TPIC isn't the holy grail. He's got a great story to tell about having no mentors, or perhaps financial support, to get into the airline business. So he figures out a way - military service, do well, crank out college in three years, and get in the airline track. The decisions he made to move forward ARE his story and perhaps part of the reason he got called. Maybe the computer looks for 'enlisted then college in less than four years'? It sure bears the heck out of 'Captain for ten years. But nothing else...' when you're doing a F2F interview.