I Agree. And if you just want to fly, then it's not even a close decision. First and Foremost, as USMCFLYR stated, you need to be ready to serve... that means over seas, combat flying, and yes, there is the risk you can lose your life. Take this seriously before deciding if the military is for you.

If you've decided that it is for you, then figure out what your aspirations are. If you just want to fly, then as mentioned go guard or reserves. It's really not even a close decision, if all you want to do is fly.

If you go the AD route, you don't necessarily get to choose your aircraft, unless you do really well in training; it's merit based. And depending on what you get, there is a huge standard deviation in the amount of flying you will actually do. Remember, you're an officer first; and as such you'll be given another job in addition to flying. Also, with the current downsizing that active duty is doing now, you'll serve as your own MPF, finance office, orderly room, as well as have to handle whatever job your squadron hands down to you, i.e. exec, tactics, training, scheduling, etc. I can't speak for other communities, but I can tell you what the AD herc community is like... Bottom line, you deploy to build hours. When you're home, you're stuck in your additional duty, fighting to get out of the office. Then you deploy again for another 4 months to rack up more hours, etc.

The benefits to AD are job stability, solid mil benefits, good/ stable pay , great people, and the opportunity to build a solid career as an "officer"; if that's what you want. Once again, you're an officer first if you go this route. And as you progress in your career, you'll typically fly less and less. Your flying will peak at about the 8-10 year mark as a senior Capt IP, EP. But then if you stay longer and decide to go career, you can expect non-flying staff work. Again, it depends on what you want to do.

I believe the committment is still 10 years for pilots too. I got lucky, and got in while it was still 8. Keep in mind that the 10 years starts when you "complete" pilot training; not when you enter active duty. So in reality, you'll be looking at closer to 11 or 12 years before you're even eligible to get out. That's a huge chunk of time and something to seriously consider.

Also keep in mind that if you're on AD and don't make it through flight training for whatever reason, the USAF owns you for the next 4 years. That means that if you join AD, you have to be prepared to accept a non-flying job (worse case scenario), i.e. as an LRO (logistics readiness officer) supervising convoys in Iraq (to augment the Army); or as a cop, or maintainer, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a great time on AD and would recommend it to anyone that is considering joining (assuming it's for the right reasons). However on this forum, as the motivating factor for most here is flying (go figure), I would tend to steer folks away from AD, and towards the guard and reserves, where all you'll be doing is flying. Just keep in mind that the Guard/ Reserves are part time (unless you go ART, AGR), so depending on your situation, you may need another job on the side.

If I had a do over, I would have gone Guard or Reserves right out of college. It was the best kept secret at that time. Not much of a secret anymore these days.

Go Guard (or Reserves).