All good replies.

Pick the mission, then the plane, then the location. Do not even consider airlines when making this choice (don't let your wife choose either, except for the location part).

Focus on your current job, work hard and do well at every job you do. This will be what builds your resume for your future, and allow you to excel in the Navy in the event that you stay in. Stop reading this forum until you are on your last assignment (it's a distraction at this point) On your second to last assignment try to plan your last assignment as a flying tour. At that point also start looking for a reserve job.

Have an open mind about staying in. Hiring happens in cycles and if you hit a down cycle when you are eligible to get out, you might not be able to get an airline job. This was the case over the last decade, there were few jobs, and it was much harder to get them and a much greater leap of faith to leave.

8 year commitment?! The Air Force is 10. I didn't know that the Navy's was less.