thanks for the great points. i am going to continue to self study and get the CFI on the cheap. i have several friends that are CFIs and am already proficient flying from the right seat. i even have a CFI position at a military aero club when I finish, so that is all very good. should be able to get a couple of hundred hours of instructing in the next couple of years. on another side note, i fly for a Sheriff's Department as an unpaid volunteer in a law enforcement role. it is the bulk of my recent flying. since it is not paid, will a hiring board consider it important? thanks again for all the input. it really helps deciding how to spend a limited supply of dollars.