Retirement Considering a MSS 1 position

[Zjxtime4me]

I'm considering bidding on an MSS 1 position at a different facility.

I can't seem to find any clear info on retirement for this position, so I have a few questions about it. I know it's not a good time position, so what age am I looking at being eligible for retirement?

A little background, I have close to 15 years in the FAA, all as a controller. If I stayed a controller, I'd get my 25 years in at age 48. If I take this job, when would I be eligible for retirement?

Also, how does it work if I want to go back to being a controller? I'd probably want to ERR to a different facility to get back to being a controller. Does my current facility release numbers bar me from leaving if I'm a support specialist?

 

[Spaceforce]

Make sure you get 20 years as a controller/supervisor/OM/(ATM 7 and below) to get your 1.7% a year for the 20. After that it’s 1%

Going to MSS-1 I believe you no longer qualify for early retirement and can retire at 62.

I will add I’ve seen a guy do a supervisor at a 5 to an ATM at a 5 to an MSS-1 at a 12 get the pay, and then bid back to ATM and keep the money.

 

[Zjxtime4me]

Make sure you get 20 years as a controller/supervisor/OM/(ATM 7 and below) to get your 1.7% a year for the 20. After that it’s 1%

Going to MSS-1 I believe you no longer qualify for early retirement and can retire at 62.

I will add I’ve seen a guy do a supervisor at a 5 to an ATM at a 5 to an MSS-1 at a 12 get the pay, and then bid back to ATM and keep the money.

Thanks. That's kind of what I thought.

I really just wanted to try for the facility I want vs waiting on the ncept game. It might not be worth it though...retiring before 50 sounds so sweet.

 

[yourinthehold]

I'm considering bidding on an MSS 1 position at a different facility.

I can't seem to find any clear info on retirement for this position, so I have a few questions about it. I know it's not a good time position, so what age am I looking at being eligible for retirement?

A little background, I have close to 15 years in the FAA, all as a controller. If I stayed a controller, I'd get my 25 years in at age 48. If I take this job, when would I be eligible for retirement?

Also, how does it work if I want to go back to being a controller? I'd probably want to ERR to a different facility to get back to being a controller. Does my current facility release numbers bar me from leaving if I'm a support specialist?

The earliest you could retire is 57 due to MRA requirements. Don't bid the job until you get your 20.

 

[DowntownTG]

If you can find a temporary support specialist position, your position of record will still be as a controller and will still be good time. It will be impossible to find a 5-yr temp, but a one or two year temp wouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities once you get to year 18 or 19.

For the example of the original poster, does anyone know if they would be able to retire at 50 years old with 20 years as a controller even if they become a support specialist at age 43? (Age 23-43 controller/age 43-50 MSS-1) Or do you forfeit the ability to retire as a controller if you accept a permanent support specialist position meaning they would they have to get a transfer back to the boards and then retire once reaching age 50?

 

[yourinthehold]

If you can find a temporary support specialist position, your position of record will still be as a controller and will still be good time. It will be impossible to find a 5-yr temp, but a one or two year temp wouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities once you get to year 18 or 19.

For the example of the original poster, does anyone know if they would be able to retire at 50 years old with 20 years as a controller even if they become a support specialist at age 43? (Age 23-43 controller/age 43-50 MSS-1) Or do you forfeit the ability to retire as a controller if you accept a permanent support specialist position meaning they would they have to get a transfer back to the boards and then retire once reaching age 50?

Yes, you can retire at 50 if you have 20 years of 2152 good time even if you take a support specialist job or another federal job outside the FAA.

 

[Logical_Mongoose]

I'm considering bidding on an MSS 1 position at a different facility.

I can't seem to find any clear info on retirement for this position, so I have a few questions about it. I know it's not a good time position, so what age am I looking at being eligible for retirement?

Eligibility
I believe 57 for full benefits.

A little background, I have close to 15 years in the FAA, all as a controller. If I stayed a controller, I'd get my 25 years in at age 48. If I take this job, when would I be eligible for retirement?

Also, how does it work if I want to go back to being a controller? I'd probably want to ERR to a different facility to get back to being a controller. Does my current facility release numbers bar me from leaving if I'm a support specialist?

From what I understand (granted, that seems to be minimal), it depends on if the MSS-1 position you are taking will be a control position that you need to keep currency and medical on, or if it will be purely administrative and you will forego certifying at the facility and no longer worry about keeping a medical. If you keep currency with the MSS-1 position, then (I believe) you still count for staffing numbers on the books for NCEPT; if you go full admin then (I believe) you don't count for release numbers for your facility and you can leave if the gaining facility wants you.

I only had 3 years CPC time before I switched over to a non-controlling MSS-1 position at a different facility. I had to have a come-to-Jesus talk with myself weighing the pros and cons of it, but it became a clear decision for me. I got in right at the age 31 cutoff and knew I would need/want to stick around past 56 in some capacity to feed into my retirement more.

Upsides are I have a normal work schedule, I have all holidays off, I will hopefully get to keep teleworking for a couple days out of the week (work from home is legit awesome), I take leave when I want, I'm still a BUE (purple book, no longer slate), and I don't have to worry about losing a medical. Downsides are the straight pay, 1.1% per year of service for FERS instead of 1.7%, working until 62 instead of 56 (still earlier than average by a few years), and any potential attitude you might get from controllers for not being "one of them" anymore or for having to brief them on the mundane BS we all hated having to be briefed on.

 

[Zjxtime4me]

Eligibility
I believe 57 for full benefits.


From what I understand (granted, that seems to be minimal), it depends on if the MSS-1 position you are taking will be a control position that you need to keep currency and medical on, or if it will be purely administrative and you will forego certifying at the facility and no longer worry about keeping a medical. If you keep currency with the MSS-1 position, then (I believe) you still count for staffing numbers on the books for NCEPT; if you go full admin then (I believe) you don't count for release numbers for your facility and you can leave if the gaining facility wants you.

I only had 3 years CPC time before I switched over to a non-controlling MSS-1 position at a different facility. I had to have a come-to-Jesus talk with myself weighing the pros and cons of it, but it became a clear decision for me. I got in right at the age 31 cutoff and knew I would need/want to stick around past 56 in some capacity to feed into my retirement more.

Upsides are I have a normal work schedule, I have all holidays off, I will hopefully get to keep teleworking for a couple days out of the week (work from home is legit awesome), I take leave when I want, I'm still a BUE (purple book, no longer slate), and I don't have to worry about losing a medical. Downsides are the straight pay, 1.1% per year of service for FERS instead of 1.7%, working until 62 instead of 56 (still earlier than average by a few years), and any potential attitude you might get from controllers for not being "one of them" anymore or for having to brief them on the mundane BS we all hated having to be briefed on.

Thank you for the detailed response.

Definitely some things to think about, and I'll have to weigh the pros and cons for myself.

 

[AS88]

Eligibility
I believe 57 for full benefits.


From what I understand (granted, that seems to be minimal), it depends on if the MSS-1 position you are taking will be a control position that you need to keep currency and medical on, or if it will be purely administrative and you will forego certifying at the facility and no longer worry about keeping a medical. If you keep currency with the MSS-1 position, then (I believe) you still count for staffing numbers on the books for NCEPT; if you go full admin then (I believe) you don't count for release numbers for your facility and you can leave if the gaining facility wants you.

I only had 3 years CPC time before I switched over to a non-controlling MSS-1 position at a different facility. I had to have a come-to-Jesus talk with myself weighing the pros and cons of it, but it became a clear decision for me. I got in right at the age 31 cutoff and knew I would need/want to stick around past 56 in some capacity to feed into my retirement more.

Upsides are I have a normal work schedule, I have all holidays off, I will hopefully get to keep teleworking for a couple days out of the week (work from home is legit awesome), I take leave when I want, I'm still a BUE (purple book, no longer slate), and I don't have to worry about losing a medical. Downsides are the straight pay, 1.1% per year of service for FERS instead of 1.7%, working until 62 instead of 56 (still earlier than average by a few years), and any potential attitude you might get from controllers for not being "one of them" anymore or for having to brief them on the mundane BS we all hated having to be briefed on.

Since it sounds like you're the only one in the thread actually working an MSS-1, if you were able to continue working on position and maintaining a medical do you know if that would count for the 1.7?

I'm going into an MSS-1 position soon as well, similar situation as you. A few years controlling and I feel the straight pay is a trade-off for having a M-F schedule and holidays off. As someone with kids it seems like a pretty good deal, especially if I can continue to be certified and working if it counts towards my 1.7. Just not sure on all the details still.

 

[Logical_Mongoose]

Since it sounds like you're the only one in the thread actually working an MSS-1, if you were able to continue working on position and maintaining a medical do you know if that would count for the 1.7?

I'm going into an MSS-1 position soon as well, similar situation as you. A few years controlling and I feel the straight pay is a trade-off for having a M-F schedule and holidays off. As someone with kids it seems like a pretty good deal, especially if I can continue to be certified and working if it counts towards my 1.7. Just not sure on all the details still.

I will refer you to the most recent thread there has been about this: Support Staff positions, and release dates?

It honestly seems like there have been varying answers with nothing 100% definitive. I would suggest checking simultaneously with HR and NATCA to get independent answers from each to see if they line up on one side or the other about the Good Time if you stay certified.