No sensitivity here my man, don't mistake a willingness to have a lively "ready room" discussion as sensitivity. That, by the way is another "military thing", pretty thick skin and a penchant for controversial discussion. I can appreciate your point, it must be frustrating to be a civilian trained aviator and have to see another group of folks offered "perceived advantages". Let me add that almost unanimously, most military guys are aware of the lack of 121 experience and are seeking to start out in the regionals. I wouldn't be so bold as to think that I could do your job on day one, be it at a regional or mainline. What I do know is that a mil pilot WILL be able to do that job, based on previous training and experience in a very short time. You mention the mainline first day FO and being lost. I think your point is that a guy with regional experience wouldn't be that way in the same situation, I agree. However,take a civilian with no 121 experience, put him in the same place/time and it may be worse. A mainline carrier is willing to accept that based on knowing that the individual HAS the ability to rapidly adjust to the environment. Believe me, all the guys that I know that have gone mainline initially have the same story about the IOE period and how it was a "jailhouse experience", but they make it. My only point is that, like it or not......and I didn't make the rules/process......is that an individual with the training and experience offered by the mil has a quantifiable foundation of capability. It is what it is. For the record, by the time someone is offered an opportunity at a mainline outfit, having taken a turn in the regionals all is probably equal. I rarely ask if a guy is mil or civ......doesn't matter. Professionalism, capability, safety, people skills......all are traits that transcend initial background. Like MOST mil guys, I have decided to start out in the regionals, because I know that there is much to learn....I respect that and the job YOU do enough to make sure I have the right foundation to be the best that I can be. But I would never crap on a guy for heading straight to mainline. Good on him/her. I think the discussion went OCF for a bit, my apologies if I incited needless appendage measuring. I ran into a mil hater (FO that didn't know he was talking to a mil applicant) early in my interview experience and was a little taken by surprise and I guess it left an impression. But to dispel any myths, a military guy just chose a different path and he or she is just trying to swim upstream with the rest of the fish. In the end you will find that there aren't many differences, far more similarities.

N'er to speak of this again.......Good day to you Sir, fly safe!