Air Traffic Control Specialist (Staff Support Specialist )
Federal Aviation Administration
Posted: January 12, 2026 (2 days ago)
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Army National Guard Units
Department of the Army
Base salary range: $51,332 - $66,732
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-8. Master's degree or 2 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves working as an air traffic control specialist at a terminal in Guernsey, Wyoming, for the Army National Guard, where you'll guide aircraft safely during takeoff, landing, and ground movements using radar and communication tools.
It's a permanent position with rotating shifts, open to a range of applicants including current Guard members, federal employees, and U.S. citizens, without needing prior military service.
A good fit would be someone detail-oriented with experience in high-pressure environments, strong communication skills, and a background in aviation or traffic control who can handle irregular hours.
THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION.
This National Guard position is for an AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST (TERMINAL), Position Description Number HTATC0011 and is part of the State Army Aviation Office, Wyoming Army National Guard.
This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position. Military affiliation is not required.
AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: Referrals of qualified applicants will be issued in the following order: Area 1: All permanent and indefinite Wyoming Army National Guard T5's employed within Guernsey Airfield.
Area 2: All permanent and indefinite WYNG Title 5 and T32 DST employed with the Wyoming Air/Army National Guard.
Area 3: All Current Federal employees within the Competitive and Excepted Service, and Competitive Service Reinstatement Eligible employees.
Former NG T32 Dual Status employees receiving an Honorable or a General Discharge under Honorable Conditions are eligible for reinstatement provided they have been separated for at least one year before applying for reinstatement and received a rating of record of their most recent permanent position of a least fully successful (or equivalent).
Area 4: All currently assigned Active Guard/Reserve (AGR), and M-Day/Drill Status Guard (DSG) members of the Wyoming Air/Army NG.
Currently serving and former NG Drill Status and M-Day soldiers and airmen are provided preference eligibility to compete for NG T5 positions.
* Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference. * Area 7: U.S.
Citizens Upon acceptance to this position, if selected candidate is a competitive employee, they will convert to Excepted Service and be required to sign a memorandum IAW 5 CFR 302.102.
Acceptance of the proposed appointment will take the employee out of the competitive service while s/he occupies the position.
TITLE 5 POSITION INFORMATION: Type of Appointment: Permanent Tenure: Group 1 or 2 Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts FLSA: Non-Exempt Para/Line: 402A/031 Selecting Official: Mr.
David Bartell VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.
You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have at least 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).
An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
If you are a current non-temporary GS employee applying for a higher grade than the grade you currently hold, provide an SF-50 that shows the required lower grade was held for at least one year.
Some SF-50s effective within the last 52 weeks will not demonstrate the required lower grade was held for at least one year (e.g., General Adjustment SF-50 from this year).
In many cases, we may need to see two (2) SF-50s to determine time-in-grade and eligibility for promotion.
If you are a DoD employee, you may obtain copies of your SF-50(s) from MyBiz (https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil/) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience which prepared you to work in this position.
Specialized experience is defined as: Experience in a military or civilian air traffic facility that demonstrated possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the level of work of the specialization for which application is made.
This experience must have provided a comprehensive knowledge of appropriate air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations.
Issuing control instructions and advice to pilots in the vicinity of airports to assure proper separation of aircraft and to expedite their safe and efficient movement as prescribed in Federal Aviation Administration Order (FAAO) 7110.65.
You will also be required to provide a Narrative Response that explains how you meet the Specialized Experience requirements above.
NOTE: ATC Certifications, Specialized Experience, and responses to questionnaire will be used to determine qualifications for the announced position.
Applicants must provide from (e.g., 02/2015 - 03/2017 or Feb 2017 - Mar 2017) dates and hours worked per week with description of your specialized experience on the resume.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs) This specialization also requires: Ability to act decisively under stressful situations and to maintain alertness over sustained periods of pressure.
Skill to coordinate plans and actions with pilots and other controllers; and Judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from among several available choices.
CERTIFICATE AND RATING REQUIREMENTS: Must possess and provide valid Air Traffic Control Specialist Certificate, Control Tower Operator, or FAA AOV certificate(s).
These certificates require demonstrating knowledge of basic meteorology, basic air navigation, standard air traffic control and communications procedures, the types and uses of air navigation aids, and regulations governing air traffic.
Facility ratings require demonstration of a knowledge of the kind and location of radio aids to air navigation, the terrain, the landmarks, the communications systems and circuits, and the procedures peculiar to the area covered by the facility.
Must submit copy of Control Tower Operator (CTO) or FAA AVO certificates with application.
Must submit DD Form 2992, Medical Recommendation for Flying or Special Operational Duty, Army Class VI Flight Physical (e.g., Civilian Class II Certification) or equivalent with application.
DRIVER'S LICENSE: Must possess a valid driver's license. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/02/2026. Major Duties:
As an Air Traffic Control Specialist (Terminal) (Title 5), GS-2152-11, you will perform the below duties: Perform air traffic control duties in the control tower.
Direct movement of aircraft in flight and on the ground by utilizing pilot and controller reports, visual observation, and/or tower displays, or a combination of methods and in close coordination with other controllers.
Formulate and issue ATC clearances and instructions to provide for the required separation and or sequencing of all IFR and VFR traffic within delegated Class D and Restricted airspace.
Provide assistance to both experienced professional and inexperienced student pilots within the airspace and ensure expeditious traffic flows are maintained.
Provide mandatory additional services and assistance to aircraft to include those experiencing in-flight emergencies, hijacking and unlawful seizure, pilot disorientation, and to those aircraft otherwise experiencing distress during flight.
Execute the standardized ATC training program in accordance with guidelines established by regulations of the Department of Army (DA), Department of Defense (DoD), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Incumbent is responsible for the utilization of training materials that ensure controller-trainees are adequately trained and tested with the goal of creating a cohesive ATC team that provides multi-level ATC services to the aviation customer.
Incumbent executes controller qualification, proficiency, and remedial training.
Completion of training results in newly assigned personnel receiving their Control Tower Operator (CTO) certification within prescribed time limits.
Operate, train, and provide preventative maintenance on a host of automated communications and display hardware and software systems that are integral and vital to the operation of the air traffic control facility.
Maintain communications with aircraft and adjacent facilities to transmit and receive instructions and information relative to flight.
Investigate possible equipment outages and issues appropriate advisories to aircraft.
Ensure adjacent facilities and aircraft operators are advised of additional support requirements during equipment outages.
Evaluate weather reports from automated (FMQ-13, FMQ-23, IDS, etc.) or other sources (i.e. Pilot Reports) and ensures weather information is accurate, specific, and timely.
Modify, corrects, or augments as appropriate for official weather reporting. Provides dissemination of weather warnings, watches, and advisories. Participates in the Cooperative Weather Watch program.
Requests, records, and disseminates Pilot Reports (PIREPS) as mandated by FAA and NWS directives. Conduct and direct aircraft mishap and hazardous air traffic systems reporting.
Ensures accurate and timely reports to agencies or various local, state, and federal departments having oversight responsibility. Perform other duties as assigned.
** This is NOT an all-inclusive list of duties. **
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