Biggs, pretty sure the 160k a year is the ART and TR job combined.

(something many ARTs forget is that the big ART bonus'/pay increase 8 years back was due to the big United/Delta contract......so, hopefully you're not one of those ARTs who thinks the reserves would be a good deal if not for those damn TRs)

So, you've got 3 choices. Stay where you are, at a desk job you're not digging. Try for the AGR slot and get an AD retirement, which will be flying....may/may not be that much fun, but, flying sure looks great when you're sitting at a desk. Try for an airline job.

Well, can't say it can't or won't be done. But, getting hired into the Majors at a company you want to work for would take a miracle. Your odds dramatically improve in a few years.

So, ride it out at a non-flying job for 2-4 years or take the 6 year AGR tour.
Non-current doesn't mean that you won't get hired, but, your odds go up if you are flying and the odds increase if you are doing something other than flying 172s.

While the 6 yr contract means giving up 2-4 years of seniority, it will up the odds of getting hired once the floodgates start to open......and you will still have 18yrs of civilian flying stretching in front of you.

If you were one of my bro's, I'd recommend taking the AGR deal. But, I'd also want to make sure that you have 14yrs of AD time. And not just 14yrs of federal service. To get the immediate, AD retirement, you need 20 years of AD service.....not just 7300 points.

As an example, I know several folks who left with about 12 years of AD time (about 4400 points). Been in the reserves for about 7 years, with point totals about 5200. A 6 year AGR tour would put them at 25 yrs of service and about 7400 points, but, the catch is that they are at the 18yrs of AD service....so, their points are high enough that they are going to get a 50% retirement check, just not until they hit 60 (barring finding another 2 years of AD time)