USAF Dispatcher Job

manniax

Well-met in the Ka-tet
Saw this on the Book of Faces:

Are you a military veteran? Currently a dispatcher but may have lost your job or you are in a furlough status? Come apply to be a Dispatcher for the United States Air Force! The job, Flight Management Specialist, has been posted to USAJOBS.GOV and is only open until October 7th (Usually until about 11:59:59pm - but don't wait that long).

This position does require a relocation to Scott AFB in Illinois (just outside of St. Louis MO), with NO relocation expenses paid. It pays really well, and you have sick days, Paid time off (at least 3 weeks a year, but possibly up to 5 depending on prior service) paid double holidays, and 401k.

Also, one nice thing about this position is you will not ever be furloughed. This is a federal government civilian position. No military commitment is required.
 

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Seeing the thread title had me take a stroll back in my chair and exhale, actively thinking "There is not a way on this Earth I'd be looked over against any active Dispatchers with military service."

And then immediately, within seconds, I went back to about 11 years old to those memories of C-5s doing low passes at KDOV as our family, all crammed in the Windstar, was driving down to OC MD for a weekend on the brand new Delaware Route 1.

And thinking...

I could dispatch one of these.
(memories of 4 GEs absolutely screaming)

hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng
 
I remember when they first started this, does anyone know someone was hired into Scott.

I wonder if FAM Rides are required...
 
I wonder who is responsible for dispatching Air Force One, if there is a dispatcher at all. This position only goes up to Secret level clearance, which is pretty standard to obtain. But the description says "The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Flight Management Specialist responsible for planning, analyzing, coordinating, managing, and flight-following unconventional and complex USTRANSCOM validated requirements supporting the President, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), DoD, and non-DoD Agencies on a 24 hour, 365-day worldwide basis." Interesting, and a tall order if true.

Housing is inexpensive in Belleville, IL where Scott AFB is located. With the salary figures provided, you could live very comfortably.
 
Thank you for posting that job. I applied for it as well I am a certified aircraft dispatcher and prior military and work for Omni air as a load master so we deal with USTRANSCOM all the time but I live the the FL moving to IL..... Dont know about that one. The money is good but IL. Good luck to everyone who applied.

Any more information about this?
 
Not really - I have talked to a couple people that are working or have worked there that seem to like it. Also, while Scott AFB is in IL the closest metro area is St. Louis Missouri, I have known a few people that lived there and really enjoyed it. Plus, no more hurricanes!
 
Not really - I have talked to a couple people that are working or have worked there that seem to like it. Also, while Scott AFB is in IL the closest metro area is St. Louis Missouri, I have known a few people that lived there and really enjoyed it. Plus, no more hurricanes!
Just tornadoes.
 
I remember when they first started this, does anyone know someone was hired into Scott.

I wonder if FAM Rides are required...
In all my years flying C5s and C130s, I never saw or heard of them getting a FAM ride, so I would say no. Hell, I didn't even know anyone was actually reading my aeroeye (acars) messages when I was preflighting the jet and sending the "crew at the jet" message until flying home on Christmas day, and rather than the standard "crew at the jet" I sent "santa's sweaty elves at sleigh" and I actually got a reply "LMFAO"...
 
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I actually enjoyed my roughly 3 years at Scott AFB.

If you are hired/accept the position. check the tax agreements if you want to live in MO. Last I remember MO/IL did not have one.

Only piece of advice is if your car breaks down in East St Louis (IL), just torch it. :)
 
I wonder who is responsible for dispatching Air Force One, if there is a dispatcher at all. This position only goes up to Secret level clearance, which is pretty standard to obtain. But the description says "The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Flight Management Specialist responsible for planning, analyzing, coordinating, managing, and flight-following unconventional and complex USTRANSCOM validated requirements supporting the President, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), DoD, and non-DoD Agencies on a 24 hour, 365-day worldwide basis." Interesting, and a tall order if true.

Housing is inexpensive in Belleville, IL where Scott AFB is located. With the salary figures provided, you could live very comfortably.

Jeppesen had the military/government contract a few years ago, I knew someone there that dispatched it.
 
Jeppesen had the military/government contract a few years ago, I knew someone there that dispatched it.
I worked at Arinc and AF1 used the flight planning software to file flight plans. There was zero interaction from us as flight coordinators and the people filing/flying AF1. Did the person you know have a certain clearance, was there any operational control like a 121 carrier? using the term "dispatch" might be a stretch, or it might not be? how did all of that work?
 
I worked at Arinc and AF1 used the flight planning software to file flight plans. There was zero interaction from us as flight coordinators and the people filing/flying AF1. Did the person you know have a certain clearance, was there any operational control like a 121 carrier? using the term "dispatch" might be a stretch, or it might not be? how did all of that work?
From what I understand, Jepp doesn't have af1 anymore but they do have military contracts. Are they technically using their dx certs? No. But from what i understand, they do every bit as much "dispatching" (and probably more in some respects) as you would at a traditional 121.
 
Scott is an interesting place. I remember a while back stopping through the mil/AMC side of the field for a quick gas up and go. My wingman and I taxied to the transient line and shut down, and as we were climbing down the boarding ladders, we were met by a whole crew of MPs. They seemed very stern, and demanded to see our "orders". What? I'm ferrying a jet across the country, not checking into your command. It seemed as if seeing said mythical "orders" was the only way they could verify that we hadn't stolen flight suits, flight gear, and a couple F/A-18's :) Anyway, we eventually pulled up an emailed electronic copy of our squadron flight schedule which technically is a signed order. That apparently was good enough and we were on our way. Even for USAF flight line security, it was a strange interaction.
 
I worked at Arinc and AF1 used the flight planning software to file flight plans. There was zero interaction from us as flight coordinators and the people filing/flying AF1. Did the person you know have a certain clearance, was there any operational control like a 121 carrier? using the term "dispatch" might be a stretch, or it might not be? how did all of that work?

Yes, he was also a military mission planner and had to get a clearance, attending training over at an AFB here on the east coast near DC (I don't remember where, may have been Dover). I'll have to talk to them again at some point at get more details.
 
I looked into this position earlier this year but was told that because I am currently a Reservist loadmaster I could not hold both positions as they are both deemed “mission essential.” Perhaps I received incorrect info but it’s from a woman that was employed there so I trust it. Just something to consider if you’re in a similar situation. But hey, apply anyway. Good luck!
 
Just got the "not referred" on USA JOBS hmm I've been a dispatcher for 10+ years/ aviation over 20 and I am a veteran and I and still didn't even get an interview. They are looking for someone specific. Good Luck
 
Just got the "not referred" on USA JOBS hmm I've been a dispatcher for 10+ years/ aviation over 20 and I am a veteran and I and still didn't even get an interview. They are looking for someone specific. Good Luck

Federal jobs are weird. I have heard a lot of people who work there are retired military and like to put in a word for their buddies that are just about to retire, so that might be it...who knows.
 
Just got the "not referred" on USA JOBS hmm I've been a dispatcher for 10+ years/ aviation over 20 and I am a veteran and I and still didn't even get an interview. They are looking for someone specific. Good Luck

Are you a line dispatcher or do you hold an ATS designation, trainer, ASAP Committee member, etc.? Anything to separate from the pack. I came very close to applying, but relocating on my own dime didn't sound too appealing (plus I couldn't find my DD214 at the last second). I could possibly commute it and drive the 5.5 one way per week, but, I let this one go by.

I'm employed, worldwide heavy jet experience, and with us announcing hiring over 850 pilots in the next 18-24 months, there will be new DX to eventually come with that, so I'd like to think I'm pretty safe where I am right now...

For today anyway...
 
Federal jobs are weird. I have heard a lot of people who work there are retired military and like to put in a word for their buddies that are just about to retire, so that might be it...who knows.
This is likely particularly in the job your going after and military retirees are likely to be skilled at getting the application just so, but...

In my experience getting past USA Jobs was the tough part. I applied for a couple years to openings as a civilian tech in LE. I got that response to every application for a while. I asked a buddy with a federal agency about it and he said it's scored by a computer and is looking for key words. I started responding to questions with starting phrases like this;

What is your experience with implementation of new processes?

I have extensive experience in administrating the researching of, project managing, budgeting for, implementing and assessing the effectiveness of (Insert question word here, in this case implementing new processes) ..and this is a shortened version...

If it was a lower level (GS 9 ish maybe) I'd take out the administrating part.

I cut and pasted this phrase into the start of just about every answer that had anything to do with experience. It read like complete idiocy, but, I started getting interviews.

Disclaimer: This was about 9ish years ago.
 
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