not a military guy but have buddies who are. I would pick (if avail) a busy VIP platform aka C-21 or heavy civilian cargo equivalent that is busy, aka KC-10, C-135, C-40/P-8 platform and see the world and build hours. Try to become IP or Stan/Eval pilot in said busy platform to make yourself "needed"

I think "cargo and pax" (especially VIP's) will always need air transport (job security for you) while some of the combat platforms (A-10 situation) may have reduced utilization or fleet reduction. Not sure how many hours annually an F-35 or F-22 guy is gonna get. Compared to a guy flying a cargo platform.

I am talking future, not today. aka - what platform if my question is : "I want to fly as much as possible for next 10-15 years in the military" and "after the military I want to fly for the airlines"

Just my opinions

Ultimately someone's gonna fly them. Might as well be you!

Yeah because no one else wants to. Seriously.

Never forget you will be first and foremost a Marine Officer. Next a Marine Aviator and way down the list...whatever platform you fly.

If you are going to the Marines just to be a pilot you're making a big mistake.

Opt for the Air National Guard instead.

True statement.

So it's like the cockpit visibility, alpha and turn performance of an F-4 but slower and with stealth?

I hate to say this but I think I'd think I'd rather fly the hornet over that "fighter".

"My Grandmama wants to fly jets!"

Can't believe nobody beet me to it. But seriously, fighters have a very specific mission profile. I flew helicopters and turboprop airplanes. I did everything from medevac and firefighting to VIP transport. Looking back now, I would not change that for anything. Now I fly rubber dogsh!t out of Hong Kong on the 747.

There are some who want to fly that very specific profile.
There is time in life later for many of the other types of flying; often that type of flying is a once in a life time opportunity.
I like my flying/job that I am doing now too, but like you, I look back and wouldn't have given up that opportunity for anything.

De La Ghetto,
Good Luck in your goal to fly the F-35, however, It is extremely difficult to get there so be prepared for other options. I always did well in school, College was easy, and even finished the first year in Law School (which was also easy to me) Then I decided to pursue a dream to fly in the Air Force and hopefully fighters. I showed up at UPT with a private Pilot's license so it should be a "breeze" right? WRONG!!!! They kicked my ass and my entire class's ass all over the place for a year straight! we started with over 65 students and graduated 25, with 2 fighter assignments! some aspiring fighter pilots puked all over the place on their first flights in the T-37 and couldn't handle it. One guy's brain turned to mush when he put on his helmet and O2 mask, started getting claustrophobic! One guy who was valedictorian of his high school class, finished college in 3 years and graduated top cadet at OTS was washed-out in 6 weeks because the IP's quickly realized that he had so much success in his academic pursuits that he didn't handle failure too well. So they tested him by screwing things up on him, and because he had never failed before, he had a real hard time overcoming minor screw-ups which lead to major screw-ups which messed with his head and "POOF" he's gone! So to sum it up, pursue your goal one step at a time, and be happy if you graduate and fly a military aircraft, because its an elite fraternity, and if you get that F-35 you'll know you'd be the best of the best!

By that time, you might also get a UAV.

Yeah, but you can get an air medal sitting in a trailer 13,000 miles away dropping bombs by remote control.