While I do indeed agree that money should not be primary motivator when choosing a career, let's face it . . . it's the money that does the talking. The FAA needs new ATC's for reasons which I'm sure we are all aware.
According to some of the opinions I've read in this entire board, I will say that I am quite humbled when I realize the amount of stress people will put themselves through in order to have the best chance possible for becoming an ATC. For some it is a lifelong dream and for others, it is simply a job.
For me, I will say it is a combination of both. But for someone to question another person's motivation behind applying for this position is, in my opinion, literally unprofessional and downright rude.
The FAA knows that money does the talking, especially when trying to recruit for a position which a majority of the world knows already, is one of the most stressful in America. But let's not pretend that money is not a motivator. I don't know any ATC's, but I'm sure that there are some of them out there who can say the same thing I have said twice before in this post alone: the money does the talking. If that wasn't the case, then the FAA wouldn't have listed the upward salary as being in the six-figure range.
We read references and look up test scores, mock AT-SAT's, look through message boards ( like this one, of course ) and can find a wealth of information at our fingertips. We are here to help each other, not bring someone down because their motivation is different from ours. Let's not lose sight of that.
According to some of the opinions I've read in this entire board, I will say that I am quite humbled when I realize the amount of stress people will put themselves through in order to have the best chance possible for becoming an ATC. For some it is a lifelong dream and for others, it is simply a job.
For me, I will say it is a combination of both. But for someone to question another person's motivation behind applying for this position is, in my opinion, literally unprofessional and downright rude.
The FAA knows that money does the talking, especially when trying to recruit for a position which a majority of the world knows already, is one of the most stressful in America. But let's not pretend that money is not a motivator. I don't know any ATC's, but I'm sure that there are some of them out there who can say the same thing I have said twice before in this post alone: the money does the talking. If that wasn't the case, then the FAA wouldn't have listed the upward salary as being in the six-figure range.
We read references and look up test scores, mock AT-SAT's, look through message boards ( like this one, of course ) and can find a wealth of information at our fingertips. We are here to help each other, not bring someone down because their motivation is different from ours. Let's not lose sight of that.