If you don’t go Guard/Reserves there are no guarantees. You may end up flying UAVs in Clovis, NM.

USERRA (the law that protects civilian jobs and seniority for military service) only protects you for five years. Your airline may be more generous than USERRA but they are not required to be.

You are looking for an OTS/OCS spot. The Air Force also does guaranteed pilot trainee slots for active duty commissions (code: 92T0). Unfortunately the services use Officer Commissioning Schools as accessions overflow when they don’t generate enough officers from their respective service academies and ROTC detachments, which means there may not be any classes for months (or years) and it can be a lot more competitive.

Shoot for the moon, man. Figure out what you want to fly, locate those guard or reserve units and apply to all of them. As a 121 pilot you’ll dissuade their #2 fear, which is that you’ll wash out of pilot training and become a bad investment.

Their #1 fear is that you suck as a person and they get stuck with you; remember that 90% of a guard or reserve interview is to find out how much they like (or dislike) you. Don’t be a dbag, be humble but fun and good luck!