So I'm new to all this, So I want to start off with a couple questions.
1) Is joining the Air force very beneficial to becoming a commercial or airline pilot?
2) If so what can I do to guide myself into that path?
3) Does every college provide ROTC?
4) How can I become a commissioned pilot
5) Are there other ways to become an airline or commercial pilot of any sort
Dchoi,
Welcome to the forums. Lots to be learned here on all the questions you've asked, and since you're new here and pretty young, I would recommend you're first step would be become familiar with the "search" function, especially for questions 2 - 4; Pretty basic and general question that have been asked (and answered) dozens of times before. After that search? Well, come back here with any more questions you may have on more specific areas. We'll gladly help!
But you ask a couple of questions on how being an AF pilot (or military pilot in general) can help you become a airline pilot in the future. I have dozens of friends who went that route (military pilot to commercial pilot), so let me provide some insight.
The Airlines are looking for folks with hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of flight time when they are hiring. How do you get those hours? Basically two choices: either get the hours on your own (and pay for them yourself, which will cost you TENS of thousands of dollars), OR join the military as a pilot and have UNCLE SAM pay for those hours (and pay you to get them). But remember, Uncle Sam doesn't like to give anything away for free, AF pilots have a service commitment of 10 years once they complete pilot training.
So, those are the basics of each path. I will say that the airlines will hire guys straight out of the military for the larger carriers and larger birds. Most civilian pilots at the start of their careers are getting hired by the Regional carriers to fly their smaller turbo prop puddle jumpers (think 12 - 15 passengers between two hole-in-the-wall local airports), and they are paid MISERABLY for it (between $25K - $30K annually). They are taking these low paying, small plane jobs to build up their flight time so they can later go fly for the bigger airlines on bigger planes.
A little secret: many military pilots are being hired by the bigger airlines, but start off on their regional carriers as well for very little money as well.
So really, the choice is: do it by yourself, paying a lot of money while making very little money until you get enough experience to fly the bigger jets for the bigger airlines, or join the service to get that experience, but sign you life away for 10 years minimum (which doesn't include the year in pilot training, so it is 11 years minimum).
Nothing wrong with having an ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot, and going the military route to get there. But Reaper was simply reminding you that there will be a LOT of steps in that military route, each with their own challenges. Have that ultimate goal, but focus on getting those first steps right, which for you are getting commissioned in the AF with a pilot training slot. Again, search these threads for that route and the challenges along the way.
Best of luck to you!
Bullet