Most people try not to...

I have seen several fatalities amongst my friends and associates in both military and civilian aviation. My military background is navy/usmc so we have the added risks associated with carrier aviation involved.

All of the civilians were in 91 operations. 121 ops are probably 100 or 1000 times safer...if you can get through the 91/135 phase into 121 turbojets, you have no significant risk compared to your next door neighbor the accountant.

The advantages of military fixed-wing are:

1) Training is provided at no cost.
2) Salaries are $50-150K, vice $10-40K for entry-level civilians.

For the same risk level, the military pays a lot better.

OK, to be brutally honest (because I've been drinking), my military buddies who died were all f&cking off in the airplane...sad but true.