The reality is, being a UPT instructor is highly desired. Airlines (in the past) used to count the time more (a factor was used).
I had heard this same thing - that IP time was highly desired. I hope you are right.
You get to log IP PIC time straight out of UPT while everyone else is doing the SIC gig while trying to avoid the dreaded "other" time. After FAIP life, when you finally get to your MWS, you don't spend two or three years playing gear Biotch. Thus, after your commitment, you have around 1500 more hours of PIC and IP time than the average USAF bubba.
Of course you are speaking of the "heavy" world here. FAIPing instead of being single seat just gives you that IP time but you're still building that PIC time.
Every FAIP I've known (in my peer group) were hired and flying in the airlines before the rest of us.
Do you mean to convey in this sentence that no FAIPs actually stay in the AF or that they typically get out at their first opportunity?
USMCFLYR