Uh, ok. I think the easiest way to do this will be just to lay it out, so you can see how it actually works. Ask questions when done reading and still unclear.
1- You'll go to Indoc. You'll leave your wife/family wherever you are at that time. I don't know if you're planning active duty, guard, reserve, whatever. But you'll go to Indoc in Texas for 10 weeks- during which time you will have zero free time. None. No one's family comes down there. You need to focus on getting selected in the toughest selection course in the DOD. My wife didn't come see me graduate, and I didn't care to have her there. This is obviously your choice.
1A- Depending on your status, you'll most likely hit dive school right away. This is another month of time that is heinous. It's not fun, and you get free time taken away for very, very basic things. No discernable schedule.
2- Usually Airborne and Survival school follows; again, you will get weekends in Airborne, but not in Survival.
After these initial schools (sometimes before depending on situation) you will get PCS'd to Kirtland for the remainder of your pipeline (Paramedic, HALO, Apprentice Course). Your wife/family is stationed there with you.
So, if we are keeping track- it makes no sense to bring your wife/family to items 1 and 1A. Guys would have wives/families visit during free time, but I have no idea how many times a guy planned out plane tickets, hotels, etc. only to have the cadre get pissed and lock the team down for the weekend.
Item 2 would be just as restrictive but even more shitty- who wants to go to Columbus, GA willingly to hang out?
The bottom line is this- you aren't going to be able to buy an RV and have your wife/family traipse all over the country following you around. You aren't going to be allowed to travel in the RV. You will be roomed with another dude at every school, and there isn't any way around it. You're in "student" status for 2 years. It gets better when you get to Kirtland- but you're still gone a ton.
My thoughts? Do what every other dude with a family does. Make it work. Because if you think the pipeline is bad for "time at home with family"- well, then maybe you should consider a different career field.
