With your flight experience there may well be some Guard or Reserve options available, flight positions. With some units enlisting ahead of a flight/Officer slot is an idea. Back in the day I was one to roll the dice a bit, no guarantees it would lead to a flying position. One has to evaluate for themselves.

Other than that, you could spend a year teaching at a flight school then be on your way.

If you could get into a military pilot position I wouldn’t care if you were a few years later getting to an airline. I would go with the military training regardless. Of course, it all depends on individual desires.