The best solution for pilots is what UAL did in the 1960s...they hired people with a PPL and a HS diploma, and then trained them up to where they wanted them to be. No loans, and no government assistance...

The military route? They don't hire many pilots to fly inside a plane anymore, and most kids in the US are not qualified for the military. For example, my older son was interested in being a military intelligence analyst. He was not qualified for the military, so had 0% chance of getting that job.