60av8tor

Your mil time is yours. Time isn’t taking that away. To your second point, do you think having 121 time, a type rating, and another training evolution added to your fighter time would make you less desirable to a 121 operator? Yeah doesn’t sound right to me, either.

rickair7777

That is 100% not the case today, opposite in fact. There was an era where they expected you to get hired at a major right out of the mil prior to age 30, or not at all... but that's ancient history.

I know mil pilots (fighter pilots in fact) who got out during the rough times 10-15 years back who got non-flying jobs, but have since come back and gotten hired by majors (they had to do 6-18 months at regionals). Also helo guys (Navy, so FW UPT and typically UPT instructor time as well). Bottom line they really like mil in almost permutations, worst case is probably mil helo who did not do a FW UPT.

Checking 121 and civilian type boxes will do wonders for your app scoring if your mil time is a little low.

AA used to have some bizarre hiring practices too, so I wouldn't take that as industry representative either. But the old AA is no more, it's mostly America West Airlines DBA AA... they should have just kept the Cactus callsign.

ipdanno

Steverin06,

you said you’ve got a year before you would need to opt out of an assignment and separate from AD. That’s plenty of time to get yourself ready. First of all, start saving aggressively. Don’t buy that new car, watch what you do spend, Plan on being at 1st year pay.

Next, as previously mentioned, do whatever you can to log more hours.

Also start shopping yourself to various Air National Guard and AF Reserve units. Call and ask about future hiring, when upcoming Drill weekends are scheduled, and then visit the units on those Drill weekends. Bring donuts, and/or beer. Rush the units.

What’s a good unit for you? The one that will hire you. Where do you live, or want to live? Most certainly don’t limit yourself to a unit flying your current aircraft. Or even just a fighter unit. My AFRES unit hired folks from all services and airframes, to include helo, to train in the C-5. Often that meant 8-12 months of full-time pay for training and seasoning. And lots of hours.

Your destiny might require a term in the regionals. No harm there. It will certainly improve your resume, and prepare you for crew ops and future 121 training programs.

Good luck!

Steverin06

Thank y'all for the helpful replies, and I apologies for not acknowledging them months ago, or answering your questions.

I have been working as a Cirrus CFII and charter pilot in Cirrus SR and a TBM-850 airplanes, getting a ton of hours. That part of the plan is coming together.

What isn't coming together is the reserve/guard gig. I thought I had it figured out, but the unit I was rushing(and work with daily) is shrinking and doesn't have room. I've reached out what I've been told was a POC for a C-5 unit at Kelly, no joy. I should be hearing back about a Randolph PIT opportunity soon.

I've been so wrapped up in all of the work required to be a real, usable CFII and part time IFF IP, that I haven't been able to give as much time figuring out the guard/reserve angle.