I've wanted to serve as a pilot my entire life. What's the best route?

When I was a kid, Top Gun came out, and I just knew that I had to be a pilot. Got accepted to a High School for aviation sciences. Ended up at the Naval Academy, decided to go Marine Infantry. Had an accident, was told that the only thing I was physically qualified for was Surface Warfare. Had an absolutely great time, and loved it. My point is... your goal should be to serve, the specific job comes next. Always have a plan, and a back up plan.

The problem with the academies is what you become at the end isn't a slam dunk. Stuff happens, numbers game, you name it. The AF is desperate for aviation fresh meat. The other thing that makes you marketable is aviation experience that makes your likelihood of success more apparent. Make sure you don't have any aviation disqualifiers. You can Google those.

First of all you want to have the heart for military service and leadership as an officer...you will be an officer first then your specialty. THEN...after soul searching...I would look into Air Force ROTC programs at universities and start applying now. The Air Force is coming into a pilot deficit and will be in the next several years which may help your chances but your test scores on AFOQT etc help determine that. Recruiters will tell you to go enlisted first then officer. It works but more times than not it doesn't. Talk to a AFROTC, Navy ROTC, or Army ROTC recruiters versus just your run of the mill recruiters at the strip malls...they have quotas to fill for enlistees and willtry to talk you into enliting first whereas the ROTC folks at universities will fill you in on the ROTC opportunities.