What is the reason they have been cracking down? Is it because they don't want to hire people who might do this or decide to after being hired? Is it because they want to discourage people (as you appear to) from doing this? I ask because those efforts would be in direct violation of federal law. You may support their actions, and not support the military member who does this with or without an original plan to do so from the get-go, but that doesn't make it legal.

I understand why people would be frustrated by losing seniority to someone who is off property for several years. I also understand the frustration of losing profit sharing to the same individual. But the law is the law. If you want USERRA-equivalent protections for community service, teachers, medical professionals, etc....lobby for it. If you want to remove USERRA protections for voluntary (or non-voluntary) military service, lobby for that. If you want people to simply stop doing something that benefits their family because it doesn't benefit yours, I'd ask what you're similarly doing in the same vein?

Some (not all) people don't understand the actual way full time service in the Guard or Reserve, or returns to active duty actually work. There is much uncertainty and people take personal and financial risks to effect the plan you reference above. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not. People leaving active duty early (with zero retirement benefit) often do so with no guarantee of ever earning credit for years or a decade+ of service. Sometimes they need to leave to save a marriage when the latest offered military assignment would strain their relationship or family dynamics to a breaking point. Sometimes they need to leave to avoid a non-flying assignment that they fear would harm their chances of getting hired at an airline following military service.

Many people in the reserve component don't even have access to full time positions when they apply for or accept an airline job. Many people take significant pay cuts for military work, and many get stuck with awful assignments and open themselves up to undesirable months- or years-long overseas deployments to nasty places (many unaccompanied by their family). They're doing this to fill otherwise unfilled positions fulfilling national and regional commitments we all establish and continue via the ballot box. If you want the need driving these folks onto MLOA to go away, consider voting that way. If there's no AD work to be had, they'll stay right here at Delta.

Now, should they have no place to go and simply stay at Delta, they'll not vacate the list temporarily for someone to fill their slot ot increase the need to hire more. They'll not create the inefficiencies that expand staffing. And they won't earn the privilege of tricare military medical insurance at age 60... which can enable many to vacate the list early before MRA of 65.

I'd offer that people should be careful what they wish for, have a little empathy, and thank a military member AND THEIR FAMILY for their voluntary service and sacrifice. There's way more than greed at work here, and the vast majority of Delta's military members are doing what everyone else on the list is doing... balancing current and future income, quality of life, and family obligations. Support them in their endeavors, and encourage Delta to knock off their antics. If Delta loses the pending MLOA lawsuit, punitive damages could be pretty costly.

Back to what does or doesn't sound wrong... how about folks on years-long PLOA making big bucks for themselves in private industry while remaining on our seniority list? 'Supwidat?

Thanks for reading.