Should I bother?
 

Upon winging, I received commercial equivalency for Airplane SE and ME w/ CL thrust restriction. Also have served as a MEI in T-2C, and F/A-18 E/F (both CL thrust according to FAA). And currently serving as SEI in T-45C.

Would it enhance my application to do an MCI (through Sheppard, for example) in order to get CFI, CFII, and MEI designations? ...or would my pedigree stand on its own w/o all that once I have the ATP completed? (Word is, the FSDO that "overlooks" the CL thrust when doing MCI, so I am considering punching that ticket)

OR, alternatively... should I just wait to do the MCI until ATP check is complete (and having done the required Vmc maneuvers)?

Background AOK, obviously. Get the ATP,the apps installed and call it good. Get the fluff later(if at all), then update. Don't delay.

Are you sure about that?
In the C/D NATOPS (with the EPEs) there was wording included about minimum controllable airspeeds and such that allowed them to be considered non-centerline thrust. I would have thought the E/F would have carried that language over.

As for the second bolded part - you need to find one that understands the books, not one that "overlooks". How about the local FSDOs around the Hornet bases? Even ones around your training bases ought to have some experience with former Hornet guys from the squadrons.

As for padding the resume, I haven't seen my peers with your background *need* to get the equivalency qualifications in order to be hired and times are only getting better on that front. IF I were on the hiring board, I'd be impressed with your instructor qualifications from the military service, but without actual time instructing in GA aircraft, and knowing that you got those qualifications through the mil-comp, I personally would not give them much (if any) weight.

It's hard to cut and paste from the FAA guidance but about two thirds of the way down they list the centerline thrust aircraft.

FSIMS Document Viewer

Bottom line, get as many ratings, certificates, as possible. Each box you can check on the airline app will get your app more points.

I just did this recently at my local FSDO and was not given the MEI due to the centerline thrust restriction. I did get a CFII though. The examiner did say, however, that the FAA was supposed to be changing this rule. So maybe by the time you submit your paperwork you will get the MEI. You qualify for the CFI and CFII right now after passing the MCI exam.

This.

What USMCFLYER said is true - a rational human being with knowledge of aviation careers who has seen many resumes likely won't care that you bothered to take the mil equivalency test and hold a CFII. However, one of the hardest parts of getting hired is getting the right set of eyeballs on your resume, and the way that is usually done is by your application being "scored" by a computer. Having more ratings will increase you score, and correspondingly the chance it will be seen by someone who identifies that you are worthy of a phone call. Good luck.

I am assuming you are referring to MCI w/o ATP prior, correct?

E/F is a separate TMS and has entirely different language throughout the NFM. But there are lots of people that would agree with you... myself included.

Maybe "overlooks" was the wrong choice of words, but your point is taken. I meant to say that the restriction on my previous commercial ticket would be overlooked, because as it was explained to me, the local FSDO is satisfied w/ seeing "instructor" and "F/A-18" in order to grant the MEI. But I will continue to dig.

This goes to the heart of my question, so thank! ...but as NoDeskJob pointed out, there appears to still be merit in doing so.

Any thoughts about just waiting to get MCI after ATP? Would that make the question OBE, or not?

Yes I was just talking about the MCI.