Put Apps in about 9 months out... get your FE and 1st Class done about 3 months prior to that date. You need that blasted Radio Telephone Op Permit... few bucks online (easy process)... but other than that you look GTG.

I would also recommend putting the money away starting now... I saved for one year before separation... and thankful I had a nice buffer. Money sucks for a year/two after you get hired... then you are back to what you made on AD.