Any recommendation from currently employed people at any Company can't hurt, especially if they're management types.

If you have actually flown with someone who is at FDX now, he/she can become your sponsor. It is a 'heavy' recommendation. Besides that, as far as normal recommendations from other friends and colleagues, whether pilot or non-pilot, you cannot have too many (at least I don't think there's a limit on the online profile).

If you haven't yet, make sure to submit your online profile ASAP once it opens up again. Then, make sure to update it regularly, say, monthly. As your separation date gets closer, consider going to a job fair, or a Women In Aviation conference - even if you are not a female, or an Organization of Black Airline Pilots conference - even if you are not African American. Professional interview prep is also a phenomenal tool.

Try talking to the Reserve guys on your own base. Leave your own bar and track some of them down. They have to drink somewhere. Just like fighters, a bottle thrown on the bar can make a lot of new friends with good advice. BTW, if you want Brown, be very careful about management recommendations, you might find yourself being asked to be in mgmt. Search the forums if you have questions on this. Best of luck.

FWIW, I have had guys with numerous recommendations still waiting on calls, and other guys with NO recommendations called in for an interview. I would do everything I could to get as many recs as possible, but not having them doesn't seem to close a door like it once did.

Best advice! You're military; you know somebody and likely many here.. Find one and that one will give you more names, guaranteed

Appreciate all the great advice.

So even though I am four years from retirement i can upload and fill out my profile/application online? Obviously just don't hit submit? When is a good time to hit submit and start the interviewing process? I am hearing one year out.

There is a section at the beginning of the profile where you can put a date when you would be available. If I were you, I'd start your profile sooner than later because it is quite extensive and if you want to be thorough, you will dedicate quite some time to it.

Great! I will start now. Great information i did not know.