I want to be an FTA

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Doug Frisk

You missed a step, at least in MN. Scorekeeper for a couple of years, then FTAA for a couple, then maybe, if you've impressed folks and you're reliable.

Do you really want to be an FTA though? There's a lot more to it than you see on the field. The FTA is the first one on site and the last one off site, every single day. Sure, you get to wear the giant target on your back and you get to tell teams "you need to turn on your robot for it to work" fifty times a day, but it's not all sunshine and roses. FTA is hard menial work with a lot more responsibility than most think.

The FTA is only the most important (and powerful) volunteer at an event.
Your knowledge and competence can make or break an event. No pressure.

[Jon Stratis]

The FTA is probably the role with the most responsibility at the regional - everything runs through them. After that it's the Head Ref and LRI... both of those positions are linked from the pages linked above, and both require multiple years of volunteer experience - you have to be an inspector for 2 years before you can be considered for LRI, and be a ref for 4 years before being considered for Head Ref. I imagine FTA is similar - expect to be volunteering for several years in related roles (on the field and at the score table to start, then FTAA).

All of that time and effort ensures that you know whats going on and how to handle all the wacky stuff that comes up. It gives you time to build mutual trust and respect with the other volunteers in the area. You need to be able to trust them to do their jobs without your constant oversight, and they need to be able to trust that you'll keep the field running and do everything they need to do their jobs.

None of the key volunteer positions are really about power. They're about respect, customer service, and working as a team to deliver a great experience to every team attending the event. If you think you can fill that role and are doing it for the right reasons, then the first step is to contact your VC and ask him/her how you should get started and where you should volunteer first.

[Conor Ryan]

Every event is different! Talk to the FTAs at your local events and they will work with you. You really need to earn the role above everything else, although in regions with new events it's not always the case.

FTA candidates can be are recommended by current FTAs/VCs/RCs. District FTAs are a little different with local requirements. Communication skills, technical know how and being a known resource in the volunteer community are key. Working for AndyMark seems to be a popular way to become an FTA too. If you live in an area where there are many new events would help build your case out, part of your responsibility is working with off season events.

Age and track record are not mandatory, there are many FTAs over the years that have run events under the age of 20. But you need to have a known track record, posting from an anonymous CD account won't get you there. Local and veteran FTAs get the events that are local to them. Knowledge of the field assembly process is key, so are network troubleshooting skills.

Source: 4 year FTA, now retired.

[Mr V]

As others have mentioned the FTA position is not something you will walk into your first season. Find and contact the lead volunteer coordinator for your area or the event you could volunteer at. Start with another field position, be there for set up and tear down and learn the ropes. Then you can become a FTAA and once you've shown your abilities and dedication there, let people know that you are interested in the FTA position.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

The FTA is only the most important (and powerful) volunteer at an event.
Your knowledge and competence can make or break an event. No pressure.

I would say they are one of the most important volunteers at an event. I leave the word powerful out of it.

Without the Volunteer Coordinator - the least appreciated, least glamorous and least understood role in FRC - there would be very few volunteers. Somebody has to spend months planning, communicating, doing all the paperwork and jumping through the myriad of hurdles.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I would say they are one of the most important volunteers at an event. I leave the word powerful out of it.

Without the Volunteer Coordinator - the least appreciated, least glamorous and least understood role in FRC - there would be very few volunteers. Somebody has to spend months planning, communicating, doing all the paperwork and jumping through the myriad of hurdles.

Oh yes, this. Many points for this. You think you need a FTA, LRI, etc. Nothing is going to happen with out the VC being out there first.

[ratdude747]

To echo what has been said by others:

I once said the same thing as the title (or something similar), and the reply I got from the several FTAs training me as scorekeeper, dare I say in unison, is "You don't want to be an FTA!" (or something similar). I've come to find it's not because they hate their role (well, not all the time that is), but because FTAs don't become FTAs because they seek power or influence. It's because they have the skills to work as one and because they are gluttons for punishment and/or have a strong drive to promote FIRST in such a way.

Not to mention that FTA training AFAIK is a week trip to Manchester (FIRST HQ) to see the field and the hardware. This isn't the usual sort of weekly webinars other roles have. In terms of technical knowledge of the field side of things (FMS, physical field construction, robot connectivity, etc.), they are the top experts second only to the people in FIRST engineering (who they get to call if they get stumped). As a result, last I was told (this was back in 2015) to be an FTA you have to have another FTA recommend you.

That said, from what I've seen from others, to be an FTA, having experience as a field assembly person/field reset/field supervisor (field construction knowhow), scorekeeper (FMS/event setup knowhow), and FTAA/CSA (Robot connectivity knowhow) is essential, and having at least a year (if not a few) in each is a good start. In addition, having good leadership skills and acting well under pressure goes a long way.

Finally, you need to be in an area where there is a need for FTAs (or insert whatever KV role you want), which truth be told is often times what will speed up or slow down the process the most. Example: when I became a scorekeeper Indiana was starting as a new District, and there was a need for a dedicated scorekeeper (and being a college student, I had the time to do that for all four district events that year). Normally scorekeepers don't get to do events solo starting out, but guess what? I did. Also, they often don't get to serve at Championship, but thanks to having four events under my belt I was allowed to. I'm not intending to brag, but point out that if there is a niche open, and you are able to fill it, you will go places fast. Find your niche, and excel at it.

[simpsonboy77]

This will be my 4th year as a CSA and FTAA, and I'd like to be an FTA as well. Realize that a ton of work goes into being an FTA. You are there a day early to setup the field and you are the last person to leave. FTA isnt a role you can just sign up for, most of the time you are asked by either FIRST or another FTA if you would like to be one.

What is it that drives you to be an FTA? As echoed throughout this thread, there are plenty of other key volunteers that are critical to an event. If an event does not have a CSA, the FTA will have even more trouble keeping to the schedule, and there will be plenty of bypasses. One event last year the FTA thanked me for getting the teams running on the field. The entire event had only 1 bypass.

If you want to be on the technical side, CSA and FTAA are the ways to go. If you want to learn more about the field, FTAA and scorekeeper are the roles to apply for. Even though CSA is robotcentric, you are still exposed to the field, especially when things go south.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

The FTA is only the most important (and powerful) volunteer at an event.
Your knowledge and competence can make or break an event. No pressure.

But they get all the cool toys!

In all seriousness though, there is also more to FIRST than FRC. I would suggest maybe trying to start with FTC and do FTA/CSA/WTA there first, as it seems to be a bit less stressful dealing with 20 teams that are more local and utilize less complex control systems than dealing with 60 teams who expect every match to run (if you're not in districts) as they pay $500+ per match. Also FTC seems to be laid back quite a bit more -- maybe because their matches are WAAAY less expensive than FRC is (and they could really use some of the pizzazz that FRC brings along
Another option is to work with and mentor a team, however I strongly suggest against that your freshman year (and my team actually won't allow freshman mentors).
Also, don't forget to hit up the FIRST Alumni network as well once you graduate to get your foot in the door with some employers!
Feel free to hit me up! I'm still trying to find how I want to give back to the program that I fell in love with

Originally Posted by ratdude747

I once said the same thing as the title (or something similar), and the reply I got from the several FTAs training me as scorekeeper, dare I say in unison, is "You don't want to be an FTA!" (or something similar). I've come to find it's not because they hate their role (well, not all the time that is), but because FTAs don't become FTAs because they seek power or influence. It's because they have the skills to work as one and because they are gluttons for punishment and/or have a strong drive to promote FIRST in such a way.

I saw this and thought I would add on the VERY important part that it seems like (not being a FTA, but doing a LOT of troubleshooting myself in my work) that an FTA needs critical thinking skills/ability/reasoning even before technical skills. If you're not able to think critically under pressure, then I'm sure it'd probably not be very fun.

Finally to go back to the point above, MAKE SCHOOL FIRST (if you're going to college). MAKE FIRST SECOND. Being an FTA requires you to be there Wednesday Morning through Saturday Night. If you are in classes, it'd be pretty hard to miss a few events worth of classes. I would second what everyone says about starting slower and finding your niche. For me it was utilizing my passion/artistic ability of photography at events to be a photographer. Not at events it was attempting (still working on that first blue banner) to mentor teams to success.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by runneals

I saw this and thought I would add on the VERY important part that it seems like (not being a FTA, but doing a LOT of troubleshooting myself in my work) that an FTA needs critical thinking skills/ability/reasoning even before technical skills. If you're not able to think critically under pressure, then I'm sure it'd probably not be very fun.

Finally to go back to the point above, MAKE SCHOOL FIRST (if you're going to college). MAKE FIRST SECOND. Being an FTA requires you to be there Wednesday Morning through Saturday Night. If you are in classes, it'd be pretty hard to miss a few events worth of classes. I would second what everyone says about starting slower and finding your niche. For me it was utilizing my passion/artistic ability of photography at events to be a photographer. Not at events it was attempting (still working on that first blue banner) to mentor teams to success.

Agreed on both. I was meaning to include critical thinking with technical knowledge, but having knowledge doesn't directly imply an ability to use it, which is indeed a separate skill. In hindsight I've seen both sides of that coin (part of being a scorekeeper during a rough event).

[protoserge]

If you are in school, you should not be an FTA. I guess the case could be made if you are a working professional and in graduate school since you likely be more reliable. Ultimately, you are recommended or asked to be an FTA. It is not a one-time commitment and you will be expected to serve for years.

The position entails more than computer networking and technical skills. You are the face of FIRST HQ for all things technical at the event. You will be required to assist in event management issues, tough calls, and are constantly part of the customer service of the event. The event is a show and your customers are dozens of teams, hundreds of mentors, and thousands of students. You are responsible for making tough calls on and off the field. You will often have to play an advocate in tough conversations that happen behind the scenes.

If you want to become an FTA, keep volunteering and seek more challenging roles out. It takes years of dedication to event volunteering to be considered. If you do a good job, you will be recognized and rewarded by asking to do more challenging roles.

[Doug Frisk]

I want to add a suggestion for anyone who does want to become an FTA. After you've volunteered as a scorekeeper and have interacted with the FMS, volunteer on the practice field at champs and specifically ask to run one of the FMSs.

That's an opportunity for you to be a scorekeeper, a scheduler, an FTAA, lead queuer, field supervisor, field reset and occasionally an FTA if the FTA on that field trusts you enough. The practice field runs like an ad-hoc run what ya' brung pico-regional. You also get to practice your conflict resolution skills when one team out of 6 uses 12 of the 15 minutes they were given to set up on the field.

The first time I did that, it opened my eyes to the logistics required behind the scenes at a regional.

It gives you a chance to learn what's happening on the status screen of the FMS at a deeper level. If you make the effort to learn it that is.

It's showing a level of commitment (volunteering at champs team or no team) that people like to see. It can also serve as a reality check. To be blunt, if your schedule or finances don't allow you to volunteer at champs, your schedule or finances won't allow you to be an FTA. My understanding is that the expectation for FTAs is at least 3 events plus the championship. Which makes sense given the expense to train them, someone who can only do one or two events isn't a good return on investment.

[Jessi Kaestle]

A lot of people have touched on the technical expertise needed for FTA so I won’t go into that in too much detail.

One thing that seems to be either overlooked or only hinted at is the need for soft skills and maturity, both perceived and actual. As a college student your perceived maturity will be low so as a result your actual maturity and other soft skills needs to be that much better. In terms of soft skills, the main skills needed are a level head, conflict resolution, the ability to work well under pressure, time management, and leadership.

If FTA is still your goal, I would suggest volunteering at events as early as this year if possible, and try to make an impression to the VC that you have the needed soft skills. I have been responsible for selecting other key roles as well as giving input during the vetting process of potential new FTA’s and given two candidates one who had all the technical skills but lacked some of the soft skills and one who had all of the soft skills but lacked some of the technical skills I would pick the one with the soft skills every time. Technical skills can be easily taught but learning soft skills takes time.

[MrRoboSteve]

The FTA almost exclusively leads through a participative/democratic leadership style, operating as a coach of volunteers at varying levels of skill. The rare occasions I remember seeing a FTA use an authoritative style have been related to safety issues.

If you can derive personal satisfaction from seeing others be successful, delivering a successful event, and being largely in the background, you have one of the key attributes of the FTA. Alternatively, if the positional authority of the FTA fills a need for you to be "in charge," giving orders, and recognized as the singular leader, you're both likely to be disappointed in the role and unlikely to be considered.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by MrRoboSteve

The FTA almost exclusively leads through a participative/democratic leadership style, operating as a coach of volunteers at varying levels of skill. The rare occasions I remember seeing a FTA use an authoritative style have been related to safety issues.

I would say this is true of most of the key volunteer positions. 99% of the time as an LRI, I'm there as a resource for my inspectors to use. Across the past 5 years (11 events where I was the LRI and 7 where I wasn't but wore my vest and supported the LRI) I can only think of 3 times I had to be authoritative towards another volunteer. Honestly, it sucks having to do it (Like seriously sucks... I'm not at all built for a management position that has to handle those awkward talks), but there can be times where you can't avoid it. A vast majority of the time, you can get by with a helpful attitude and a little coaching/mentorship.