Fly C-12s for your getting out shore tour, get the ATP via a FAA DPE (civilian guy), pay the $300 bucks (approx). That's a good deal. If your unit doesn't support getting the ATP, talk with your skipper (CO), and have it written in your standardization notes, or SOP. It helps if you're the NATOPS (standardization) instuctor pilot, or if you are friends with that guy, and have him do it. You can cite that getting the ATP is a high professional standard that the transport pilots at your command can strive for. You can even bring in a copy of the little green ASA ATP practical test standards to show him the required deviation standards for the practical test or checkride. There are quite a few DPEs for king airs out there, since they are a very common business aircraft.
Oh, FAA examiners = painful (for the most part, there are exceptions out there, tell me when you find them--please).
Regards,
SR