Originally Posted by
jc23
My advice, based on similar decisions I had to make, protect the "golden egg", which is the guard gig. Let the "pretend golden egg", which is the airline job, come to you so to speak. Pursue the airline gig if thats what you want but I wouldn't sacrifice the guard stuff for an airline job. That airline job can disappear at any time, and the guard gig will be there with open arms (for the most part).
I would agree up to a point. That point is about 45 years of age. At that point you're phasing out of the military unless you're on the fast track (or maybe work for a state with no HYT).
Also there is certainly reason to believe that the high miltary/airline opportunity ratio of the last decade is about to invert in the next 1-3 years as DoD budget cuts roll in and airline retirees roll out.
I wouldn't bet on military job security unless you're a SOF operator or some other high-demand, hard-to-fill niche (submarines?). Winged guys are a dime a dozen (bakers dozen) when the cutbacks start.
I lived through the last drawdown...when it comes, it will make your head spin how fast it happens.