Originally Posted by luke3

They're technically not DECs though, more like "quick upgrade pilots". They do IOE in the right seat, upon the completion of which they may move directly into captain IOE based on the verdict of the training captains or check airmen they flew with. If they are deemed not ready to upgrade immediately, they are released on the line as FOs for a while and re-evaluated at a later date. The expectation is that they will upgrade straight out of IOE, but it's still not a guaranteed thing like a DEC deal would be.