Try the Guard, then the Reserve and a DISTANT 3rd would be active duty. No way I would lose control of my future for that amount of time. It's actually closer to 12 years when you consider your 10 years doesn't start until you graduate pilot training.

If you talk to the Guard, do NOT talk to a recruiter. Call the base operator and ask to talk to someone in ops...and ask for a pilot. Recruiters don't really have a say in the process, at least in my squadron. The pilots handle it all.

Trust me, it's worth it! Flying in the military is unlike anything you'll ever get to experience, the camaraderie is 2nd to none and the memories will last forever. Even after only 7 years and 1300 hours of flying fighters, I've gotten to do a lot of stuff I never thought possible. Heck, tomorrow I get to go fly a low level, sling 6 bombs onto the range and shoot a few hundred rounds of 20mm, with 3 of my best friends...that's a great days work! I wouldn't trade it for anything, to include a few years of seniority. Airline flying just doesn't hold a candle to the stuff I've gotten, and continue, to get to do...and I actually love my airline job.

Go to the Guard, kick butt in training. Come back, be the best wingman/flight lead/co-pilot/aircraft commander you can be. If you're not flying enough, go to the regionals. I did that and I'm convinced that having the combination of mil/regional time is what got me hired by multiple legacies before almost all of the high time instructors in my squadron.

As a Guard fighter guy, when I was full time, I would fly 6-15 times a month. When I was an LT, I would fly as much as 18-20 times a month, although I think those days are long gone. Realize this is only 0.8 to 1.5 hours at a time. I'm not sure about the heavy world, but most of my bros fly all they want. If you don't think fighters are for you, that's cool, our heavy bros get to do some cool stuff as well, I'll let them speak to that.