Unfortunately there is a widespread perception in the civil world that being a Flight Instructor is merely a method of building hours before becoming a people-tube driver.
In the military, only those with operational experience or, exceptionally, very high aptitude displayed at Advance Fast Jet Flying Training, are SELECTED for instructional duties. Hence the military has a very high standard of instructors.
But if you feel sufficiently motivated towards Flying Training as a career, may I wish you the very best of luck. However, as not many flying training employers have much interest in mere 'hours builders' these days, if you want to be a career FI who can offer an employer a reasonable guarantee, then you may be better placed than many....
Incidentally, 'QFI' is a military term reserved for Qualified Flying Instructors who have successfully graduated from the Central Flying School. In the civil world you are either a 'FI(R)' which means 'Flight Instructor (Restricted)' or a full Flight Instructor.
[ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]