I was a LPN and field medic in the Army about four years ago. I got out, got married, and got into pharmacy school. I'm not sure I can answer any of your questions perfectly, but I may be able to give you some ideas.
I do believe that the pharm techs in the Army had to go through the medic (91W) training first. That was 10 or so weeks in Ft. Sam Huston and was a lot of fun, for the military. I can't remember how long their AIT was, but it was much shorter then a year and usually was taught at the major hospitals for the Army (Walter Reed, San Antonio, North Carolina, and Tacoma, WA). I don't know how difficult it was, but the few pharm techs I knew seemed to go out and party an awful lot.
I knew a few at my duty station in Colorado Springs, CO as well. You will most likely be stationed in a combat support hospital CSH and spend a good deal of time not really working in a pharmacy setting. On the bright side though, the people I knew were able to get their civilian license and work on the outside during the weekends. I don't know how much they made though. Let me know if you have any questions on the military enlisted side that you think I may be able to answer.
