This tends to be a bulletin board for British pilots. If you take the time and use the "search" function, you will find a wealth of information already written. Essentially, a CPL is a licence which is required before you can be paid to fly as a crop sprayer, flight instructor etc. an ATPL is a licence that is needed before you can fly commercial airlines with fare paying passengers. and Yes, a PPL is something that one gets as a first step towards a CPL and ATPL but it's a long road!!! Obviously the Military is the cheap option otherwise you have to pay for your own training and is it worth it? depends how much you want it!