I had some civilian time before I went to USAF pilot training (not much, less than 200 hours). Still, I had a pretty easy time getting my private, read everything I could get my hands on about flying, and thought I had a pretty good understanding of how everything--aerodynamics through ATC---worked. However, I had zero IFR experience.

My eyes were opened at USAF pilot training, particularly in aerobatics and energy-management types of flying. This is in reference to aerobatics in the T-38, which was pretty representative of all USAF flighters at the time.

The Air Force taught me how to fly by feel AND by numbers. I felt at one with the airplane, instead of just a passenger with controls. On the other hand, almost all USAF flying is IFR.

The first time I flew a GA aircraft after earning my USAF wings, I was struck by how difficult it was to hold a heading, altitude, etc, due to random inputs of turbulence. Aimpoint-control on landing is MUCH more difficult in a slow airplane (60 kts on final) versus a fast one (150-180 kts on final.

By the time I got out to be an airline pilot, I figured I had it all wired again. I had GA experience, and I had tons of fast fighter time.

My first airliner was the 747-200. My first 12 hours in the sim were a humbling experience. Why? I had never flown an airplane where inertia effects of the fuselage or wing (when pitching or rolling) were more significant than the aerodynamic damping of the emmpenage. Further, I was used to flying by a stick-force--amount of movement was secondary to distance-thrown. Not so in the 747, or 727. Airbus was more like what I was used to, and that's why it is still my favorite airliner to fly (plus the logical systems).

My point: Most Air Force pilots have little to no GA experience. The first few times they try it, they may make mistakes. Doesn't matter if he's a fighter or heavy-lift guy. Since most Air Force flying is IFR, many of them will make mistakes the first tew times they fly VFR, as well.

(The flip-side of that coin is also true: I had a 4500-hour RJ Captain as a T-38 student last year, and he made a lot of the same mistakes his 30-hour flight-screened buddies made).

If you're an FBO renting to a military guy, ask if he has any GA time, and how recently. THAT will be more telling of his performance than what he currently flies.