14 CFR 121.436(a)(3) would be the FAR reference. It requires a minimum of 1,000 hours SIC in Air Carrier operations prior to being able to act as a PIC. 14 CFR 121.436 (c) allows military pilots who operated multiengine fixed-wing turbine aircraft requiring more than one pilot (aka, non pointy-nose aircraft) to deduct 1 hour of military PIC for 1 hour of the 1,000 SIC, up to 500 hours.

The bigger question is, where under our current contract, is language saying they can deny you an in-seniority AE award and not have to pay you for it? Seems they could/should pay-protect you (and possibly buy you trips) until you hit your 1000 SIC but I am not sure there is language in the PWA that specifically addresses this known issue. (Of course, the company knew this was going to be/could be an issue after the pre-TA Sept AE when the 4 month wonder was awarded the M88A yet they left it alone).