Originally Posted by FlewNavy

Get them done before you go overseas or immediately upon returning. The ATP-CTP and ATP won't do anything for you other than "check the box" and you will want to be focusing on interview prep and the transition during the last 18 months. If you are flight current the interview invites may start trickling in around 6 months out from your separation date. If you don't get calls from a major then start interviewing with regionals at 3 months prior to separation.

Read Albie's post from 2011:

Timing your exit...2011 update