In my new-hire/re-doc class, about 1/3 of newbies were mil. Rest RJs.

44% heavy; 55% fighter.

Median age: I'd guess 34. Most of them weren't more than +/- 2 years of that, in my estimate.

I doubt any of the mil types had much more than 2000 total.

Oldest was mid 40s; maybe pushing 50. Just one.

So, mil fighter isn't a show-stopper, nor is being a mil retiree (or old enough to be one). All of the mil types were still in the Guard or Reserve except one. The RJ guys had tons of time; I think that is adjusted for the mil guys, but they are definitely favoring RJs over mil by 2:1.

They have always said "We hire Captains," meaning someone who will eventually make Captain. I think therein lies the cutoff in the 40s, and the desired range is mid-30s: young enough to become a Capt; old enough to know (more or less) what he's doing.