Tanker0906

So, I made the decision to separate in Feb ’16. It feels great…I’m sure the pressure will build waiting for the interview calls though. I’ve also started to second guess my approach. My plan was to fly with an airline and continue to serve as a part timer. However, a lot of the Reserve units near the domiciles are losing their full-time guys to the airlines as well. My problem is I’ve already put applications in for all of the airlines and UPS. I am now considering applying for several AGR positions. What’s the best way to play this? My friends tell me to expect calls around my terminal leave dates for the airlines. I don’t want to accept an AGR position before then and have to beg for them to keep me as a TR. Finishing my 20 would be nice, but the whole point of punching out was to get started at the airlines. I’m sure there was a thread out there covering this topic that I missed. Do I accept all of the interviews and make a decision later? What happens if you decline a job offer from an airline? All of the applications ask if you’ve previously applied.

redthread

If your goal is the airlines, then make that your priority. However, not knowing when/if you'll get hired, you need to take care of yourself/family as well as stay current. Be upfront with the military. So many Technicians are leaving now you could try for one of those and then switch to part time when the time came. AGR is a different animal and you'd be locked in for a few years so I'd advise against that unless you're over 18 years.
Good luck.

galaxy flyer

Having been an ART in the last big boom, prior to 9/11, there are probably units where the only way to become a TR, is to be an ART first. That was happening back then. I helped a friend's son into a unfit, he was an ART for about three months before going to a legacy air line.

GF

navigatro

Do what is best for you and your family.

Take the first full time job offer.

When get another offer down the road, then you have a decision to make.

I say again - put you and your family FIRST.

SteveA

Take the TR/DSG position and the first airline that hires you. Get the feel of airline / part-time mil life. Decide if you even like your unit and are interested in going full time. If so, tell them you're interested in the next AGR gig and take it if/when offered to get to 20. If you're part-time for 1-2 years, that matters little in the grand scheme of things.

BAT 21

I suggest getting on with a legacy airline, stay a reservist or guardsman, then look for an AGR position that fits your lifestyle and location. As an AGR on mil leave, you will continue to build seniority and you will have the quality of life an AGR has.

130drvr

Trust me, get the seniority number ASAP, and a TR job. I do hiring for an IMA gig nationwide. PM me. The absolute importance of getting in front of this hiring wave will impact you for the rest of your life.

OldWeasel

I concur with 130drvr. Start the seniority clock ticking. The runway behind you, fuel you left in the truck, and the seniority you could have had are useless.

HopsDrinker

First of all, I don't know where the assumption comes from active duty dudes that you'll put an app in on Monday and get a phone call Tuesday for an interview. Currently you have thousands of apps on file at every airline with most of them having competitive mins, just saying that don't expect to get this phone call or to have all these airlines calling you begging for an interview. Likewise, you may say, well so and so has similar mins in my squadron and he got hired right away...I've witnessed that as well only to watch others with even better qualifications still waiting for phone calls. Just be prepared you could be waiting a while for that slot.

hindsight2020

Ironic. I had to trough for years as a TR in order to compete for an art job. Ended up quitting the unit for an AGR job at a de facto remote location. Like people said here, gotta take care of the family.

The idea of walking into an ART job as an external applicant was generally nowhere near my experience. This is in a time period of no airline hiring mind you (the lost decade circa mid to late 00s). Funny how things pendulum like that.

These days as an AGR I agree, if your goal is the airlines, the opportunity cost of getting locked in and having to punt on an airline offer is high. I'd merely trough as a TR and wait for an ART job. You could always request a curtailment as an AGR but things are starting to get testy on that front around here. No guarantee they'll release you and now you burned a bridge with a major airline. The ART is the perfect airline staging job. Pays/retires worse enough compared to an AGR that makes it improbable you'd wanna do that crap until 60, but it's easy enough to work your TR portion into one job and it's easier a job to chuck when the airline comes calling. First world problems indeed.

Watch when the hiring apogees how getting full time jobs in the reserves become air tight again. Timing and luck.