With the low number of pilot slots I'm not sure if the Air Force or Navy are even taking applications off the street. This means you may have to go through either the Academy or ROTC.
Another thought, you can apply to get into the Academy up to the age of 21. A 26 on the ACT isn't going to cut it for the Academy. Consider retaking the ACT, need to score 30 or higher to be competitive, and then go through the process of getting a nomination from your Representative or Senator. If you get in the value is well over half a million. Also, you will start from scratch, meaning year 1 of college all over again; none of your current classes will count. Just an option though a possibility. The other half of this though remains the age cut-off. If you get into Colorado Springs at 21, graduate at 25 you should be able to get pinned an aviator by 26.5. Another great question to ask.
Both the Air Force and the Navy have recruiters just for Aviation. These are not the slimy recruiters most of us dealt with when we went into infantry, or armor in my case. These recruiters do nothing but guide and groom potential candidates into pilot slots. They are given quotas they need to hit, thus they NEED to get qualified candidates into these spots. Again, this may have changed for 'off the street' applicants though the ROTC liaisons are going to be pretty high speed.
Another thing, expect to be told 'no' many times. They are going to discourage you to see if you are serious. In the corporate world I now work in there are many stories of hassling high end candidates to see what they are made of.
I once placed an attorney with one of the top Fellowships in the US out of Boston. This candidate was one of nine out of over 500 applicants selected to fly to Boston for final interviews. They flew her out, and of course then flew her home. On the return flight they put her on a plane from Boston to Wash DC, then on stand-by to Nashville. Stand-by meaning, she didn't have a guaranteed seat. Adding to the drama, this was literally Christmas eve.
The candidate called me up somewhere between pissed off and in tears about the fact she may not be getting home in time for Santa Claus. My first question was 'you didn't call them did you?!' Her answer, "Hell yes I did!" She called them up, whined and moaned, threw in a couple digs at the scheduling secretary then asked if they had suggestions on what to do. Unbeknownst to her....this was the final exam: How do you handle stressful situations? Needless to say, she failed to receive a $500,000 fellowship. Sucks to be a wimp.
When I tried to get into Naval Aviation I feel for the first 'no' they threw may way. I deserved to not fly F-14s. What kind of a wuss lets someone tell you no?! If you want to be a fighter pilot you had better be ready to politely, professional and with tack...tell all of them to get the hell out of your way. Kill them with determination. Let them say no 50 times, and be ready to find another way to get a yes.
I'm working with a premier JROTC program right now and see these events regularly. Don't give up.
boo
PS With your B's in math one of the first questions I would ask an ROTC officer is their advice on retaking the classes. You will be competing with people who scored A's.
