Can’t afford to stay at regionals (MIL)...
 

MIL to 121 guy with 2700 jet total and 200+ at regional 121 carrier since January. Because of family issues, not sure I can go stay at regional pay more than about 2 more months. I can go on man days for my non flying reserve job. Will that hurt my odds for getting hired at a major if I take a 2-5 month break from 121 flying? Thanks for your thoughts!

I know certain majors were "informally" considering the attendance patterns of mil applicants coming from the regionals. Not legal, but I was "counseled" about that by my bros in the know. It's a moving target, I think there was a lawsuit or two, maybe the mole got whacked but it can (and probably will) pop up again.

A few months is probably no big deal in the grand scheme, but if it's recent, or as a new-hire, it's not going to look great. They'll assume you'll drop orders on them too...

If your geography and unit allows, might be better to drill on your days off to supplement things, or drop a week here, week there. Majors won't notice that as much as a big hole in your logbook + DD214.

I prioritized mil over airlines for many years, but that was a different era, and I held on tight to the bird in hand. Today, I would aggressively pursue legacy/big-six airline employment... huge long-term potential payoff.

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. I assume by pay off you mean both money and control of my schedule...right?

How do they "informally" see mil vs airline service?

I get how missed assignments could be reported, or absenteesim, but how would drill or deoployments show on a record pull?

Or do they see based on what one puts on their own resume?

Just curious how this information would be conveyed, whether accurately or not.

They generally want a very detailed breakdown of all civilian employers, for mil that means every single duty station AND active duty, reserve, TDY. Some employers may also pull your DD-214s, which would cover anything over 30 days for title 10 (not sure about state guard duty).

They will also look at your logbook, so big gaps will be noticed and an explanation requested if you didn't fly for months on end while employed at an airline.

Trust me, the big majors are intimately familiar with it all and cannot be fooled for a minute. A smaller outfit may not have the resources or knowledge to read between the lines.

Do what you have to do, but don't assume it won't be noticed.

Yup.
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If it’s a money thing check out the contract ISR flying. When I left in 2016 it was paying $800 per day. I’m sure it’s gone up. The schedule is 2 months on 2 months off. You could probably work out a leave of absence with your current 121 employer while you’re overseas or just cut the cord entirely. Plenty of guys who have gone the ISR route vice the Regional route and are at a Major.

Drop mil leave and go get paid dude. Eff the airline decoder ring BS. This thing can take a turn for the worst again with the next economic downturn, making these "can you hack it?" moralizing arguments about quitting regionals "too soon" a moot point.

According to the peanut gallery, you'd only need 12 months at the JV shop and you'd be in mainline Shangri-La as a current prior mil-jet dude, but when it doesn't happen it's now all on you for not having had the foresight and plan financially for a proverbial 7 year wait at the FFD job you never wanted in the first place. Meh. Never put in the middle what you can't afford to lose. If that means the loss of a hypothetical 5 years at WB CA rate in your cosmic radiation induced cancer-ridden sixties, so be it.

In the words of Ray Liotta: FUPM. Go get paid dude. Your family's time is a more perishable commodity.

Thx
 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the responses. Sorry what is WB CA pay? Something, something Captain pay...?

WB = Wide Body