Vader,

If you have not figured out by now, UPT is mostly about having the right ATTITUDE. If you rub instructors the wrong way, life can be short for you at UPT (even if you come in with a guard/Reserve slot). If you have the right attitude, they will often bend over backwards to help you make it through. While some flying skills will transfer from civilian to military very easily, there are those that are so different from anything you have ever done & you may want to question them...don't. Be a sponge while you are at UPT, RTU, new to a unit & then let your past experience come forward once everyone gets to know you. At UPT, the top stick & bottom yoke usually stand out, the rest are fairly even.

As for what to fly later (no matter AD, Guard, or Reserve), ask yourself, what do you want to be doing in 7 - 10 years after UPT. Do you still want to be following that fighter dream? There are a lot of AD fighter guys out there who are doing a lot of non-fighter tours (TALO, UAV, etc) between fighter tours. Do you want to go back to the airlines? I know guys who stayed as UPT instructors to build the PIC time before going off to fly heavies & then out of the AF. Do you want to be stationed overseas (aside from you TDY tours)? Only certain airframes have overseas bases. My 2 best assignments were Germany & Japan (a completely different AF). Do you want to anchor/homestead in one spot. You can't beat the Guard & Reserve for giving some of that stability. Bottom line, keep an open mind (& closed mouth) going into UPT & follow your instincts for what will be right for you to fly later.