A bit of a difference between war and the airlines. You go to war because you took an oath that you would and if you don't go you get a court marshal, go to prison, have a record to follow you the rest of your life. You don't get to choose to go to war or not if you're in the military.

With the airlines you choose to go and be away from your loved ones. Nobody forces you, no threat of going to prison if you don't. You do it of your own free will and volition with not consequences behind it.

I'd rather be forced away than chose to be away. You'll understand when you're on reserve 1,000 miles away from home and get to see your loved ones 1 to 1.5 days every week - and their work schedules never coincide with yours - so you're lucky to get a few hours with them.

I would do a little more investigation into it. Take the advice from those that are hear living this life. You owe it to yourself to research a little more. I'm not a jaded airline hater - but I jumped into it with little research and now regret it very much. Had I done a little homework I may have never taken the job - I made more money and had a better schedule flight instructing. But what I've found is that nobody really wants to listen to this advice and will just jump in and become miserable in a matter of months. I didn't listen to the one person who tried to warn me, why should anyone else be any different?

So go ahead, get that jet job and I give you 2 months on the line, sitting reserve, making $22k a year, not getting to see your loved ones, before that smile is wiped clean off your face.