This may serve to keep pilots IN the military. How many TACAIR guys have 1500 hours at the end of their commitment? That's why the airlines in the past have multiplied TACAIR time by a factor of 1.2 when hiring. If the law is a hard 1500 then there are military pilots who won't qualify. And if they have to stay beyond their initial commitment then they might as well do 20 and THEN go to the airlines.