Not a whole lot different than the decision I made recently... getting out of AD in May and joining a Guard unit part time to continue to fly until I can get hired. We'll see how it works out!

Staying current is key! I was furloughed twice from L-UAL and presently looking at retirement from the military. Concur with building a good financial plan as a backup. Obtaining skills in another area is also something you should consider. After 911, it was very difficult to find work inside and outside of aviation when the whole industry nearly collapsed. Civilian employers thought I only knew how to fly. At that point, I had eight years as an officer in the military and had obtained other leadership skills, but it was a tough sell with so many out of work. One employer told me I was overqualified and knew I would head back to the cockpit once the call came. Pursue an advanced degree just in case your passion falls through due to a medical issue or something beyond your control.