Cocky is not good. That is true, but don't confuse it with experience.
Military pilots are by far superior because every day of their career they go through selection at tremendous pressure and fast pace.
Civis fly at their own pace, retake checkrides if needed and get lost in a paper bag.
The airlines hire civis only because they have to, but if your brother is an airline recruiter he will tell you that he if he could he would only hire mil. guys.
Nothing personal, don't freak out, don't swear at me and don't let your fragile egos down - it is just the exposure to hard training and constantly flying and working at a 100%.