And CHALLENGE what a recruiter tells you....

Do your research!!!!! Projections are a lot different and skewed by all recruiters at all carriers. Sounds like you probably know that being from the military? That's why people get disgruntled and make flying with them so bad because they have unrealistic and high expectations. Have a back up plan, do your research, and don't come into it like the company owes you anything....it's the airlines. What you hear today could be totally different tomorrow morning.