Thanks so much for the information and the advice. I greatly appreciate it. That's what I love about this site, great information with very little guess work. I think that very well could be the best course of action waiting until I'm at CPC before potentially pursing the pilot route as well.
I'd say that is a good idea because with CPC you get career status. The provisions of USERRA would still protect you as a developmental though. I met someone in a similar situation to yours. Active duty ATC who was picked up for both the FAA and a pilot slot in the ANG. She went to the academy, graduated, picked her facility but never actually inprocessed there. She started her officer/pilot training a few days after the academy, and after that was on Title 10 orders flying missions. Not sure if she still is flying or has gone back to the FAA, but her job was protected. Also, the five year limit on protections rarely applies to Title 10 orders these days because of the perpetual state of "war" we are in. It should state that on both your orders and DD214 once off orders. I'm not sure how they handle training orders. Initial training is supposed to also be exempt from the time limit but I'm not sure how they define that. Regardless, it's not going to take you five years to finish pilot training.