IMHO, and realistically like JetJoc posted earlier, you could be looking at 3-5 yrs in an FDA to get back to the "Land of Plenty."

2 yrs FDA -- and when mgmnt deems your "boots on the ground" clock to start running. It could be assignment date (day you show up and activated on the bidding list) or it could be at the end of consolidation. Anybody know?

Follow on bid -- you could get lucky and have a bid during your 2/3 yr FDA and have training/transfer waived until your return to the States. I think that's the way it SHOULD work but ..... who knows. You could also have to wait until after your FDA contract has expired before you can bid. (Does anybody know this one?) And if that's the case, one would have to wait until the next bid is posted, and as we've seen around these parts, a system bid is not a regular occurence.

Training -- then you would have to wait for training or just the transfer letter. IMHO, I doubt the nice folks in flt mgmnt are going to jump up and go looking for a pen to immediately to put a returning FDA guy on the transfer letter until his scheduled replacement is full up in theatre, boots on the ground, etc....

Just IMHO, I think an 2 yr FDA'er is realistically looking at 3 yrs boots on the ground, possibly as many as 5 yrs IF a) you're junior (read new hire), AND b) you want to come back as a MEM/LAX WB FO and have to accomplish training.

Stuff to think about definitely and I would certainly appreciate any insights anyone else can offer.