Yes, it's just I'm on day 3 of researching the airlines and haven't really gotten to the cargo ones yet lol. I'll start looking at Omni Air, Atlas, and Southern.

The only thing is I'd want to stay in Atlanta bc I can live super cheap (paid off place), instead of moving and incurring all those expenses and having to start over in a new city. Is it possible to commute to Miami or another city out of Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta?

A lot of those charter companies will pay to positive space you in Econ I believe so commuting isn't an issue. Do you have your ATP written done? If not, you need to look in to the ATP CTP courses, which are required. That is where a regional would be nice since most pay for that now. I'm sure there are GI bill ways to do it too, but I don't know for sure. As for the ATP itself, assuming you are using GI bill, look into higher power and get a 737 type. Otherwise, that's another benefit of a regional. Another type and free (kind of) ATP rating.

Keep in mind that the $20,700 is based on guarantee. In a years time when you get out of the military the regionals should be in all out crisis mode, meaning you will not be on reserve for long and can pick up overtime. There are guys that can consistently get 120 hours of credit per month. That does not mean you will fly that much, but you get paid that much. XJT has some great soft credit rules in the contract. Soft credit means credit that you do not actually fly for such as deadheading and trip rigs. Since you are deployed now, try to sock away as much money as you can to get you through year one pay. It is worth mentioning that you get paid $300 per week while in training, so the guarantee does not start until you start flying. Other companies will pay you guarantee in training, but for the privilege of living in base, I would forgo the extra cash for 2 months.

I second getting the 737 type. It's a good, free, and easy way to get your ATP provided you took your ATP written before the cutoff date. It's also one of the biggest reasons I think I got a call from Southwest with such low total time.

Have you checked the instructor box?
How about the evaluator box?
And also the Safety box?

If you can push for all three of those before you get out. They will add points to your applications.

I could not agree more about cargo companies like Atlas, Southern, and my current company, Western Global Airlines, being a good deal for someone that does not want to move and wants an easy commute. I work anywhere from 16-20 days a month and the company buys me a ticket out of my home airport to wherever my next trip will start and then they fly me back home when my trip is done. I get per diem the entire time I am away from home regardless of whether I am flying or not and I also spend a lot of time sitting reserve at home with a 12hr call out. And I make about $4500-5000 a month doing it. It's not the greatest, but it's not regional pay either and I don't have to pay for a crash pad or commuting expenses.

Retired NG, so I have to ask...are you looking to continue in the ANG/AFRes to get 20? If you go to a regional and can fly in an ANG/AFRes unit, the sting of first year F/O pay is noticeably less.

Stop thinking regional unless you have a skeleton in the closet. Get your app into Delta tomorrow. In one year the numbers you posted will be just fine! Apply to AMR, SWA and UAL as backups. If you live in Atlanta and want to stay in Atlanta Delta should be your first choice.

Why wouldn't you just do your 20 years and retire from the military then fly? I don't understand how guys do their 12 year commitments and leave with nothing...At the 20 year point, you will have much more flight time and a guaranteed income for the rest of your life..Seems like a no brainier to me..You can still have a 20+ year career at the airlines after retiring from the military...

The Air Force has been doing Reductions in Force for years where they let people go. I'm going to find out if I'm staying in or getting out in a year, so I'm planning for the worst case

Easier said than done if he doesn't have the ATP written done. No major/LCC/cargo airline will be interested, and the written isn't exactly cheap or easy to get. Regionals now pay for it, however. The written costs as much as getting an ATP/type. Plenty of AF/Navy/Army guys in the regionals with no skeletons. And based on his timeline he doesn't have a written that will be valid when he starts.