A lot of the advice on here has been rock solid. My best advice, it you want it, is to give it some time, and let the decision come to you, don’t force it. I did a few tours in AMC then got out, got on with a guard unit with a different airframe and mission. The grass isn't truly greener, but the experience is a lot different. Honestly, on the civilian/airline end of the game, after looking for a job for over a year, I decided to go to a regional just to stay flying and see what the airline life was like. There is very little hiring at the majors/cargo right now, and that was the best civilian flying opportunity for me. The bad news is that the pay is atrocious, and the flying is nothing close to the same. The good news is that I get to fly outside of the AF along with my guard gig.
There are a wealth of opportunities open to you leaving the service, and in all honesty, unless flying is all you ever want to do, you’re selling yourself a little short flying at a regional (don’t take it personal, ‘cause its not). I often wonder if I’m living up to my potential and if I should walk away and get an MBA get an office gig, etc…. But when I think about it, I had the same concerns and frustrations in the AF and the ANG for that matter. I struggled to enjoy my time in AMC (a lot of which was spent in CENTCOM). Some parts I look back on fondly and other parts I try not to think about. I chafed often in my squadrons too, often feeling overlooked like a lot of others. But as you can see from other people, that’s not the exception in life, that’s the game.
As for flying experience, every moment of PIC is worth its weight in gold. Whether it’s in a pointy nose job or a heavy crew airplane, it’s hard to come by on the civilian side, and it will make you stand out. But real talk, cherish the moments you are a mid level-CGO. Though they may not be completely fulfilling, you may find a measure satisfaction in the work you do, as long as you apply yourself to the work you have.
I’m not looking back at my time in the AD-AF, I'm happily moving on. If they called tomorrow and said they would like me to come back, my answer would be ‘sorry, not at this time.’ But though I ‘have my freedom’ on the outside, I’m seemingly perpetually broke, and constantly networking with other pilots and reading up on APC for word on better job opportunities, which if I think about it, is a lot like what I did pining for a better follow on assignment in the AF.
As for the ANG, there is a wealth of opportunities out there. It’s a nice place to work. Pick up the phone and call some places. You never really know what the full man power needs of a unit are. You may fit the bill perfectly. But the Guard, has its ups and downs too. For the little time I've been in, I've had a few setbacks I’d rather have done without. Nothing major, but we’re all a little perpetually impatient in this business, aren't we? I enjoy it immensely, but as my life changes I can see its going to get harder to wear three hats at once (family, work, and guard duty). Deployments, though less frequent, will not get any shorter, or less arduous.
On the airline side stick and rudder flying is a dying (or just dead) art form. You do almost nothing with the autopilot off (sans taxiing). If you’re thinking that much about it, look into the opportunity to get your 73-type/ATP, or doing something like ATP’s regional jet standards course (no I’m not endorsing it, I never did it, and it may be a complete waste of money). But, it may open your eyes to what life on the other side is like. As I said before, it’s not greener on the other side, but it is a whole lot different.
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