Federal military service commitment is 8 years total. Part of that can be active, part can be reserve, part can be individual ready reserve (meaning you live a normal civilian life until the military really really needs you back.

Army commitment is 4 years Active. After flight school you 6 more years Active, meaning you'll still owe about a year left to uncle Sam but could leave. Any time during that 8 years uncle Sam can change the contrat.

Army ROTC won't gaurentee you a flight slot, so you could very well wind up leading an Infantry Platoon. You can take ROTC as an elective to try it out and then apply for a 3 or 2 year scholarship. If you wait until you are already on campus, however, you may miss out on the chance to get free room and board. Flight time for Captains and Lieutenants could vary from 0 hours per year to 110 hours per year to over 600 hours. All depends on your unit, your "real job," and if you are in combat or recovering from combat. Fixed wing is possible, but a very low probability of getting it... I'd say 1 in 200.

If you want to serve your country, fly in the Army, earn a salary high enough to pay off your student loans, and gain valuable flight experience that WILL help you get into the airline industry provided the airlines are hiring, the you want to talk to a recruiter about becoming a WARRANT OFFICER. If you pass the aptitude test and physical you can go straight from Basic, to Warrant officer candidate school, and to flight school. If I could go back to my college days that's what I'd do. Captains and Lieutenants in teh army are aviation managers that fly, not pilots.

Oh, and Military Service is a Stepping Stone to a Civilian Career, regardless of what some Navy Studs would have you believe.