Prettywhacked1

Might do you good to get a copy of Checklist for Success by Cheryl Cage, as your timeline is a bit short fused for a newbie to 121. Will help you get everything ready for the transition. It was written 20+ years ago so is somewhat focused on mil transition.

rickair7777

You have to do the CTP and then written (in that order) before you take the practical (flight) test. Only way around that is to have a regional pay for it.

Cheapest/easiest self-funded flight test is in a light twin.

You could also pay and prepare for a 737 type rating and do the ATP on the type ride in the sim. That's more time and money. You could do other jet types also, but most other (airline) types are very, very expensive.

TeamSasquatch

If you plan to buy a type, do the ATP in the sim. Same checkride, same PTS. But, as it’s been said, you have to do a ATP CTP course first. Not much study, just have to pay and get Shepard Air.

Mudhen2000

Call MIL2ATP 919-526-4287. plenty of guys go through there who have not flown and do just fine. It is designed for a transitioning military aviator looking to get your ATP and was voted one of the best flight schools. I fly out there as an instructor and we have plenty of non-current guys come through.

Hacker15e

^^This^^

, I know your hangup is "I have a family, and the regionals don't pay much", but I think you'll find that the regionals are the shortest path to a career job, and thus will ultimately the least financially painful path.

Paying for your CTP and ATP out of pocket can approach $10K, and won't get you either enough hours to be considered "recent" and also won't let you put any 121 experience on your app/resume (which, by the way, is an attractive thing for a military-trained and -experienced applicant to have).

What will the long-term financial cost be of delaying getting hired at your career airline so you can get checked out at a Guard/Reserve unit, get your 100 hours of jet time, and still not have the benefit of any 121 experience?

If your intent is to do Guard/Reserve anyway, my recommendation is to go get hired by a regional first, complete the training cycle, and then drop mil leave to do whatever you want to do with the unit. At least while you're getting re-qual'd in the Gray airplane you'll have applications at the majors with an ATP, a new type rating, and a successful 121 training cycle on them. Then the mil flying $$ can supplement whatever regional pay/bonus package you're dealing with.

SaltyDog

Agree with BeatNavy (and Im Navy LOL)
and Hacker15e comments.