If I were you LossofClockData and you knew you did not want to make the Air Force a career and the airlines were where you wanted to be then I would try and VSP, get hired by a Regional to build your time, and also get hired by a UAV guard/reserve unit so you can supplement your Regional income and still have Tricare for your family.

VSP was in 6 Feb and I like your thought process, but a big part of our decision was to get back to the NW for some family health concerns and desire to be in that location. Unfortunately no UAV units up there. Ideally reserve at McChord, but then again we don't always get what we want.

If your harms printout says more than 1500 hrs, you can get your unrestricted ATP because I think you can include other time for that purpose. But you would be hired by any regional airline tomorrow if you applied, and I think now that it's required, they'll give you your ATP in training, or at least some of them will. It's absolutely worth it whether you choose to get it on your own now or through a regional.

So, a Navy guy can count special crew time in the ATP calculation?

when we were at flight safety they made us subtract the 'other' time from the HARM print out.

Here's my experience with the VSP.

I wanted more than what AD life had to offer so took the VSP back in 2007 with nearly 10 years of service. It was around 120K before taxes. I didn't spend a penny and slowly invested it over about 3 years.

I was hired right away and made a clean break from the military. Life was satisfactory. After a year at my airline, I applied for a job at my hometown Guard unit. Absolutely love it. I split my time about 50/50 and life is good to very good. I know I'll be paying the VSP back in small allotments upon receiving my first retirement check at age 60, but I am working to make sure that is painless. If you consider it a loan, it's a damn good deal.

Someone mentioned insurance. I occasionally take some 30-60 day orders and get six months of TAMP (Tricare) at no cost. Otherwise, Tricare Reserve Selects costs my family about $200 a month. Also, I did 180 days of orders a couple years ago and no one asked for my VSP.

You will eventually get hired, but you won't always be able to VSP. I'd say take it, get a Guard/Reserve gig, and get a few hours at a Regional while you're waiting. In speaking with friends, it seems the consensus is the quality of life/career is deteriorating more quickly in the ADAF than the airlines.

Good Luck!

But you would be hired by any regional airline tomorrow if you applied, and I think now that it's required, they'll give you your ATP in training, or at least some of them will. It's absolutely worth it whether you choose to get it on your own now or through a regional.[/QUOTE]

Interesting. I was thinking they are fairly picky right now from what everyone else was saying, but perhaps that's just the majors.

Interesting. I was thinking they are fairly picky right now from what everyone else was saying, but perhaps that's just the majors.[/QUOTE]

Everything I've read is that the Regional's can't find enough qualified applicants right now.

Everything I've read is that the Regional's can't find enough qualified applicants right now.[/QUOTE]

Well, FWIW, I have been at United for almost a year and recently got a rejection letter from Compass since my airlineapps account is still in good standing. They said they were "seeking more highly qualified applicants at this time." I did send them a humorous reply, however.

Post it! (if you don't mind)