I too would have once said to try the guard/reserve squadron thing. No, you cannot do that with the Navy or Marines though. Navy and Marine reserve squadrons only take previously qualified guys and usually only if they have been previously qualified in that airplane. Fighter reserve squadrons anyway.

It wouldn't hurt to hit up guard/reserve squadrons while at college and see how it works out, it just might. That would be the BEST route in terms of possible lifestyle. If it does, great and if two years later it is BRAC'd then you could try going active duty since you are already qualified.

But the way to have the BEST shot at actually getting to fly fighters is to go active Navy or Air Force. ROTC or OCS is the way to go for ease of life instead of doing the academy thing. However, being from an academy opens doors if you ever get out of the flying industry like I am strongly considering. If you get fighters in the Navy you'll be flying some flavor of the F/A-18 and possibly the F-35 down the road. Very nice jets. If you get fighters in the AF you have a few more options, some not as fancy, but some more fancy.

good luck