Slim11

Retired ARNG, signal corps.

While some airlines will NOT count rotary wing time, they will acknowledge you were trained in a military flight training program, show commitment to a mission, have experienced stressful environments and exercise self-discipline. That consideration is usually given to applicants with military experience for any job at most companies. That's been my experience.

I was at Comair for 15 years until Delta shut us down. Comair liked, and recruited, RW pilots. Some of the best pilots I flew with were ARNG/USAR RW pilots.

Getting into a FW unit, preferably with NG/Res unit, will go a long way. Getting 121 time with a regional will help as much, if not more.

Kuma's advice about a drone job is perfect.

Spike from flyi

Dude, again, you're missing my point. It's not that a military pilot (or any military veteran, for that matter) is not employable. It's that the longer your job description reads, simply: "Fly an aircraft from A to B.", the lower the chances you'll ever be asked to do anything else. It's just that simple! In case you haven't noticed the cycle, it's: 1) get hired at a horrible carrier starting at the bottom of the list; 2) invest yourself in making it a better place to work; 3) attain a level of seniority and begin to live a comfortable lifestyle; 4) Bankruptcy; 5) file for unemployment and give shysters like Kit Darby a small fortune you don't have; 6) return to step 1. I should add, this warning applies to civilian-only pilots as well.

2loud

May I suggest that you re-read my post? I understand what you are saying and it goes for ANY profession. The saying, "you can't teach a old xxx new tricks" is semi correct. Again, how much are you willing to work to "learn that new trick"? We are all aware of the airline seniority system and the inability to move laterally, as I have stated in my previous post.
It's simply tough to walk away from a profession that we've spent all of our adulthood in but if you hate it so much (I get it bro), why not go do something else instead of living in misery? Obviously, you speak English and reside in the mighty (still) U.S. of A. I see plenty of immigrants who barely speak English doing fine and in general, doing better than the majority in this country. These folks started all over at age 30, 40, 50, and some in their late 60s. My point is, NO ONE is really stuck unless you are a slave or have a gun pointed to your head! Life happens and when the $hit hits the fan, we can 1) roll with the punches or 2) crawl up and die.
Looks like you've had a tough road and for that, I'm truly sorry. Really, I mean it. I have several friends (all military buds) who have gone through a bankruptcy or two and their airline has chewed them up and spit 'em out. Furloughs, lost homes, broken marriages, and financial hardships......I've seen them. Fortunately, they are all back on their feet. I didn't have an easy road either but that's a whole new thread. Things all work out in the end if you keep your focus on something greater you.

Spike from flyi

Yes, believe me, I understand the, "dust yourself off, take a deep breath, and start again at the beginning" approach; but let me give you an example, I was in an attack helicopter squadron in the Cav. It had 34 helicopters and 269 men. Within that unit, we had to: fly, fix, service and maintain our aircraft; drive, maintain and service our 55 prime movers and assorted trailers; feed, transport, billet and maintain our personnel; and a host of other duties. At one point, the squadron commander made me the S2 (Intel and Security), I had no training, just a bunch of manuals to read. Once I mastered that, he made me the S4 (Logistics). Again, no training, you train yourself from the books (with some help from senior NCOs). My buddy was similarly made the S1 (Personnel). We complied with all the Army regulations as well as OSHA, EPA, FAA, etc. If I had walked out of the Army at that point and begun a career doing anything (nuclear reactor operator), I'd have been eminently successful, and I wasn't the exception in my unit.

Today, after 7,000 hour of transport flying (A to B), I don't think anyone would hire me to watch their dog for the weekend. Not that I've forgotten how to hustle, but my real accomplishments are a decade old (or so). When Brand X went belly up, professional career counselors explained this to me. Just something for these guys to think about, before they follow us to the Island of Lost Boys.