I skipped the academy for tower and felt like I was at a huge disadvantage since everything is so much different. I didn't really struggle in training, but that's I know how to be 'seen and not heard' like successful are as aaran34 says. Prior mil should absolutely have to go through the academy like everyone else IMO.Oh for sure. One of the Air Force people we got was definitely not previous experience but they worked hard and figured it out. But a facility our size isn’t equipped to bring a person like that from the ground up and it showed watching them train. I’m convinced half the previous experience new hires coming in should be going to the academy.
Pretty similar where I was at, days of training instead of hours. They didn't give extensions tho. For how incredibly slow it was, out of maybe 20 people or so that left the service for the FAA, everyone has made it except one at all the facilities we were assigned to and err'd to. levels 5-12 enroute terminal etc. Must have counted for something.I worked at a military tower that was VFR helo only. It was high volume but not that complex. We didn't have training hours though. You were given 7 months and they gave extensions out like candy so everyone made it lol. Everyone I worked with there that got hired into the FAA has certified at level 5 thru 12 facilities. One of the guys from that tower went to PCT as his 1st facility and checked out. So who knows