This was my first flying job. I had sub 500hrs when i started. I signed the contract, worked here for two years and flew over 2,000hrs.
This is where i learned how to fly. The environment was perfect for making small mistakes and being able to learn from them. The pilot group was bitter at the time but we all knew we were entry level and on to bigger better things. We taught each other. I taught someone how to fly the Otter and the same guy taught me to fly the Skyvan. It was a challenge.
The pay was survivable. Near the end I was making more than I did as an FO at a regional. I fought for "fair" pay when I was there. Not necessarily more pay but pay related to work load. Often the SEALs would fly 2 - 5 loads in a day while the civilian side flew 40 loads in multiple aircraft. You'd have one pilot flying sun-up to sun-down making the same pay as a guy who showed for a few hours. ...so I fought for pay based upon load amount. Even +$1/load would have been an incentive for the guy stuck flying 20 loads.
Overall, I feel like pilots need to stop being whiny little babies. Y'all aren't going to make the big bucks straight out of the gate. If you have a better option, take it. I am not one of the lucky ones who "knows a guy" so i tightened my belt and i flew like a cowboy up and down over 4,000 times on that stinkin runway in Eloy. I flew an Otter to Moab. I flew an Otter to Winterset, IA. I ferried an Otter from Denver. It was a blast of a career starter.
Now as a Captain of a real jet plane, i wouldn't trade that time for anything. Everyone i know is so jealous i got to do what i did.