At 33 you need ‘the fast track’. That means more training and tracking towards at least an Associates degree. Depending on the program you should be able to get a handful of credits for prior military experience.

We all need a backup plan of sorts, which some naturally have due to work ethic or motivation. I wouldn’t get to tangled up with a time consuming degree that you hope to not use anyway.

Full timing with a young family can be difficult. I’d allow little dead time, no need to take Spring or Summer off, go year round. You need a CFI soon too, don’t take it until prepared though.