I am having doubts about that route. A couple of friends have gone the EMS route, and although the travel bennies are lacking, the lifestyle and starting pay is good (though the seniority pay is less).
Lemme get this straight. A P-3 guy with beaucoup multi time has to start at the regionals?
No, he doesn't. There are plenty of other flying jobs that set you up for the airlines that a P-3 dude would be competitive for.
The only military guys that would need to go to the regionals are generally NFO to pilot types and chopper dudes with very limited fixed wing time.
Having said that, if you can survive the first year or three, it isn't the end of the world, either. That assumes that you retired from the military and didn't just get out.
As to EMS, I have some buddies that do it and other commercial choppering and seem to greatly enjoy it. It mainly depends on the company.