<p>This might not count as “objective” but my personal experience in the military is that the military has significantly higher performance standards than civilian industry (I have worked for two Fortune 500 companies, plus a couple of sole proprietorships). So, except for special circumstances, such as working for Apple Computer or Amazon, I believe that having your first job in the military will give you a much better perspective on high performance which will inform your decisions for the rest of your career. It will also give you additional training (not masters degree, remember) which could be very helpful in a civilian career. It is also likely to give you a wider perspective. You will continue to draw on your military experience for the rest of your life in a way that is rare for most civilians.</p>