Fellow Navy guy here. Your two biggest challenges are going to be your low number of hours and currency. I wouldn't sweat the O-4 board or anything else beyond your control. Any chance you can get back in the cockpit for your last tour, or are you staring down the barrel of another non-flying disassociated tour?

Honestly, the reserves are full of guys with similar backgrounds to you who are flying their butts off, breaking necks, and cashing checks. I would network network network at a flying reserve unit and the airline networking will take care of itself. You may have to work at a regional for a bit while you build currency and experience.

I highly doubt that you will have anything that will raise a red flag in an interview. You aren't being kicked out for misconduct and don't have any FNAEBs on your record. Take whatever course of action works best for you and your family. Nobody, and certainly not the Navy, cares more about you than you.

 

Honest question, so here is an honest answer.

Most airlines have Mil guys (current Reserves and former mil) in their hiring depts. They know what to look for.

Not getting your LvL3 (section lead) qual will raise red flags with them. Also, not getting a flying tour as follow-on orders will raise red flags. I'm sure you have good reasons but your track record will be scrutinized by current USN/USAF guys (think VFC-XX and SELRES guys)

If you get an interview, you will be interviewing with civ guys who have gone above and beyond in their profession. You'll be interviewing with mil guys who have met or exceeded the minimum requirements in every job they've had.

The airlines don't care so much about pure flying skills, they want someone who meets or exceeds job expectations.

I'm sure you're a great person and best of luck to you. But I think you're going to have an uphill battle. Be honest, be prepared to answer tough questions.

Best of luck to you and sorry if I'm being too honest. Just trying to help you shape your future battlefield. Again, best of luck.

 

At an Emerald Coast seminar, I asked Albie a related question. Delta wants performance reports, I'm retiring as a Major, is that going to hurt?

I'm not claiming to quote, but my recollection was a twofold answer:

- Are your records bad? As in, referral OPRs (translation from AF: did you get in major trouble that was documented in your records?)

- Keep in mind, there are pilots on the interview panel with military experience. And they all quit. They aren't the folks that bled blue (or whatever color meets your service metaphor). They weren't the group commander who shot people for not wanting to be the next Chief of Staff--they quit. They were the guys who had more hours than their Group/CC, and thought he was high.

Anyone with significant military experience knows that promotion percentages change dramatically over time. I'm sure airlines value leadership experience, but they are hiring pilots. I suspect they aren't that interested in your superb organization of the Christmas ball (please God please).

So my opinion, do what works for you and yours best.

 

Roll the dice, do well during your remaining time, and if your ticket isn't punched at the 2nd board, enjoy the check and the lifestyle it will afford you during your transition to a lower paycheck. If you go reserves, you get 3 more looks at O4 anyway.

The hiring board at a legacy airline is not the same as the tank in Millington.

 

Agree, it's going to be an uphill battle. Lack of currency aside, the bottom line is that you didn't show normal progression as a JO. While not leaving your first tour with a Division Lead qual MIGHT be understandable in today's flight hour-scarce environment, not getting your Section Lead qual is a huge "other." The fact that you're not in a flying billet right now is another big other, and doesn't bode well for future flying tours in the Navy. If flying for the airlines is your ultimate goal, it's probably time to cut your losses with the Navy and try to get back into flying in the civilian world. Best of luck to you.

 

No chance to transition to another aircraft?

 

With the way timing and career progression works in Navair, that ship has sailed. The only real hope for a transition is to get an oddball C-something gig or go fly orange and white, but already having completed his JO shore tour, that will be very difficult. The next move in a standard career is a disassociated sea tour, which usually involves being part of a staff or ships company and is often non-flying.

If you want to stay in the cockpit, you need to start exploring "other" paths like reserves, Coast Guard DCA, and the like. I have seen a lot of guys transition from a less than stellar Tacair tour into an above average tour in another community, but timing isn't on your side when it comes to Navy detailing.

 

I think getting into the reserves is your best shot at promotion bar none. As a Navy FTS working at a NOSC, (a full time reservist working at a reserve center), there are boatloads (pun intended) of passed over 0-3s who picked up 0-4 with their reserve unit. You won't get flight time, but you get promoted, you get paid and you get benefits, plus there are tons of airline guys who could give you that all important internal rec......
Not to pile on with the other guys, but I think the Navy flying gig is done. As a guy who spent two tours in orange and white I can tell you that those boards are VERY competitive AND they will look at your quals thoroughly...and unfortunately your record will not make it though. I apologize but I want you to succeed and not waste time chasing things that won't pan out.
Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about going SELRES or the training command.

 

I appreciate all the advice, good lucks, and honesty.

I think if I ask my detailer about possible flying jobs one more time he will kill me. So with that being said, non-flying disassociated sea tour is the next path for me. I have totally accepted the fact that my AD flying career is over and there is no chance of making O4. Except for the lack of EP's (Early Promote check box on Navy FITREPs), all my FITREPs summaries sound great (don't they all...). I never had any desires to be a Hornet DH/XO/CO so getting out at the end of my commitment was always the plan. I would have loved though to have flown at the VT's for a tour or two. I have a contact in the ANG so I am trying to work that path and I am trying to find contacts on the C-something side of the house too.

Although I am not flying grey jets anymore, I still stay active on the general aviation side. I have around 1700TT so during this shore tour I used the GI Bill to get my ATP and I am currently using it to get my MEI too. I was also thinking of using it to get my 737 type with HPA this fall. I have no kids and I really do not want to get a Masters so what else am I going to use it on...

I agree with ImTumbleweed that it will be an uphill battle. I think I would have issues if I had the hours and went directly to a legacy/major interview so since I don’t, I'll prove my worth when I do my regional time.

Thanks again.

 

1700TT? If you have a ATP/737 type and 1000 PIC you are in the ballpark for SWA, just need a little more TT.

JetBlue: Military can add .3 to all mil times (yes 30% increase of flying times not sorties)--we clarified this several times to make sure we heard it right.....Plus if you attend a Vets in Blue meet and greet then you have the hours and networking in play.

I highly recommend HPA and use the 9/11 Bill, I did. Remember the airlines are no longer looking for just high time guys, they are looking for the complete package. So add some FSO stuff, CRM, 737 Type ratings, community service etc. Build the whole package for your resume. If you have to go to non-flying job, try to get one with a title that translates to "Director of Operations" needs to be aviation related but that is one of the blocks to check on the apps.

Typical boxes you can work on checking without being in a mil cockpit job:
Director of Operations (aviation related)
737 Typed
Instructor Pilot

They all have points associated with them the biggest battle is getting to the interview, but don't do anything you can not answer to in a face to face. i.e. if you were the "STAN O" don't try to use that as "Chief Pilot". It cost a USN guy a job he otherwise would have had at UAL.