My advice...if you're not totally committed to the military they will probably sus it out during the interview...having said that if I had my druthers again I would pursue the military simply because I started my first job in aviation when I was 27 and the reality is you do have time at age 27-30 yrs old (granted the earlier you start it's often better, but a lot depends on the individual) to continue a career outside the military...plus the training is second to none and it's free...excepting for return of service.
Failing that my next best advice is to go to uni but not for a degree in aviation (you wouldn't buy shares in just one company you would spread the risk so why would you seek to be so specialised in aviation)...do something else so that if it doesn't work out you have something real to fall back on...then do your CPL etc.
Next is to go down the direct route whereby you complete CPL as well as ATPL subjects...maybe even get your instrument rating, multi engine...then hightail it west, north or wherever you can get a job...don't p#%% around sitting around waiting for a job to come up in the airport just down the road from you.
My reasons for suggesting these ways is because a lot of airlines could care less if you have an aviation degree, granted they do like to see some form of higher education hence do something outside of aviation that gives you options.
GA is a great teacher about the beginnings of what command is all about...it has it's limitations though (the airlines will spend some time untraining some of the things learnt in GA)...so the sooner you can move on the better...instructing reinforces theory learnt in flight school and it has it's limitations as well...unless of course you like GA or instructing in which case that's fine.
Food for thought and sounds like your doing the right thing seeking as much advice as possible and then deciding what's best for you.
My last bit of advice is to sit down and have a good think why you are about to embark on this choice of career...it's easy to say I love flying and if were only that easy I would say go for it we need keen and motivated pilots coming through the ranks to support the industry...but aviation as a career in it's own way is a poisoned chalice...keep asking questions.
Last edited by E&H; 3rd Oct 2011 at 05:37.