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Navy NEC · Aviation

F12A Rated Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) Controller

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A rated Tactical Air Control Center controller provides tactical radar air traffic services for aircraft entering, exiting, or operating within the Amphibious Area of Responsibility. The controller assigns close air support holding points and entry and exit routes for target areas as necessary.

Core Skills

  • Radar traffic services in amphibious airspace
  • Close air support holding point assignment
  • Target area entry and exit routing

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Air Traffic Controllers

Providing tactical radar traffic services and assigning aircraft holding points and routes transfers directly to civilian aircraft traffic coordination.

How to prepare: Compile certification, facility-rating, and operational-duty records to choose an FAA hiring route: entry-level applicants must be under 31 and have one year of progressively responsible work experience, a bachelor's degree, or combined postsecondary education and work experience totaling one year. The experienced-controller route permits original appointment through age 35 but requires 52 consecutive weeks of full-time active traffic separation after certification or facility rating within five years of application at a qualifying FAA, DOD, National Guard, or FAA-contract tower facility; pre-certification training does not count, education cannot substitute, and the F12A designation alone does not establish this experience.

What the civilian work involves
  • Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
  • Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.

Notes & Sources

  • FAA entry-level selection also requires U.S. citizenship, clear spoken English, medical and security screening, and pre-employment tests including ATSA. Training includes several months at the FAA Academy followed by 2-3 years of classroom and on-the-job training; controllers must pass annual medical examinations.
  • The supplied FAA experienced-controller notice requires U.S. citizenship, a pre-employment physical, drug testing, Secret clearance, and willingness to work at any FAA facility. Previously appointed FAA or DOD civilian 2152 applicants must document their original appointment before the maximum entry age. Appointees complete applicable field training, potentially including Academy courses; this notice is a resume repository, not a guaranteed opening.
Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC F12A

    [1] NEC entry "F12A - Rated Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) Controller"; cached text line 5164; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Radar traffic services in amphibious airspace, Close air support holding point assignment, Target area entry and exit routing, Air Traffic Controllers (O*NET 53-2021.00)

  2. O*NET: Air Traffic Controllers

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Air Traffic Controllers (O*NET 53-2021.00)

  3. FAA: Air Traffic Controller Qualifications

    [3] Minimum qualifications and training requirements; official page updated 2025-02-27, checked 2026-09-24. Current entry-level threshold is one year, not the older three-year wording.

    Supports: Air Traffic Controllers (O*NET 53-2021.00)

  4. FAA 2026 experienced Air Traffic Control Specialist direct-hire notice

    [4] FAA-FAA-26-PUB NOT-96466: Duties, Conditions of employment, Qualifications, Education. Checked 2026-09-24; a resume repository, not a guarantee of an opening or appointment.

    Supports: Air Traffic Controllers (O*NET 53-2021.00)

  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Air Traffic Controllers

    [5] How to Become an Air Traffic Controller; retrieved 23 September 2026

    Supports: Air Traffic Controllers (O*NET 53-2021.00)

Defense contractor jobs for F12A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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