A lot of good points here. My two cents... I've accomplished some pretty cool things in my life that I could take pride in, but nothing compares to having served my country. It's not an "I've got nothing better to do" type of commitment. Having said that, you don't know where the ride will take you. You might join thinking "fighters or bust" and discover you want something else come selection time. Or, you might not get your choice. It's about your work ethic, aptitude, and a healthy dose of luck. Some who join thinking it's just a route to the airlines stay for a long career, and some who join for a career leave at the first chance. You'll be associated with the finest people you'll ever be around. The military is a large bureaucracy that will probably break your heart... repeatedly. Flying is not your primary job once you hit "the fleet". One last thing about training. I'm not the most gifted aviator around by any stretch, but most of the guys going through training when I did found it difficult. Attrition in the sea services probably runs around 20% and I've heard it's even higher in the AF. However, once you've got your wings, checkrides in the USN/USMC tend to be pretty laid back.

Just my experience.