Decades back when I had a training slot for Chicago (probably not hard in mid 80’s), they told me “the younger the better”. 18 year olds were eligible as long a

Decades back when I had a training slot for Chicago (probably not hard in mid 80’s), they told me “the younger the better”. 18 year olds were eligible as long as they were 19 by finishing at OKC and were more willing to handle the stress, rotating shifts and survive three years of hell to get to journeyman. Journeymen were making $180K at Center back then. Way more than most First Officers.