Not AF, but got to 20+, escaped the Scarlett "H", and made it to a major.

A few lessons learned.

1. To escape the Scarlett H you will need to go through retraining or at least a transition. Way too dependent on forces you can't control and your willingness to dynamite bridges very early in you AD career. Flying a helo was some of the best, most challenging, and most fun flying in my life. It means doo daa on your airline application.

2. Networking isn't what you do on when you are getting out or looking for a job, you do it your whole career starting day 1. Used to be it was collecting business cards for your rolodex. Now it is getting a cell number AND PUTTING IT IN YOUR PHONE. Stay in touch with those people and ask them questions along the way. A mentor is a terrible thing to waste. Carrying some business cards is still a great idea.

3. Keep your AD options open. The same quals and paper that get your butt promoted will get you in a reserve squadron. Many guys I knew who were on the way to the Airlines in Flight School made it, and some are wearing Stars now both AD and Reserve.

4. Always have a plan B to eject. Let your spouse know the road ahead. Have money set aside for transition and get those ratings and quals early. Talk to pilots in the reserve and visit before you rush a squadron. Hard to fly a helo on a cross country to a reserve squadron.

5. Never let anything get personal. Whether you are delivering bad news or receiving it, keep the long view and act like a pro whether you like it or not. BTW I did not like it as a LT, not one bit. A senior Reserve Officer who I did a project for drove me crazy with micromanagement, criticism, timidity, and psuedo intellectualism. Seriously close to telling him to pack sand many times. Who was first person I ran into at interview at job I am at now?

6. Every place I interviewed I had recs from people who were my peers and those who I was lucky to have work for me.

7. Currency is the currency of getting a job. If your goal is an airline job NEVER trade a cockpit for a "career enhancing" staff job that may put you in line for a promotion. When anybody says "career enhancing" understand that means only for them when they get you to take the job. Currency means never having to take a sorry paying Regional job to get current.

8. Have fun in your first squadron.

Good luck.