Do it then. Everyone on here that thinks they're so super special that the FAA is just dying to have their services, be greedy and see what happens when the FAA eventually tells you to get lost when you decline the offer. Seriously, put it in perspective. The FAA is hiring roughly 2000 people a year to be controllers. Out of how many??? Not to mention you're in competition with VRA's and CTI's who are much more qualified for the job. You're a dime a dozen and the FAA knows it. They may not "blacklist" people now but they are streamlining the process and catching on to the games people are playing. Flat out, you should be lucky you're even being offered this opportunity and should stop being so greedy.
HD
The thing is that the original poster didn't want where he was going. It is in his best interest then, to get his foot as far into the door as possible as, like you said, they DONT give a crap about you. But the further along in the process you are, the more they are likely to work with you. I agree that he shouldn't DECLINE his offer. That would be stupid and counter-productive. He should get all of his paperwork done and then try to SWITCH, as others have said.
The scenarios are as follows, and he has three choices.
1) Do not attend PEPC, decline the offer. He will now have little to no paperwork on file with the FAA, no security clearance, and he could be a giant screw-up junky for all they know or care. He's thrown back into the pool at best for the next round... where he might get THE VERY SAME FACILITY (I say this because I knew a guy who declined twice and got Boston Center both times).
2) Go to PEPC, decline the offer. Assuming all goes well and he's not a junky/terrorist, he will now be somewhat more marketable than the candidate who simply declined interest in the ATC position offered to him. He will still, at best, go back into the pool. But if he is selected, his academy date is that much closer than everyone else's. Again, at best. At worst, he is no different.
3) Go to PEPC, try to get OKC to switch him with someone else. What does he have to lose? He is not declining, he has been cleared, and the process moves on. He has several weeks to find someone to switch with him, and if all goes well, he won't even miss a beat.
Just seems like a no-brainer to me :hiya: