1 year/500 hours. As a simplification, same for pay. That’s the case at the moment. The only real change is allowing people to bid prior to those milestones. You still need to have the requisite FAR experience to be eligible to bid.

I've heard several times that I need to complete training to get that PRAP contribution, but according to company guidebook:
"b. A vacancy or Surplus bid which had been awarded to the pilot prior to the commencement of the military leave, but which had not yet been activated, will be activated for retirement plan calculation purposes on the latest date the Vacancy or Surplus sould have been activated for pay purposes under Section 8 had the pilot not taken military leave.
c. If the pilot is awarded a position upon returning from military leave in accordance with section 12-d-3 of the UPA, that positions pay rate will be applied (retroactively if necessary) starting from the effective date of that position, ur upon the pilot's activation to that position, whichever occurs first."

Was thinking I had to bid it now, but after rereading c. it looks like that decision can be made after the fact.

I was planning on trying WB before upgrading, and I'm little concerned with upgrading right after being gone few years.

You can’t make the decision after the fact for a bid that’s closed prior to going on mil leave, e.g. the current bid. If you wait for the next vacancy, when you are on mil leave, you will lose any of the added PRAP that you would have otherwise received at the higher rate.