Here are my thoughts on getting out at the 15 year mark. This advice will be for Navy folks as I’m not sure what the AF equivalent would be. My first assumption is that you have over 15 years of service, that’s important because USERRA only covers your reemployment for 5 years in most cases.

https://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/userra_fs.htm

My second assumption is you’re an O-4, being an O-5 would make it very difficult to find a FTS (Full Time Support) spot, if you are an O-3 that makes it even easier. The FTS board selects the junior qualified applicant, but that being said, I was selected as an O-4 with almost 20 years of service (prior enlisted).

Line up a reserve job prior to getting out. If you want to continue to fly in the Navy/military, apply to a reserve squadron. What I can tell you from talking to the guys in my squadron is that you don’t want to commute to both jobs. If you decide to move, I’d recommend moving to the reserve job. Being local scores you more points at the selection board.

After you get hired on at the airlines, apply for the next FTS board.

http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-np...tionBoard.aspx

I applied for the June board and the results were announced around December. I didn’t redesignate until July of the following year, but that was because of my PRD. Since the FTS process will take a minimum of 6 months, you should be consolidated (100 hours within 120 days of your check-ride) with your new airline. Personally, I’d wait until I was off of probation to start the FTS job (you’ll be able to work with the detailer), it would be nice to have Union protection when you’ve been gone for 5 years. I’d apply to all of the designators on the FTS board. The goal here is to get the active duty retirement and it won’t matter if you’re current when you retire because you’ll be going back to your civilian airline job. However, that’s another reason to ensure you’re off probation prior to starting FTS.

You have to be careful taking 1-year active duty orders. We had a reservist in my squadron who had 17 years and 6 months of active duty time. He repeatedly volunteered for 1-year active duty orders and they would not give it to him because it would put him into sanctuary.

If you’re unable to get a FTS gig then you’ll just have to ride out the reserves until you are eligible for a reserve retirement. Being in the reserves can help you massage your airline schedule during your junior years. Right before I retired, VR lost a lot of senior reservists because they changed the business rules regarding IAs. I’ve heard that the rules have been changed back and that VR pilots are not being looked at for IAs again. That’s definitely a question you can ask during your rushing of a VR squadron.

Feel free to PM me with any questions or ask them here. I retired over a year ago, and I don’t miss it at all.