MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Since there are no stoplights, road signs or traffic cops floating 10,000 feet above ground, the Marine Corps must rely heavily on their air traffic controllers to keep the skies a safe place for pilots to fly.
Since Iwakuni air traffic controllers are responsible for the lives of others and billions of dollars in equipment, they must go through vigorous training before they are held responsible for policing the airways.
An air traffic controller's career begins at the Air Traffic Control School in Pensacola, Fla., where students attend the ACA1 Basic Air Traffic Control course before earning the right to work in the 7257 field.
After completing the 12-week course, the students must still do on the job training before working with out supervision, according to Master Sgt. Robert Van Horn, ATC noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
"Whenever an air traffic controller enters the fleet, or they make a permanent change of station, they arrive as a student and have to undergo further training specific to the area," said Van Horn. "Here at the Station it usually takes around five months before the air traffic controllers are qualified to work without a supervisor."
The amount of training that the ATC Marines go through is essential to the unit?s number one mission-safety.
"We are here to make sure the aircraft take off and land safely without any problems," said Staff Sgt. James Rardin, ATC tower supervisor.
To ensure the safety of the pilots in the air and everyone on the ground below, ATC uses a control tower and a radar room to take on the responsibilities of the job.
"Air traffic control is responsible for providing aircraft landings and takeoffs within five nautical miles and directing aircraft to the Station within 60 nautical miles," said Van Horn.
The ATC team also clears all taxi ways on the air field, assists pilots with flight plans, relays weather information to pilots and coordinates take off and landing sequences.
Although air traffic controllers spend most of their first year in training, they are one of the most important and essential members in Marine Corps aviation operations.