Originally Posted by Coyote76

With a few more years before retirement, get the ATP as soon as you can. I would use the G.I. Bill and get a type rating for the most common jet near your duty station. Do the ATP at the same time of the type rating. Citation and Beech Jet are pretty universal across the country and are good types to have. Use the time you have remaining on active duty to fly as a contract pilot as much as you can. Moonlighting on the side is worth the effort.

If you’re flying army FW, set up your ATP ck ride the next time you go though flight safety. Pay cash if your command wants an additional commitment out of you. If SW is your goal you will get here faster by skipping the 225 route. If there’s no hiring in three years when you retire, there are bigger problems to worry about. The 225 route = 3 years until retirement + 2 years with a partner company. 5 years is quite a bit of seniority to miss out on when we are hiring. All your RTAG brothers will tell you seniority is everything on this side of your career.

Best of luck to you and thank you for your continued service.