Leszno Airfield, Poland. (October 5, 2024): Imagine having a job where multiple lives and millions in military equipment is in your hands, where every decision you make is life or death. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Trevor Calvert, Air Force Staff Sergeant Brayden Crabtree, 86th Operations Support Squadron complex watch supervisor, guides an incoming Polish C-130H Hercules to a safe landing. SSgt. Crabtree has one of the top five most stressful jobs in the world… air traffic control.

Air Force air traffic controllers on the ground, also known as Air Traffic Control (ATC) specialists, are responsible for managing the flow of aircraft through all aspects of their flight. They direct the movement of aircraft into and out of military airfields by tracking planes by radar and giving voice instructions directly to the pilot from the ground.

The job can be harrowing.

ATCs must relay flight and landing instructions, weather reports, and safety information to pilots in real time. They plot an aircraft’s position and compute its speed, direction, and altitude. Unlike their civilian counterparts, Air Force ATCs must be ready to perform their duties in the haze of combat.

To become an Air Force air traffic controller, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and score well on aptitude tests. They must also meet the criteria for a Secret Clearance.

Most importantly, candidates must be levelheaded and work well under stressful conditions. They can expect to be deployed anywhere in the world in support of airfield or air base operations.