I’ve essentially exhausted that avenue as well, talked to several states with fixed wing units, but they wouldn’t touch me until I had less than a year left on my ADSO. Virginia sent me the proper paperwork to get started on applying with them, but it’s been a slow process. You’re correct though, fixed wing for life does not apply to Reseve/Guard. As an Apache guy, my chances for UQR approval are essentially zero due to manning issues. It’s not that I’ve given up on trying to get out, I just realized that being stuck until retirement is probably the most likely outcome when talking with others that have had UQR and even retirement denied.

That's a little tougher to call, but if you're hell-bent on airlines (this is a good time to be), here's what I would do...

Get FAA ratings up to CPL, and probably CFI as well. Fly your arse off for five years to ensure your FW time can qualify for most regionals. CFI on nights/weekends, maybe get a flexible/part-time 91/135 gig, or even just buy a cessna.

When you get to the end of ADSC, re-evaluate the industry. If it's going gang-busters, you could then punch, get on with a regional, and join the guard/reserve in some capacity to earn the retirement. I would *estimate* that about three years at a regional would get you a call from a major, but that's a very rough estimate and dependent on industry demographics as we know them today. A regional with flow would be an option (that may very well be more available in five years than it is today).

I find it distasteful to even say this, but you *might* at least run some numbers on opting into BRS... but that's a decision you have to make THIS year, based on what you know TODAY, and is of course irrevocable. I would hate to have to make that call personally :eek: But the money at the bigs is going to beat a mil retirement by about one order of magnitude.

I understand. The Army just sucks at managing people. They ran off all the experienced guys the last three years of BHO's regime and now you are seeing this starched-wing for life thing as a reaction.

I guess you have to decide future airline career or military retirement. The aformentioned isn't assured, the latter reasonably assured. If you aren't financially strapped you could exit active duty and finish your 20 in the Reserves or Guard and pick-up a 20 year Reserve retirement. But then you can't cash a check from that until age 60 (possibly less).

Like rickair suggested - get your civilian ratings and CFI on the side. Along with any other flying gig you can do. Get your FW resume as strong as possible to give you more options, and perhaps an immediate regional job, when you reach the 15.5/20 yr mark.

I believe with his time in service he is not eligible to opt into BRS.

From the Book of Wisdom:
“Short-timers must beware of going FIGMO too early.” :p

Find a Navy VR unit, start rushing and apply. Plenty of rotor only types in those squadrons now flying C-40/130’s.

Between now and then, get your commercial helo license from the FAA using your mil equivalency, and get a single and multi engine add on rating.

You may be right, I misread his timeline. But the cutoff is 12 years service as of 31 Dec 2017, not 12 years as of today (or next month, or later this year).