You bid 10 days off each month by the 8th of the preceding month. You can bid 10 days in a row or split in 5/5, 6/4, 7/3. Many pilots do what works for them. Guys that commute farther usually bid 10 in a row. Schedules are posted the 25th of the month. This is later than we would like and makes buying airfare more expensive if your trip begins, say, August 3rd. Sucks.
The training is long and much more likely to be 8 months than 6. It can be fun of you have a cool class. Lots of going out together etc. Further, you will meet almost every NCA pilot during your time in training in the hotel restaurant. It is, however, a LONG time and it can get frustrating. The food gets old, the hotel gym kinda sucks, and the hotel isn't near anything. That said, I mostly enjoyed it.