle — the senior enlisted controller should be the most authoritative voice on what the community needs because they've lived every position from the deck up. Distance from the technical work is a leadership liability in this MOS.

A SgtMaj who arrives at a new command, walks the facility floor before the orientation brief, and asks the controllers working positions what their biggest training gap is — because that answer is different from what the evaluations say. They bridge that gap before the next inspector arrives.