In a nutshell. Go ROTC/OTS/OCS, go guard/reserve (if able), if not, pilot training, go guard/reserve after commitment is up.

I'll try to help because I was pretty much in your shoes not THAT long ago. I went military and ended up staying for 20 years active duty before I went to the airlines. I had several civilian ratings BEFORE and during the time I was in the military, so I paid for flight time as well.
If you want to fly military and civilian, try to go Guard or Reserve. If I had it to do over again, I'd do that.
I had an appointment to the AFA too, but I blew it off and got an AFROTC scholarship.... that allowed me to fly as a CFI, chase women, have a job, a car and an apartment while going to a state school. More freedom, same result and school paid for.....
AFA is good, and a good school, but it wasn't for me... I'm not that disciplined and didn't want to be.
It is not "easy" to get stuck in non-flying assignments in the AF. Almost impossible if you are a good stick and have a good attitude.

I went to the military to fly and get it paid for, to fly jets... not Service before self etc. I went there to fly then get out. Ended up staying 20 years and was a commander a couple of times etc..... but I'm not joking; I wasn't into the "total commitment" and it worked for me. But you can't ever let that attitude show--to anyone.

Other jobs than flying: I've been: Scheduler, public affairs officer, duty officer, safety officer, tactics officer, training officer, instructor pilot, standardization/evaluation officer; executive officer, operations officer, and commander all WITHIN a flying squadron: Inspector general, exercise evaluation officer; readiness officer; Operations Officer; budget officer and safety chief OUTSIDE the squadron during staff tours. And a STUDENT at Air Command and Staff College (9 months) Joint Forces Staff College (6 months); and Air War College (9 months).
How long flying moving up through the ranks? I flew for 16 of 20 years with breaks for the schools above and for a staff tour at the Pentagon (2.5 years). I flew 8 different types of aircraft and logged about 7.5K flight hours in the military. With all the free time i had in the military at the "lower" ranks, I flew about 1500 hours of civilian flying --- CFI, charter, own aircraft etc.

It's not "easy" to get stuck in non-flying assignments in the AF. It will happen if you stay in at about the 12 year point as part of "normal" career progression--but it doesn't happen earlier unless you are not a good stick or have a bad attitude---this is not an absolute; it CAN happen, but it's not "easy" to get stuck non-flying. Toll on family life---was not a probem at all for me. It is for some. I guess that's a personal experience. You will be deployed and will be gone from home some (depending on what you do and what aircraft you fly--from very little to a lot). I was home a lot.

Lose sleep over lethal weapons, life risking issues? None. Ever ... lose sleep? No way. This is the part that I MISS!
How cool is the F-16 etc.... the military aircraft and missions are pretty darn cool---really. The missions are what I miss. Airline flying is BORING.
Transitioning? In my case no loss of skill. I flew charter in Citations and had my own plane--flew aerobatics with a club and maintained CFI and taught at aero club. I never lost touch with civilian side; either general aviation or corporate. With the free time you have and the money you have for training (according to your post); with military pay you'll be able to fly GA whenever you want. I also volunteered to fly medical supplies to remote areas of North America-- there are lots of things you can do... remember; you'll have free time especially if you stay single.
Military pay is good these days....especially with tax breaks. After about 8 years, your military pay is better than most flying jobs out there and you saved all that money on training as well

You are an officer first and you will go to a non flying job if you want to get promoted--you MAY not have to if you don't depending on the AF needs at the time you get to O-4. Depends on what you want. You are an officer first, but that doesn't mean you can't fly throughout your career. I ended up flying 16 years out of 20 with 7500 military flight hours. Some of my buddies flew for all the 20 years but retired as a Major (O-4)

Do I regret it? Absolutely not. It worked for me. Also got free flight training, free schooling, etc. Have 40K per year in play money now. The only thing I would have done differently was go to the reserves at year 8.... but I wouldn't have the 40K per year now.

Bottom line: Go to ROTC/OCS, pilot training then guard/reserve. While you are in the guard/reserve you can get the airline job and accrue seniority. I recommend the military route vs civilian only---and when you get out, you have all that training.
Or you can be a Doctor and make enough cash to buy you own jet!!!!
Good luck; you sound like you'll do well.