[shark]

I'll add to this already good advice: Whatever guarantees that they SAY they have, make sure you get it in writing. Recruiters are professional sales people and are very good at telling prospects what they want to hear. And you should be able to enter in the Air Force as an O-3 as well. I believe everyone with doctorates of some sort (chaplains, doctors, lawyers) are commissioned into the O-3 pay grade.