Hi ToughCall,
MIL pilots working at wholly owned regionals get hired before they flow up.
AA for instance will hire a MIL pilot from Envoy/PSA/Piedmont far earlier than waiting for a flow. Sometimes, if the MIL pilot has command time (PIC time) even while the pilot is still a first officer.
Order of hiring preference (that I've seen as a casual observer)
MIL (current and flying)
MIL from a regional
Flow
Off the street
Getting hired before your flow number comes up as a MIL pilot (or any wholly owned pilot) is just a function of applying at AA
There is no prohibition to a pilot working in a wholly owned to apply to mainline. I encourage it to all the young pilots when I Jumpseat on their flight decks.
If you qualify for AA as your are now, apply.
Meanwhile get on with a regional (any) and get current.
A MIL pilot flying at a regional has a fantastic shot at getting on just as fast as a direct-hire out of MIL, depending on the timing of MIL releases etc. and the hiring demands of the month.
Apply to ALL the legacies, take the first one that hires you. Then if you want to jump ship to a more preferred legacy, you can but at least you've got your seniority number at a legacy.
One last thing: when looking at the legacies, don't chase a contract or "flavor of the month" -ahem-Delta-ahem-
Apply to all, take the first offer, then it it's not your dream legacy, hit up your dream legacy.
Tailwinds