Does anyone know if the airlines view a technician job differently than an AGR position? In other words, do most airlines accept mil leave for a technician position like they do for an AGR spot?

Hokie,
My understanding is that an AGR job carries a "green" ID card and is full-time active duty military. You would be allowed 5 years per USERRA, assuming that you have not used any of your military leave. If you've got enough points to put you within 4-5 years of an AD retirement, go get an AGR job and get your retirement and head back to the airline when it's done. It may sound disloyal, but you are a number to your airline. If your number comes up, they will furlough you. It's business, don't take it personal. You are protecting your family via a legal, federally protected program. Tech/ARTs from what I understand, is not AD. You would be Federal Civil Service and not on Mil. I know some guys that deferred recall and kept their ART jobs when the airlines called them back. Good luck.

MBB

Technician jobs aren't eligible for mil leave under USERRA. A tech is a federal civilian employee - just happen to wear your flight suit to work. The line can get blurred day to day but you are defintely not on a military status. That's why you have to be super careful about people taking PT tests, qualifying, flying (unless flying's in your job description), etc on tech time.

I thought Technician and AGR jobs were full time positions? Why would you be trying to work for an airline if you had a technician or AGR slot?

If you are an airline pilot (or employed anywhere covered by USERRA), you could take a military leave of absence from that job. When you return to the airline, you would have 5 more years seniority and pay status, and would have accrued 5 years of military points towards retirement. USERRA only covers AGR tours (or other military duty), but some airlines are allowing pilots to take a (personal) leave of absence for a Technician job.

What's the maximum amount of time that an airline will grant for a leave of absence?

For a military leave of absence, USERRA allows for 5 years (total.) There are several exemptions and extensions, so it could be (much) longer. For specifics, you can look online or talk to ESGR or your JAG.

For a non-military (personal) leave of absence, it depends on the collective bargaining agreement (contract) or corporate policy.

Good Luck!

I guess I'm still sort of missing the point... why would someone typically take a leave of absence from their airline for the military, unless they had mil training or a deployment? I can understand taking the AGR/Technician job if you get furloughed, or if you choose to make that your career until you earn retirment; but then it's not really a military leave of absence...

I'm just trying to understand the benefit to leaving the airline for 5 years to go be a technician or AGR? I understand you still acrue seniority with that airline, but you wouldn't necessarily be advancing your career in that position; i.e. not getting as many flight hours, upgrades to Captain etc.

Plus, what is the benefit to holding a technician job for only 5 years anyway? I can maybe understand AGR as it's considered like AD, and you'll "rapidly" acrue active duty points; and depending on your time in service, you could possibly even retire with an AD retirement.

I guess I just don't understand why someone would go from an airline to a technican job (for 5 years) and then back to an airline, if they weren't furloughed? Don't you need 30 years civil service to retire as a GS employee? What does 5 years as a technician really buy you?

Five years of seniority does lots for career advancement. Guys do not typically take an AGR tour to build flight time. They HAVE the job at the major. They are serving their country, while at the same time improving their military retirement as well as their status with the airline when they return from leave.

As far as a Technician: You actually do get a pension after 5 years of federal civil service (you begin to collect it at age 62.) I would think that people would take a leave from an airline job for a Tech job: in order to have a period of better pay, schedule, and be home more, as compared to being a low seniority airline pilot.

hope I answered your question.

thanks for the insight. So if I understand you correctly, does that mean one could get feasibly picked up by a major (assuming one is fortunate enough to do so), go on mil leave for the first 5 years and bypass all the crappy low pay/ on reserve time; then show back up ready to upgrade to CA a few years later; get a decent line etc.

That almost sounds to good to be true. I'll have to look into it more. Thanks for the info!