My apologies, mis-read the tone..... Just ran into a FNWA guy down in the pilot lounge in LAX couple days ago. Nice guy.... Looking forward to SOC so we all get to start flying together.

Back to the thread. You are correct about going Guard or Reserve. We have the California Guard Unit at Point Magu in Ventura County and I have seen them advertise for new pilots. This is the way to go for someone starting out. Get training, turbine time. It's career insurance in this crazy industry, so if your company furloughs, you just go "feed from the trough" at your Guard unit and still make a great living. Not to mention that oneday you'll have a very nice retirement.

I Socal the unit has a mission of fire fighting in addition to the regular C130 mission.

WMUFLYBOY, you may not have considered this, but give it a thought. It could possibly allow you to skip the Regional level all together and go straight to the majors after you put in a little time at your unit. Don't let the military thing scare you off. You shine your shoes, cut your hair and say sir, but it could be the best move you'll ever make in your life...... My Delta "newhire" class had 3 guys from the Alabama Air guard. They were flying KC-135's at the time. The youngest guy was 25-26 and had been flying "Heavies". Not bad, mid-twenties and at a Major.

TC