There are lots of corporate gigs that are great jobs, but if they're worth a dang, THEY will pay for your type rating. My dad didn't pay for his since he's a full time employee. From where I sit, the only way it makes financial sense to be a contract guy is if you already have experience in type and a type rating in your pocket. To try to spool up from zero time in type and become a viable contract pilot would be a very difficult thing to pull off and likely a waste of a large amount of money for a type that you can't really use since you don't have time in type.

Why didn't you return earlier? The question isn't intended to be inflammatory, so please don't take it that way. I'm not familiar with how military leave works. Were you unable to return as soon as DAL began recalls?