The recommendation you have for me in your conclusion is the path I am most leaning towards. I have a question: Let's say I did not get an appointment to USNA but I received an NROTC scholarship (as an AFROTC freshman at CC) and accepted it for my sophomore year. Will this in any way affect my position in the NROTC pilot pipeline? Would me joining NROTC as a sophomore instead of a freshmen have any impact on me receiving a pilot slot through NROTC? I understand that in NROTC for pilot selection, you must take certain tests that are aviation specific as well as other requirements (that I am unaware of, and are why I am asking this question). Thank you for your time.
The way to compete for a NROTC scholarship while in college is to join a unit as a college programmer (without a scholarship, excel, and "pick up" a scholarship that would be awarded. A few years ago candidates could reapply for the NROTC national scholarship from college if they didn't win it in HS, but confirm as I believe that is no longer an option. Others can correct me if reapplying to the national scholarship while in college is again a thing.
I believe you're discussing joining AFROTC at your community college, and competing there for an ICSP - in college scholarship with your cross-town detachment to your community college. You while in AFROTC can reapply to both USAFA and USNA, giving you three potential paths to commission and serve. Of course there's OCS or enlistment if none of that works out for you as well.
If you opt to move to a four year school as a sophomore, you could either start over in NROTC or move forward in your second year in AFROTC - if both programs are offered at that school.
One note of caution - you seem very determined to be a pilot and to be an officer - you may do both in your lifetime, but you may not have the opportunity to be an officer AND pilot for the military - service selection is all about the needs of the service vs your wants. There are no guarantees. So be aware if you sign up and commit to be an officer and you may end up on a ship, on a sub, a pilot, cyber,, a SEaL, etc. etc. that's a risk you'll take - army and Marines offer "guaranteed" aviation contracts but Navy Option Navy and Air Force typically do not. But the "guaranteed" aviation contract holders have to pass all physicals, meet all standards, so that's not really a "guarantee" either.
Do some research on the ASTB-E battery of examinations for pilot candidates to learn more about that. Research tier majors in the navy and the role they play in service selection. Research the impact that solid evals/ recommendations/ GPA have on service selection options. Learn about summer cruises in the NROTC or USNA and opportunities to network with officers in your desired community on campus, and through those cruises. Research USAFA/ AFROTC opportunities to get flight experience prior to commissioning. Again, develop a core in calc-based physics and calculus if you intend to pursue Navy.
I'm going to largely stay out of the "is getting flight experience before heading to Pensacola worth it" lively discussion but I will say this - be eager to get experience and knowledge- this is not a video game or simulator. Every year in the global fleet and in flight training schools, too often, people perish in air accidents caused by pilot error or inexperience Recently at liberty university from pilot error that killed a student and CFI, a couple of years ago in a civil air patrol pilot error from a young woman pushing to solo too soon to get her PPL so she would have something to brag about in a beauty pageant. There was the USAFA cadet and his buddy who also perished flying his private plane through I don't remember if that was pilot error. The list goes on and on. So get as much training as you can so that when a problem happens it's muscle memory and you survive surprises when they happen, or if a bad approach angle presents you have the knowledge to "go around". Some programs let you solo very quickly - it's just you up there getting the plane back on terra firma safely. You'll also simply learn if you like it - not everyone who thinks they will, does.
OK - good luck to you.
There are bold pilots, and old pilots, but seldom are there old, bold pilots