Edit : After reading the comments, it seems like I made the post a little vague. I have been aspiring to join the armed forces (ARMY) since my school times. I applied to Sainik school and RIMC during school times, where I was rejected in interview in Sainik School Ghorakhal and medical out from RIMC. I have appeared fro SSBs 3 times and been recommended in all 3: 2x NDA and 1x AFCAT.
After getting medically rejected in NDA(army) I took an alternate route and after my graduation, stared a job because the medical was a Permanent Rejection for army. After 2 years of corporate, one of my friends was exploring career paths, and was not very confident when I asked him to appear for CDS and AFCAT. To boost his morale, I said I will also appear for the exams with him, although I have already been medically rejected.
Comes to today, the friend cleared AFCAT and CDS exams, could not make it through SSBs. I could not appear for the CDS exam as I was out of station, but cleared everything in AFCAT including the medicals. I was looking forward to joining the flying branch, but missed the DOB by 1 day, so AE(L) is my 1st priority now.
While waiting for the merit, I appeared for a few interviews in a few companies where I got some offers, which include the above offer from a reputed company, and now I am in a dilemma because:
IAF:
Wanted to fulfil my childhood dream, could not make it to army but maybe will get the same kick if I join the IAF. I always fascinated by SF, but timelines of GARUD are not feasible for me because of expected marriage timelines, so will opt out of Garud.
Want to change the trajectory of my family by joining the IAF, with the discipline and the lifestyle it provides, that gets translated to the entire family tree.
This will be the last attempt to join the Armed forces, can come back to corporate any time in future
Corporate:
Will be available for the family because my younger sibiling was also selected as an IAS and will not be readily available fro the family, and my mother does need constant attention due to her medical condition. I have a WFH job, and am always available as of now.
Will be able to settle my education loans and medical loans much sooner as compared to IAF.
I have multiple friends who are officers in the army, and almost ALL OF THEM have suggested me to continue in corporate as the army is all sunshine from the outside, but a few years in and I might see the mudpile. Coporate will help me retire sooner by building that safety net sooner, but I would miss on the prestige that I talked about.
Since I have literally 0 connections in the Air Force, I have had no perspective from anyone in the IAF. If anyone has relatives/friends or themselves in the IAF, what are their views ?