Staff support specialist question

Dogbirddingo

Dogbirddingo

Member
Messages
4
Howdy folks. Longtime listener, first time caller.

Former controller, current support specialist. Lost my medical awhile back and was able to transition to this job at a different facility than the one I controlled at but in the same city. Been fighting to get my medical back and finally got the go ahead. I want to control again though, so how do I go about this?

Do I submit an ERR packet to my current or former facility like NCEPT? And it operates based on projected staffing/OJTI to trainee numbers? Do I have to wait for NCEPT and get last dibs after current controllers? Or am I SOL?

Purple book isn’t clear and asking for guidance from anyone else hasn’t turned up much info. Would appreciate some guidance!
 
Dogbirddingo said:
Howdy folks. Longtime listener, first time caller.

Former controller, current support specialist. Lost my medical awhile back and was able to transition to this job at a different facility than the one I controlled at but in the same city. Been fighting to get my medical back and finally got the go ahead. I want to control again though, so how do I go about this?

Do I submit an ERR packet to my current or former facility like NCEPT? And it operates based on projected staffing/OJTI to trainee numbers? Do I have to wait for NCEPT and get last dibs after current controllers? Or am I SOL?

Purple book isn’t clear and asking for guidance from anyone else hasn’t turned up much info. Would appreciate some guidance!
Click to expand...
I would say a prior experience bid.. but if someone likes you they could probably make it happen much, much faster.

I'd maybe call or email some managers or union friends
 
Dogbirddingo said:
Howdy folks. Longtime listener, first time caller.

Former controller, current support specialist. Lost my medical awhile back and was able to transition to this job at a different facility than the one I controlled at but in the same city. Been fighting to get my medical back and finally got the go ahead. I want to control again though, so how do I go about this?

Do I submit an ERR packet to my current or former facility like NCEPT? And it operates based on projected staffing/OJTI to trainee numbers? Do I have to wait for NCEPT and get last dibs after current controllers? Or am I SOL?

Purple book isn’t clear and asking for guidance from anyone else hasn’t turned up much info. Would appreciate some guidance!
Click to expand...
If you’re interested in staying at your current facility you could talk to your local rep about training/certifying in your current role. It’s not terribly uncommon to keep currency as a support specialist. That being said, you don’t qualify for any atc good time even if you maintain currency until you can get back into a 2152 position. It might help you get a foot in the door but then if you’re unlucky your atm or district may just see it as a way to exploit your position.
 
Electricfence said:
All you have to do is ERR.
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At any time? And do you know if it follows some staffing guideline?
DA said:
If you’re interested in staying at your current facility you could talk to your local rep about training/certifying in your current role. It’s not terribly uncommon to keep currency as a support specialist. That being said, you don’t qualify for any atc good time even if you maintain currency until you can get back into a 2152 position. It might help you get a foot in the door but then if you’re unlucky your atm or district may just see it as a way to exploit your position.
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I’d be looking to get back into good time, so ideally not in this position anymore.
 
Dogbirddingo said:
At any time? And do you know if it follows some staffing guideline?

I’d be looking to get back into good time, so ideally not in this position anymore.
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Yes at anytime. You are an FAA employee and you meet the standards because you had been certified. And I do not know if you have to meet staffing guidelines. I doubt it though. You may have to wait a year but big deal.

Best part is you’ll have all that seniority unless you also took a management position at some point.

Gonna be awesome when people find out you were selected over them. Good luck!!
 
Last edited:
Dogbirddingo said:
Howdy folks. Longtime listener, first time caller.

Former controller, current support specialist. Lost my medical awhile back and was able to transition to this job at a different facility than the one I controlled at but in the same city. Been fighting to get my medical back and finally got the go ahead. I want to control again though, so how do I go about this?

Do I submit an ERR packet to my current or former facility like NCEPT? And it operates based on projected staffing/OJTI to trainee numbers? Do I have to wait for NCEPT and get last dibs after current controllers? Or am I SOL?

Purple book isn’t clear and asking for guidance from anyone else hasn’t turned up much info. Would appreciate some guidance!
Click to expand...
If you aren't certified and controlling at your current facility then you shouldn't count towards staffing, so if you're looking to CPC-only (drop Support Specialist completely) at another facility the only thing that should matter is the gaining facilities staffing (if they can pick anyone up) come NCEPT time.

I BELIEVE if you are a Support Specialist AND maintain currency at your current facility then you count towards staffing; then you're bidding process is exactly the same as all other CPCs looking to ERR from your current facility. The variables should adjust similarly if you're looking to bid a SS position with currency at another facility through USAjobs (depends upon currency at your current facility).

The biggest semi-related question for me is if SS positions listed through USAjobs count against staffing: it seems like if they have their own facility position/designation they shouldn't since they are a 1-of-1 type situation, but knowing the FAA they probably have their own voodoo they work to the contrary.

GulfBravoPapa said:
NCEPT and the national release policy are two separate things.
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True, but I think pre-COVID panels had CPC'd SSs lumped in with CPCs in the releases; I would presume that means they process all those looking to ERR to a CPC position together.
 
It’s my understanding you can ERR to support specialist positions as well correct? As an example you’re already at facility A as a SS, ERR to facility B as one, not held to the staffing number requirement at current facility? This is assuming not able to, or are not maintaining currency at the original facility.
 
Ibreezeby said:
It’s my understanding you can ERR to support specialist positions as well correct? As an example you’re already at facility A as a SS, ERR to facility B as one, not held to the staffing number requirement at current facility? This is assuming not able to, or are not maintaining currency at the original facility.
Click to expand...
I don’t think you ERR SS to SS. You just bid it directly on USAjobs.
 
kombucha23 said:
I don’t think you ERR SS to SS. You just bid it directly on USAjobs.
Click to expand...
You can ERR. You can ERR to lots of staff jobs at service area, and HQ also. There just has to be a position open. But chances are if there is an opening there will be a bid and they won’t be able to select you from the ERR and outside the bid. and you’ll be required to bid. If that’s what you want, put in an ERR, absolutely you can request to relocate. Know what position you are applying for so you can correctly put it in you paperwork. Gives you a chance to network to find out What positions might be open
 
just a follow up question on this thread, looking for clarity. If I bid a staff job at another facility, can I then ERR later in the future to be a controller at that same facility?
 
nbc1179 said:
just a follow up question on this thread, looking for clarity. If I bid a staff job at another facility, can I then ERR later in the future to be a controller at that same facility?
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I haven’t seen it done. What I have seen is people become a sup and then step down. Also have seen an SS become a sup.
 

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