I retired and did the sim gig for 3.5 years at 100-120K/yr, then had to go to the regionals for 1.5 years at 30-45K/yr until getting picked up at my dream job. Career wise there is no doubt that going straight to the airlines would have been better, the seniority lost in the 5 years (assuming I would have been hired straight out of the military) equates to schedule QOL today that is significant, 5 year delayed upgrade to CA and the financials associated with it. I could run the numbers but I think it is safe to say it is close to a million dollars (salary, retirement, etc.). That's the down side, the upside is I was home every night for 3.5 years, we went from the chaos of military life to a stable lifestyle where I made good money (without a first year airline hit) and had an opportunity to get financially fit. All that said, if I had to do it over I would skip the sim gig, live in base, and sit reserve (depending on the airline); regional pay is better today than it was when I went there but the numbers don't come close and the QOL (time at home) at the airlines is much better than what I experienced on active duty. I loved my time in the military, wouldn't trade it for anything; enjoyed my time as a sim instructor, it was exceptionally rewarding (and easy); I am beyond fortunate to have landed where I did, wish I would have made the decision to be here 5 years earlier.

Best of luck with your decision...