Thanks for pointing that out. I meant to say in 2014.

So really that's 51% civilian and 49% military. Of the 51% civilian 40% are flows/SSP.

Delta's core values match the military's core values: integrity, excellence, and service before self. That's why Delta has always hired more military people than civilian. We're all pilots and we can all fly an airplane. Delta is looking for people that fit their value system, which a person from the military matches exactly. It's not as apparent in a civilian person. We in the Air Force didn't get to call in sick when we didn't want to fly. We actually had to go to the flight doc and get taken off flying status. I was in a crashpad and heard the civilian stories about calling in sick to go skydiving among other things. One of the first questions I received during my Delta interview was to describe my attendance record. They're really big on that.

Are those military/civilian numbers only accounting for newhires? In other words remove the flowthroughs and would that be the same percentages?

...and I've heard my fair share of guard/reserve pilots brag about their methodology of seniority farming and pulling orders until they're senior enough to have a decent schedule.

Note: I am a former Reservist.

I suspect you're kidding us and yourself when you describe the behavior of military pilots BEFORE they get to Delta, but I have no first-hand knowledge.

As far as the distinctions you draw in Delta pilots based on background, I'd say you're either delusional, or not very observant.

Well, he's exactly right about military pilots not flying when you're sick. The Air Force requires you to go to a flight surgeon prior to flying and go on DNIF status (duty not including flying). It's not just a note or a phone call to a scheduler, it's a change in your flying status and it's all documented.

True. But in my last few assignments, if I got a cold I just told the scheduler. As long as it wasn't for more than a few days, no one cared. And saved me a trip to flight med. Especially once they canceled sick call, really got to be a pain in the butt.

Then again, no one ever called me a pigeon.

I did not ask, but those numbers reflect all pilots that were hired in 2014.

Scoop

Sounds accurate, but my point is that I don't think what you do with respect to sick time that's tightly monitored is a good predictor of what people without someone looking over their shoulder. It also ignores the fact that many airlines have very restrictive sick policies.

The bottom line is that it's not particularly important to understand WHY Delta hires military pilots. You're either a military pilot, or you're not. So work with the cards you were dealt.

Then you get hired.

The question is whether you'll be a good Delta pilot. A douche-bag with a great résumé... is still an a douche-bag. I've flown with a lot of great people with all sorts of backgrounds, and I think it's got a lot more to do with who they consciously decide to be today, than anything else.