Your friends are going to be FOs for quite some time unless we get more flying, which is unlikely at this point. Yes there are FOs who started at zero 121 time and upgraded within 18 months, but they were all hired in 2013-2014. The company has stated that they need 90 captain upgrades to staff this round of E175 deliveries. They have already started upgrading those 90 pilots and most of these guys/gals are mid 2014 hires. Keep in mind that Mesa hired steadily, every month, all throughout 2014. There are literally hundreds of FOs before you and your friends trying to get one of those 90 captain slots. Good luck.