Does FAA pay federal student loans?

ucrgrad

New Member
Hey everyone. I haven't seen any info regarding this info, so here's my post. I applied OTS and was recently sent an email telling me to sepcify which states I'd like to work in. I was wondering if the FAA/DOT pays off federal student loans acquired while in college. I went to a UC and I was think it'd be cool if they did. Any replies would be most appreciated. Thanks.
 
Not that I am aware of. It is even hard for them to pay for current college courses....they college course you take has to be directly related to your job...and you have to get your facility to help fund it...and if they don't have the money, then it probably won't get approved. You can try asking a manager...but most people are unfamiliar with any type of education program so you will have to probably talk to quite a few people. If you need any more information on the FAA paying for courses while in the FAA, let me know and I can get some forms or put you in touch with someone that could answer your questions in more detail. Again, I am almost 100% certain they won't pay for student loans that you have already incurred prior to government service.
 
To respond to the poster above....Here are a couple terms from the website he posted...and remember that is an OPM website that prescribes rules for all branches of the government...each government agency has the discretion to grant these or not.

Q1. What is the student loan repayment program?
A1. Under 5 U.S.C. 5379, agencies are authorized to establish a program under which they may agree to repay certain types of Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified personnel.




Q2. Are employees entitled to a student loan repayment?
A2. No. An agency has discretionary authority to repay certain types of Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified candidates or current employees.

Things to look at...the phrase "recruitment or retention incentive highly qualified personnel."

I think they are referring to people that are progressing up within the FAA and the FAA offers them this as a way to continue to progress or not leave the FAA for another branch of the government or a civilian job....notice that it says an incentive, not something mandatory or even available to everyone.

I haven't heard of anyone in the FAA receiving help to repay student loans that they accrued prior to service...and I only know one person that received partial repayment of a degree they were currently seeking in the FAA, and that person was pretty high up in the FAA at the time of school.
 
Did you bother to check out the thread called Faa's student loan repayment program?

Here is a post from the thread:
When you arrive at the academy, they'll be able to give you more information about Tuition repayment...seeing as I didn't qualify, I zoned out for that lecture :)


Either way I would not count on it.
 
To respond to the poster above....Here are a couple terms from the website he posted...and remember that is an OPM website that prescribes rules for all branches of the government...each government agency has the discretion to grant these or not.

Q1. What is the student loan repayment program?
A1. Under 5 U.S.C. 5379, agencies are authorized to establish a program under which they may agree to repay certain types of Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified personnel.




Q2. Are employees entitled to a student loan repayment?
A2. No. An agency has discretionary authority to repay certain types of Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified candidates or current employees.

Things to look at...the phrase "recruitment or retention incentive highly qualified personnel." yes, but what is considered highly qualified? Do you have the answer...

I think they are referring to people that are progressing up within the FAA and the FAA offers them this as a way to continue to progress or not leave the FAA for another branch of the government or a civilian job....notice that it says an incentive, not something mandatory or even available to everyone. I never said it was manddatory or availbale to everyone

I haven't heard of anyone in the FAA receiving help to repay student loans that they accrued prior to service. oh, so your Mr. Popularity and you know everyone..and I only know one person that received partial repayment of a degree they were currently seeking in the FAA, and that person was pretty high up in the FAA at the time of school.
 
Things to look at...the phrase "recruitment or retention incentive highly qualified personnel." yes, but what is considered highly qualified? Do you have the answer...

Generally if a student loan repayment program would be in effect for you, it would be under the job announcement in which you are applying..."a recruitment incentive."

Notice the difference in these two job announcements: Here is a copied section of a PUBNAT announcement:

Air Traffic Control Specialist (Developmental)

New employees are eligible for benefits including health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). They also earn sick and annual leave.
OTHER INFORMATION:
No Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses will be paid.

ATCS's are required to attend the initial qualifications training at the FAA Academy and will be placed on temporary excepted appointments not to exceed thirteen (13) months while attending training. The actual duration of time-limited appointment for each individual will be based on the amount of time required to complete the training program. The enroute training program requires 53 classroom days.

Newly hired ATCS's will be paid the long term expense rate (per diem) for Oklahoma City, OK to help offset the daily cost of living at the FAA Academy. The FAA will also pay for the cost of travel in accordance with applicable agency travel policy.

Individuals, who successfully complete initial qualification training at the FAA Academy and all other requirements for continuing employment, including evaluations required by the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), may be given permanent appointments as developmental ATCS's at their assigned en route facility. They will receive salary increases as they complete subsequent phases of training. Individuals who do not successfully complete training at the FAA Academy and all other requirements for continuing employment will have their employment terminated.

Notice....no mention of student loan repayment

Here is a copy of another job announcement:


Management & Program Analyst
BENEFITS:
Comprehensive health and life insurance.

Competitive salaries.

Generous retirement programs.

Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation time.

Flexible work environment and alternate work schedules.

Paid employment related training and education.

Possible student loan repayment.

Bonuses, incentives, and awards as appropriate for the job.

FAA offers programs that support telecommuting to accommodate medical, family, commuter needs, or clean air programs.

You will be eligible for membership in various Federal Credit unions.

Day care facility located on site.

FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to certain newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave accrual is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.


And as you can see...even under that announcement...it says Possible student loan repayment


I think they are referring to people that are progressing up within the FAA and the FAA offers them this as a way to continue to progress or not leave the FAA for another branch of the government or a civilian job....notice that it says an incentive, not something mandatory or even available to everyone. I never said it was manddatory or availbale to everyone

I didn't say that you did say it was mandatory or available to everyone...I just made a statement based off of what was on the OPM website, merely stating that it is an "incentive."

I haven't heard of anyone in the FAA receiving help to repay student loans that they accrued prior to service. oh, so your Mr. Popularity and you know everyone..and I only know one person that received partial repayment of a degree they were currently seeking in the FAA, and that person was pretty high up in the FAA at the time of school.

Ease up there a little bit chief. I again stated....I haven't heard of anyone...of course I don't know everyone....I just haven't heard of anyone. I'm just providing this guy asking questions with as much information as I know about this process. I would hate for him to get misinformed thinking he will get his loans repaid and it doesn't work out. He is entitled to as much information that can be given to him and we don't need to ridicule the guy for asking a question that wasn't left fully answered in the first place.

We need to help these new guys out as they are coming in with all sorts of questions...questions that might seem obvious to some, but aren't for a person that has never been through this process. You could be a little more supportive and helpful, instead of bashing.

I'll do my best to answer the questions to the best of my ability. Don't take me responding to your post as bashing you...I'm just presenting him with all the information I know so he can be informed as possible.
 
Things to look at...the phrase "recruitment or retention incentive highly qualified personnel." yes, but what is considered highly qualified? Do you have the answer...

Generally if a student loan repayment program would be in effect for you, it would be under the job announcement in which you are applying..."a recruitment incentive."

Notice the difference in these two job announcements: Here is a copied section of a PUBNAT announcement:

Air Traffic Control Specialist (Developmental)

New employees are eligible for benefits including health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). They also earn sick and annual leave.
OTHER INFORMATION:
No Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses will be paid.

ATCS's are required to attend the initial qualifications training at the FAA Academy and will be placed on temporary excepted appointments not to exceed thirteen (13) months while attending training. The actual duration of time-limited appointment for each individual will be based on the amount of time required to complete the training program. The enroute training program requires 53 classroom days.

Newly hired ATCS's will be paid the long term expense rate (per diem) for Oklahoma City, OK to help offset the daily cost of living at the FAA Academy. The FAA will also pay for the cost of travel in accordance with applicable agency travel policy.

Individuals, who successfully complete initial qualification training at the FAA Academy and all other requirements for continuing employment, including evaluations required by the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), may be given permanent appointments as developmental ATCS's at their assigned en route facility. They will receive salary increases as they complete subsequent phases of training. Individuals who do not successfully complete training at the FAA Academy and all other requirements for continuing employment will have their employment terminated.

Notice....no mention of student loan repayment....but according to a student at the academy they still go over it during orientation, although there are no management or program analyst in orientation.....

Here is a copy of another job announcement:


Management & Program Analyst
BENEFITS:
Comprehensive health and life insurance.

Competitive salaries.

Generous retirement programs.

Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation time.

Flexible work environment and alternate work schedules.

Paid employment related training and education.

Possible student loan repayment. and I said don't count on it

Bonuses, incentives, and awards as appropriate for the job.

FAA offers programs that support telecommuting to accommodate medical, family, commuter needs, or clean air programs.

You will be eligible for membership in various Federal Credit unions.

Day care facility located on site.

FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to certain newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave accrual is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.


And as you can see...even under that announcement...it says Possible student loan repayment.and I said don't count on it


I think they are referring to people that are progressing up within the FAA and the FAA offers them this as a way to continue to progress or not leave the FAA for another branch of the government or a civilian job....notice that it says an incentive, not something mandatory or even available to everyone. I never said it was manddatory or availbale to everyone

I didn't say that you did say it was mandatory or available to everyone...I just made a statement based off of what was on the OPM website, merely stating that it is an "incentive."

I haven't heard of anyone in the FAA receiving help to repay student loans that they accrued prior to service. oh, so your Mr. Popularity and you know everyone..and I only know one person that received partial repayment of a degree they were currently seeking in the FAA, and that person was pretty high up in the FAA at the time of school.

Ease up there a little bit chief. I again stated....I haven't heard of anyone...of course I don't know everyone....I just haven't heard of anyone. I'm just providing this guy asking questions with as much information as I know about this process. I would hate for him to get misinformed thinking he will get his loans repaid and it doesn't work out. He is entitled to as much information that can be given to him and we don't need to ridicule the guy for asking a question that wasn't left fully answered in the first place.

We need to help these new guys out as they are coming in with all sorts of questions...questions that might seem obvious to some, but aren't for a person that has never been through this process. You could be a little more supportive and helpful, instead of bashing.

I'll do my best to answer the questions to the best of my ability. Don't take me responding to your post as bashing you...I'm just presenting him with all the information I know so he can be informed as possible.
 
UCGRAD asked if there was a program....the correct response is yes....but there are stipulations.....definitley do not count on the repayment program. case closed


P.S. Thank you for helping me with my post count!!!
 
Learn to use the search function....Yes, there is a student loan repayment program....the thread that this was addressed in is called Faa's student loan repayment program?



here is a link to to OPM website that explains the TRP
http://www.opm.gov/oca/PAY/StudentLoan/index.asp

I'm sorry but I've got to say something...and I'm sorry esw2005 for personally calling you out because there are many others that are doing it too. But I'm getting sick and tired of seeing "learn to use the search function" being tossed around in the ATC forums. Jetcareers is nothing like the other forums out there. It is a place dedicated to helping people reach their goals and NOT a place to bash others and bring people down. I've been a JC member for several years and while I may not post a lot, I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge from being here. I've learned a lot from using the search function AND from asking stupid redundant questions that people get sick of answering. But since this site is about helping others and not scaring them away people actually answered my stupid questions and prevented me from making some very costly mistakes. Had they just said use the search function I would've most likely pulled up old, obsolete information and left this site just as clueless as before. How many ridiculous "how are you killing time" posts and how many icanhascheezburger posts are there? How about killing time by answering someone's honest question? That's what Jetcareers is all about.
 
As a college grad w/ loans I was quite interested in learning about a repayment program for dev. ATCers. If you google around you'll find some articles from a couple years ago that talk about the FAA starting a program like this, but it seems that it never went through. I have read the OPM link that was provided and in my research I came to the conclusion that student loan repayment would not be an option for atc developmentals.
 
I agree with you Techflyer, but come on...the icanhascheezburger is a sanctuary these days for those of us bordering on insanity...can we keep that?
 
lol.. there goes lawngnome with another one of his inappropriately long and overbearing conniption fits of information (See the sf-15 thread... good fight!):buck:

:tmi:Lawngnome:tmi:


P.S. Amen techflyer. I think asking questions is better because it gives those of us who DON'T know a source of information, and those of us that DO know, something to be proud of. It's the whole community building thing. Anyone that wants to bash people for asking questions with or without using the search are imperialist swine!! (wait.. i've bashed people for it... crap.. i mean, oink)
 
something I have found that works REALLY well, from time to time.. if people are giving me crap or just being indignant and callous in light of a simple information request I put out or intellectual point i'm trying to make, I just shoot an email to whoever seems like they tried to give some honest input in the thread... talk to them mano-e-mano.. that way you don't have to deal with the smoldering horde once the fire gets lit in their little mob bellies.

you know something else I've noticed regarding information failure on this site? It's pretty interesting, but you'll never really find any ONE person hijacking a thread or steering it off course.. the thing about it is that there's probably only 2 people that can keep a thread on course (that I know of) and take a legitimate shot at providing well grounded and dignified answers without saying too much or too little. Everyone else just kinda sits back and waits for a good chance to chuck a pie across the room.. myself included half the time

(but it's only because we're bored out of our freaking minds while going through one of the waiting phases..... argh!!

the lack of focus on a day to day basis is a direct result from the hyper-focus we enstate when something happens with regards to our applications. lol... it's kinda like...

HO GOD! WTF, NEED INFO, FREAKING OUT, CHECK, CHECK, DOUBLECHECK, EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL....

and then.... more waiting... and then everyone lets it all hang out.

lol.. i think we all try our hardest to be a good part of the site but sometimes it's just too stressing to be of any really good help lest we try so hard our noses bleed.
 
Everyone else just kinda sits back and waits for a good chance to chuck a pie across the room.

Hahaha, that's pretty funny...because that's exactly how it is. I'm pretty sure an ATC meet 'n greet would never be lacking in entertainment.
 
Raydon...I hate to even have to rebutal but geez...you sure try to take low blows when you can. I gave the guy the information he needed...and he is not eligible for a student repayment loan program under the public announcement he applied, for and just like you, esw likes to jump down people's throats when their opinion is different from what he writes.

My first answer was too the point...esw gave a link to an OPM website...not an FAA website...I clarified his information and get jumped all over for doing so...I would take someone's "conniption" of information as you call it anyday over 90% of the posts on this forum. Most of the posts on this forum are someone trying to get a higher post count than the next and no information is being exchanged.

There hasn't been a single informative post that you have made on this thread about the question being asked. You just decided to come over here and rant, maybe to get your post count up. I make posts when I have information to provide.

I hate to say this, but people like you and esw will have a hard time in the FAA with attitudes like that. I've already told you before and a lot of people agreed. I really hope, if you don't listen to anything I've said on these forums, you take that small piece of advice and apply it once you get in the FAA, or your time with the agency will be short lived....and we need all the controllers we can get, so I would hate to see that happen.
 
LawnGnome.

All I said was to learn to use the search function. I was not tyring to jump down your throat. The OPM website was just a link for general use, I was not implying that it was solely for the FAA.

In the real world not Jet Careers, if you go to your boss and ask them how to do something or where was something placed? Your boss is going to ask you, well did you look for it? What if you boss says hey will you find me that .pdf file from last week? LawnGnome your response would be, ugh ugh ugh, where do I look first? When I used the search function I searched for keyword "loan".....whola......I found what I was looking for.


Good luck making it in the FAA.....Here is another example of LawnGnome. LawnGnome is at work and he says " hey boss what was that thing you told me to rememebr the other day? Boss's response: I told you to write it down... LawnGnome replies I did!....Boss says well did you look through your notes?....LawnGnome replies no I thought I would be lazy and ask you again.....I am to imcompetent to search through my notes.
 
I'm sorry but I've got to say something...and I'm sorry esw2005 for personally calling you out because there are many others that are doing it too. But I'm getting sick and tired of seeing "learn to use the search function" being tossed around in the ATC forums. Jetcareers is nothing like the other forums out there. It is a place dedicated to helping people reach their goals and NOT a place to bash others and bring people down. I've been a JC member for several years and while I may not post a lot, I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge from being here. I've learned a lot from using the search function AND from asking stupid redundant questions that people get sick of answering. But since this site is about helping others and not scaring them away people actually answered my stupid questions and prevented me from making some very costly mistakes. Had they just said use the search function I would've most likely pulled up old, obsolete information and left this site just as clueless as before. How many ridiculous "how are you killing time" posts and how many icanhascheezburger posts are there? How about killing time by answering someone's honest question? That's what Jetcareers is all about.


We have all been guilty of it or most of us have been guilty of bashing someone who didn't use the search function. I see what your saying about not scaring people off and this is a community that shares information. There has been times where I have condcuted a search and the results are awful. All I am saying is that it would not hurt to try the search function first. I guess I could have gone about it in a better way.:D
 
Esw....I never asked the original question. It seems like you are trying to rebuttal against the advice I gave you about your attitude and placing me in examples where I look like an idiot to "my boss." Again...I'm not the one that asked the question in the first place, I was just helping out a kid who did. I didn't bash anyone...I didn't even call you out on bashing someone about the search bar, someone else did....I called you out for bashing me when I was answering this guys questions, saying stuff like "are you Mr. Popularity." ...you know everyone, and whatever else you put in there that did not contribute to helping this guy out...I was just clarifying on the OPM link you gave the guy and you ended up agreeing with what I said...I assume as you said "don't count on it" after I had made a few posts.

No....I'm not the guy that has to ask the boss something twice or be told twice; however, I'll be there to help someone out that might need a little more information.

I also did a search like you said on the word "loan" and there are about 10 pages of threads and none of them really have any good "full" information about the process.

I think you are on the right track like you stated...yes, you could have approached him in a different manner. Jumping down peoples throat will scare people away from coming back here and give you a bad rep. Reminds me of people in the Marine Corps that were horrible leaders and would just yell at you because they outranked you and looked like complete idiots. Raydon hates explanations of things, I guess he just likes a yes or no answer. Other people on this site like indepth answers. You won't be able to please everyone, but even if you can't please everyone, you can have a good attitude when doing so.

Now hopefully the guy that asked the question comes back again after your reply and finds his answer.
 
Lawngnome I'm not saying you gave the WRONG information... it's just that instead of... figuratively speaking... copying and pasting 5 chapters from an operations manual on policy and outlines that outline general principals surrounding the answer to someone's question.. why not just say.. "Yeah.. because (insert simple reason here)" or the opposite..

like in my Sf-15 thread you decided to go ahead and... among information RELEVANT to the SF-15.. (i.e. the simple WHERE, WHEN, and HOW regarding filling it out) you also decided to outline the basics of qualifying for disability and veterans preference as well... just a little TOO much information for someone searching for a specific answer to sort through... you catch my drift?

no biggie i'm just bustin your balls....

oh.. hey, speaking of balls....

it's random distracting-and-somewhat disturbing picture time!

whoa.jpg


i'm not trying to offend don't take it that way.. just sayin.. hey, keep it simple man! no one wants to read a book to get simple answers or feedback!
 
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