Air Traffic Controller

You have survived the ATC pipeline and hold your first rating. You are a new controller working live traffic under supervision in a Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Facility, building toward CPC status and the independence that comes with it.

Work assigned ATC positions under Certified Professional Controller supervision. Execute clearance delivery, ground control, or local control depending on your ratings and the facility assignment. Handle routine traffic — departures, arrivals, pattern work, ground movement — according to separation standards and facility SOPs. Every transmission is recorded. Every separation standard either holds or it doesn't. Learn the airfield's traffic patterns, local procedures, and the flying habits of the units you support. Study for your next rating while maintaining currency on your current ones. The supervision is close and the evaluation is continuous.

• 01Applied ATC phraseology under live conditions, separation standards execution, clearance delivery, ground control, pattern sequencing basics, ATIS broadcast preparation, position relief briefing

• —FAA JO 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control), NAVAIR 00-80T-114 (NATOPS Air Traffic Control Manual), facility SOP, applicable FLIP procedures for your airfield

• —Zero separation standard violations; all phraseology standard; position relief briefings completed before every relief; supervisor proficiency checks completed on schedule; training record maintained current

• —Not asking for help when a non-standard situation develops — a new controller who improvises instead of calling for the supervisor is a safety risk. Developing shorthand phraseology with the pilots you work regularly and assuming it's acceptable because nobody said anything yet.

A junior controller who makes standard phraseology sound natural, who has internalized separation standards rather than reciting them, and who calls the supervisor early when something unusual develops — before it becomes a problem. That controller earns their next rating in the minimum time because their supervisor can trust them on routine traffic.

You are a multi-rated controller progressing toward CPC status across your primary positions. You are being evaluated for the combination of technical proficiency, situational awareness, and decision-making that defines a professional controller.

Work multiple rated positions with increasing supervisor confidence — ground, local, and beginning radar if your facility type supports it. Build toward the Certified Professional Controller designation that authorizes you to work positions without supervision. Take on training roles for junior controllers — you know the basic standards, now you help others get there. Begin understanding the bigger picture: how your position feeds into adjacent positions, what the aircraft are trying to accomplish, and how ATC service enables or constrains the flying mission. Participate in facility emergency procedure drills.

• 01Multi-position proficiency, radar approach basics (facility-dependent), controller-in-training mentorship, emergency procedure knowledge, adjacent position coordination, situational awareness across positions

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, facility SOP, radar approach procedures (NAVAIR 00-80T-113 if applicable)

• —Progress toward CPC within facility training timeline; zero safety incidents on rated positions; training records for assigned 7251 trainees current and accurate; emergency procedures executed correctly in drills

• —Losing the big picture when traffic volume spikes — the Corporal who can handle three aircraft but loses count of the fourth is building a pattern that will eventually produce a separation violation. Learn to manage load, not just aircraft.

The Corporal who debriefs their own position performance after every busy traffic period — not because the supervisor required it, but because they want to know where they worked well and where they narrowed the margins. That self-assessment habit is what separates a CPC from a controller who scrapes by.

You are a Certified Professional Controller, an experienced practitioner who can be trusted on live positions independently, and a trainer who is expected to develop the junior controllers around you.

Work all qualified positions as a CPC. Serve as facility supervisor during assigned watch periods — responsible for the safe operation of all control positions under your supervision. Train assigned 7251 and junior 7257 controllers on facility procedures, separation standards, and situational awareness. Conduct and document position proficiency checks. Manage ATIS and airfield weather coordination. Handle non-standard situations — unusual aircraft emergencies, airspace conflicts, NOTAM coordination — as the senior controller available. Brief aircrews on unusual conditions. Maintain all required continuing professional training.

• 01CPC full position proficiency, facility supervisor duties, controller training and evaluation, non-standard situation management, emergency procedures, ATIS and weather coordination, proficiency check documentation

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, facility SOP, emergency procedures checklist, applicable FLIP and NOTAM procedures

• —CPC currency maintained on all assigned positions; supervisor watch periods without safety violations; all training records accurate; zero significant operational errors without documented corrective action; continuing professional training complete

• —Supervisor who works a position during a busy period instead of managing the controllers on all positions — effective supervision means watching the whole board, not being the best controller in the room. The moment a supervisor plugs in on one frequency, they lose visibility on the others.

A Sgt who manages their watch like the air picture is shared — always aware of what every controller on their frequency is working, where the stress points are building, and which controller needs to be relieved or coached before a problem develops. Nothing surprises them because they read the building pattern.

You are a senior controller and facility-level leader. The ATCF's operational standards, training program, and regulatory compliance are your direct responsibility.

Serve as the watch officer or assistant ATCF chief for the Air Traffic Control Facility. Own the training program — manage controller currency, schedule and conduct proficiency checks, maintain training records to FAA and NAVAIR standards, and develop the facility's OJT controllers. Interface with the operations officer, flight line coordinator, and tenant units on non-standard airfield procedures. Manage SOP currency as regulatory publications change. Lead the facility through formal evaluations and coordinate corrective actions. Brief the commanding officer and XO on ATC facility readiness, staffing levels, and any capability limitations affecting flight operations.

• 01Watch officer duties, OJT program management, FAA/NAVAIR regulatory compliance, formal evaluation leadership, command-level readiness briefing, SOP maintenance, staffing and currency management

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, DoD Instruction 4540.01, applicable MCO for ATCF operations, FAA AC 00-45 (Aviation Weather Services) for ATIS/weather interface

• —Facility operating without safety violations; all controllers current on required positions and proficiency checks; SOP current with all regulatory changes; training documentation inspection-ready at all times; commanding officer briefed accurately monthly

• —Allowing controllers to backfill skill gaps with familiarity — a controller who knows the pilots, knows the patterns, and never makes mistakes on routine traffic can be hiding real proficiency gaps that will surface in non-routine situations. Proficiency checks must test the non-standard, not the expected.

An SSgt who can hand an inspector their facility's training record binder and walk out of the room — because every entry is accurate, every qualification is documented, every deficiency has a corrective action. The facility's standards are enforced every day, not performed during inspection windows.

You are the ATCF Chief or senior ATC NCO, technically the most experienced controller in the facility and organizationally responsible for every aspect of its operation and the professional development of every controller assigned to it.

Serve as ATCF Chief for a Marine Corps air traffic control facility. Own the facility's full operational, administrative, and training program. Advise the commanding officer on ATC capability, staffing, and limitations affecting flight operations and airfield scheduling. Coordinate with FAA for jointly-used airfields. Interface with NAVMETOCCOM on weather service integration. Represent ATC at airfield operations boards and MWSS planning meetings. Lead the facility through formal evaluation cycles — FAA/DoD evaluations, MCCRE assessments, and ORI preparation. Develop the SSgt and Sgt controllers who will replace you. Maintain the institutional memory of the facility — procedures, lessons learned, recurring non-standard situations, and how they were handled.

• 01ATCF Chief responsibilities, full facility operational management, FAA joint-use coordination, evaluation cycle management, CO advisory, institutional knowledge development and transfer, SSgt and Sgt mentorship

• —FAA JO 7110.65, NAVAIR 00-80T-114, DoD Instruction 4540.01, ICAO Annex 11, MCO on ATCF operations, NAVMETOCCOM interfaces

• —Facility maintains full regulatory compliance and no adverse evaluation findings without corrective action; all controllers current; commanding officer has accurate monthly readiness brief; facility SOP current; institutional lessons captured in writing

• —The ATCF Chief who hasn't worked a live position in over a year cannot credibly evaluate controller performance, maintain technical currency in regulatory knowledge, or appreciate what the job costs at the position level. Stay current.

A GySgt who still sits the position on a regular basis — every week if possible — so when they evaluate a controller or brief the CO on ATC readiness, the assessment is grounded in current experience, not institutional memory from three years ago.

You are the Marine Corps' senior enlisted ATC voice — shaping the training pipeline, regulatory posture, and operational capability of the entire 7257 workforce at the wing, force, or headquarters level.

Serve as the senior ATC enlisted advisor for a Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces, or HQMC aviation. Shape ATC training standards, qualification requirements, and facility evaluation criteria. Engage with FAA, NAVAIR, and DoD-level ATC policy communities to represent Marine Corps requirements. Advise wing and force commanders on ATC capability, staffing, and modernization needs — including Next Generation ATC systems and automation impacts. Identify systemic gaps across the community and build solutions. Ensure the 7251 → 7257 pipeline is producing operationally ready controllers at the required rate. As 1stSgt or SgtMaj, lead the human element of a technically demanding, safety-critical community.

• 01Wing/Force ATC program management, FAA and DoD ATC policy engagement, pipeline and training standards oversight, modernization advocacy, commanding general advisory, senior enlisted formation leadership

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

• —ATC pipeline producing operationally ready controllers; community-wide qualification rates meeting wing/force standards; policy input representing Marine equities in DoD and FAA forums; commanding officers have accurate, honest ATC capability assessments

• —Accepting automation and NextGen system introductions uncritically without ensuring Marine facilities and controllers are trained for the transition. The gap between "system installed" and "controllers proficient" is where accidents happen.

A SgtMaj who visits a facility and asks the newest controller what they struggled with most in their first six months — and then actually does something about the pattern they hear. The pipeline improvement starts with listening to the deck-plate experience, not just reading evaluation reports.