Concur with others.....I took my out-process time + the max terminal leave I could take, and backed it up one year. The key is getting your app together and keeping it current. I interviewed about 6 months before my availability date. After I was offered a job and placed in the hiring pool I had to move my availability date out six months due to "needs of the military". My company (SWA) had no problem with that at all. After all was said and done I had about a month of overlap with two paychecks!

Best of luck!