tbat15

Navy has a program that allows a 3 year sabbatical from active service. I was thinking of using this program to make a run at the airlines and pick up a seniority number before returning to active duty.

I'm a helo guy so my question is do you think 3 years is enough time to start at a regional and be picked up by a major? It would be a bit if a wasted effort in my mind to take 3 years off and at the end of it still be at a regional.

Also, upon return to active service I would have 7 years left until reaching 20. Since I wouldnt really be recalled to active service like a reservist, would USERRA laws protect my job at the airline while I finished off my 20?

I would like to pick up a AD retirement and I'm not one of those guys who is miserable in the service right now but I would like to catch the front side of this hiring wave if it can be done. Any thoughts?

navigatro

USERRA covers military duty. Does not have to be "recalled" or "activated", just has to be duty, which (almost all) active duty qualifies.

Your job rights are guaranteed for 5 years (per employer) but there are exceptions. For example, service commitments beyond the 5 years would extend USERRA protection.

So if you went to a formal training school at year 4 while on active duty, and it incurred an additional 3 year commitment, then you would be protected for the full 7 years.

hindsight2020

for a helo guy? Nope.

BeatNavy

I was at a regional for 1.5 years as a helo guy before I went to JetBlue. Not all majors hate on helo time. Another option for OP is to go to envoy and get a flow number, but I have no idea how the flow works if you're on mil leave.

rickair7777

I know helo guys who have made the transition in 1.5-2 years. Not sure if they had much FW time, I think one did have FW IP time.

e6bpilot

Way shady in my opinion. You are using the protections of USERRA to take a 7 year break from your airline job? Makes those who don't abuse it look bad.
You can't cheat. Either get out, do the reserves and get an airline job or stay in, retire, and get an airline job. Don't try to game the system and screw it up for everyone else.

rickair7777

Reservists are *almost* always exempt from the five year cumulative counter since their AD recalls generally fall under the numerous exemptions.

But a straight-up voluntary return to AD would probably not exempt the five-year counter, so as he said, you'd have to somehow incur a service obligation at the right time. That's going to be hard as an O4+, only school I can think of would be a war college degree program, most service schools for senior officers don't come with a commitment. If you couldn't get a school which would do that, you'd have to make a decision.

But since they're offering the sabbatical ,you can give it a shot, see where you end up. If you're settled in at a major at the three year mark...I'm betting you won't want to return, and will just finish out in the reserves. Just a guess... anybody care to give me odds on that? ROTFLMAO

tbat15

Thank you for the replies.
The Career Intermission Program incurs a 2 month obligation for every month of sabbatical taken. If you took the full 3 years that would obligate you to 6 years of active service which should count as a commitment in the eyes of USERRA.

As far as being shady,I know plenty of reservists who mobilized for 5+ years away from their airline gig or dropped mil leave to escape crappy pay during the first few years of airline flying. I'm not trying to escape any obligations but would be using all available tools to further a career. Which to me is smart not shady.

DROCK

Also, the Navy might have a say in what you are leaving service for. I know the program has gotten less restrictive, but they might not want you to leave for another career. I think the intent is for school, sabbatical, etc...

Spike from flyi

Your plan is flawed in this respect. When you report that you spent the past X years on active duty in the Navy, any airline will legitimately ask for your DD214. Since the Navy won't consider you separated, you won't have one. This will be an enormous red flag. If they do give you a DD214, then you might have something.

Years ago, I interviewed at an airline that wanted to hire me. When I presented my DD214 the chief pilot was surprised. He had just hired a former Army warrant officer who, when asked for his DD214, told the CP that, "Only enlisted troops get those." Once I set him straight, he was a bit angry (not with me). Before my class date, they began to furlough. Typical.