This career is such a massive investment of one's life.

The OP wrote "I suspect I may be spending anywhere from 10 to 25 years before getting called by a major."

Why do we do this to ourselves? The pay isn't even all that great anymore. The lifestyle is hard. Imagine if it took several decades to become a dentist. It's no wonder the young are choosing away from this career.

It is my dream to work for AS too and blew two of the best decades of my life in the effort. Every day I imagine how things would have worked out if I had spent as much effort and devotion in an arena that actually had a chance of producing a meaningful return.

Skyhigh