"My mate "
Sounds like a sandwhich spread.
ADF pay rates are available on line to everyone who wants to look - unlike industry!
Most pilots are FLTLT / CAPTAIN rank or the ADF equivalent.
A$100K plus up to 28% gross pension contrib by employer (after 20 odd years) plus housing and medical dental is standard. No biggy. ATC get up to about $90.
Life is short. As Mel Brookes said sort of - Jump around flap your arms and makes lots of noise as you are a long time dead!
Mil flying is an unequalled oppoprtunity in life. No one does it forever!! As someone who swopped an MG midget for a Jet provost straight from the box, and two concurrent girlfriends, - believe me youth is there to be enjoyed. Dont get sucked into pension plans and Net $$ s straight off the bat - live a little. For that the Mil is a very good vehicle. Join, learn , mature, fly (up to mach two with no fines by the way) and later when youve "grown up" or succumbed to lives essentials - wife, 2 kids mortgage, dog, stability etc etc - if desirable - leave. If you havrent done 250+ knots at 250 and below at 19 dont knock it.!!Beats a Porsche outright anyday!
BD