You can also do what I did. But if you ask me, I wouldn't do it again! I went to a "normal" college for two years while repeatedly trying to get accepted at the USAF Academy. My Congressman was an ass, so I finally got a nomination on the third try. Your school is paid for, and they have gobs of pilot training slots every year (except maybe 94-96 from recent memory). I only finished in maybe the top 70%, but still got to go fly. Fantastic education and certain job security in both civil & mil job sectors if it turns out you lose your Class 1 physical. That diploma is worth a lot to most employers.

All of this being said, I would do the Guard/Reserves if I did it all over again, but that was some magic secret that nobody in my "generation" seemed to know about at the time. I'm in the ANG now, and you can't beat it.

And one more thing--with the ANG/Res you know what you're going to fly after UPT. With Active Duty, life is a box of chocolates...

Probably not. But I still wouldn't do it the same way again!

Yes, it's too late.

Now it's "managing" the system and letting the "magic" work for ya

Active duty wouldn't bother me in the least bit if I got to fly fighters or bombers, or if the chances were very good that I would be able to.

I still haven't gotten a definite answer on how the selection is made for what you fly for active duty.

I have heard all of the benefits of reserves before, but I don't know if my mcchord or fort lewis have fighter squadrons, I thought only c130s?

I live in washington state.

Well this part is pretty easy:
1) Needs of the service
2) Performance
3) Personal choice

USMCFLYR

thanks usmc flyer! and all the others. All of this is very helpful. I am still weighing the advantages to the air force and civilian flying. My hours so far and family friends will be able to help me get ahead in commercial flying, but flying high performance airplanes seems like an experience that I might regret later in life if I don't do it.

Ft Lewis being Army has no AF flying units. McChord is all C-17s, both reserve and active. Portland though, does have ANG F-15s, as well as Reserve Helos (can't remember if they lost their Hercs or not)

no helo's at pdx. was rescue 130's and 60's, then 135s, no closed. Only the ANG 15s are there. Fairchild has ANG 135's (associate). McChord has c-17s. That's it for WA.

Ok, so I've gotten a lot of great replies, and I'm sorry if this question has already been answered, but its hard to analyze all of this, ha.

What would be the best plan for me that would give me the greatest odds of flying some sort of combat aircraft (fighter or bomber)? Reserves sound great, but if active duty will yield better odds of flying fighters, then it might be military life for me. :)