More of a preference than a bias. Is that preference grounded in fact? I don't know. I would agree with the consistency argument above.

But really what I think you're seeing is a small data set (two interview groups at 1 major airline) and not a conspiracy against any particular subset.

The only conspiracy I've heard that I think has any credence is the "we can't hire RJ guys because it'll drain our regional feed" theory, but that would be negated by hiring other mainline company's RJ Captains.

At most majors about half of each class is civilian background only. That still leaves the military guys overrepresented, but there are reasons for that. And it doesn't involve oppressing anybody.