[theFONZ]

Don't get hung up on being an officer. They may get paid more (unless you get bonuses and special pays :-) but they have to deal with a lot more BS and politics. The military is not what it was years ago, a Sergeant or Petty Officer has tons of responsibility and they are the ones that make the mission happen. As far as pay goes, a mid level enlisted rank lives quite comfortably.

Everyone thinks they want to be an officer, but I think that's usually either a romantic notion from a bygone era, or because they want to get paid more.

With his degree, he will come into the Air Force as a E3, get E4 a couple years later and be eligible for E5 a year or so after that.

I'd tell him to pick a job he wants to do and pursue that. Rank, pay, and all that is secondary.