I can't disagree with what has been written but let me add my two cents so you may learn from some of my missteps. I was hired in my mid thirties by a major so my past decisions have not been completely horrendous...with that said, I flew helos most of my military career but was fortunate to get some heavy flying assignments in as well. It has been fun.

If there is one thing I regret my last ten years is not slowing down to smell the roses. While I encourage you to be positive, study hard and help your buddies (I slacked too much at Vance and did not study enough), my suggestion would be to not concentrate on a particular aircraft after graduation but just be good at what you are doing at the time. If you think you would like helicopters, realize you are probably extending entry into an airline by a few years...not the end of the world but a fact nonetheless.

What you should also consider is the lifestyle you and your family want. Some missions require you to be gone a lot while others are more prone to home life. Some assignment choices on some airframes suck and some not so much (e.g. B-52s only have Minot and Barksdale!). If you display good airmanship and can pick T-38s, realize that the fighter guys keep their high intensity studying (also hazing??) through RTU into all your upgrades through out many assignments. Some heavies are a lot more laid back. Helos in the AF tend to be somewhere in the middle.

Airlines are not the end-all-be-all of life but used to be considered a good trade of decent pay and good time off. They are slowly becoming less so but still can be a good low stress job that allows for plenty of time to pursue hobbies like fishing and mountain biking. If after 10 years, you still have a desire to fly for a living and have not developed an interest in the law, opening your own dot com business or making the military a career, then by all means consider the airlines. At this time though, put it out of your mind and devote as much time thinking about it as to what flooring you want to install in your retirement condo in Sarasota you will buy when you are 75.

Study and know the regs and TOs cold...show enthusiasm (fake enthusiasm is better that no enthusiasm)...don't criticize any instructors, fellow students or the AF and be the best wingman you can to your classmates.

Good luck buddy, it is the road, not the destination.

AC