Yup, it's little-known but I'm sure. I think Salty pointed it out a few years ago. Not used often because most folks who go AD don't have a job worth coming back to...but ten+ years seniority goes a long way at most regionals.

EDIT: Here's a link...

http://www.esgr.org/Site/USERRA/FAQ/...6.3.2.3.151.33

Has anyone else checked "no" to the "are you in good health today?" box?

Whoops.

What if you've had enough of the airlines and don't want to spend the next 10 years at a regional (very possible). Would AD then be such an unwise career choice?

IMO, if you have the guard or reserves as an option, yes. 12 years is a long time to be stuck on AD. There's a ton of orders available in the guard these days if you're looking for a full-time paycheck although you may need take a break from the cockpit. Sometimes you can do both.

So, just how far off is "no upgrade in sight"?

If you want to join the military, then make sure you're doing it for the right reasons -- not because you're bored in your current job and want an adventure. You might get a lot more adventure than you signed up for.

This is incredibly short-sighted advice. Over the course of a career, there is just as high of a chance that an ANG or Reserve unit will change airframes. I know literally dozens of guys who started their flying careers in the ANG/Res in one airframe and are on their 2nd or 3rd different aircraft (sometimes with the same unit, sometimes not).

I'm sure the guys who worked at the dozen or so ANG units who, since the 2005 BRAC, have traded in their aero-planes for UAVs didn't think it could happen to them, either.

Just like there are no guarantees on the active duty side, there are none in the ANG, either.

Right now UAS/RPVs are being assigned to about 5% of UPT graduates. There are a lot of other things that have a 5% chance of happening in UPT, too...so the "you might be flying a desk with a joystick" boogey-man is a pretty narrow-minded reason to avoid going on active duty.

If a dude wants to keep his seniority number while on mil leave and go find an ANG or Reserve job, that is probably a good plan...but don't do it because you think it's going to guarantee you a particular airframe (or, more specifically, NOT a particular airframe in the case of a UAS/RPV) for the long term.

Yes there is one guarantee in the guard & reserve; You are free to change squadrons at your own will. If your unit converts to something you don't want to fly, go to another.

I've heard this is highly frowned upon, is this true?

El Guapo is right. AD is a crapshoot. You want to risk getting UAV orders? Go AD. If you go G/R you'll be flying the airplane YOU want to fly.

No it is not frowned upon at all. Guys change squadrons all the time for various family/work reasons. I'm doing it right now, you just don't want to burn bridges obviously.

I heard that it's a different and also easier process for guys who are already in the reserves/guard to switch to another squadron than it is for an off the street guy to get hired by one. True?