NOTE: sorry if this is posted, i have a slow computer and searches are rather aggravating.

I leave for BMT March 23rd for PJ. I would like to get engaged and get married before I PCS to Kirtland so my lady can come with. I don't have money for a ring now and she doesn't want to just go get a marriage license and have a ceremony later(which i've been advised of). I would like to propose when she comes to my BMT graduation.

My question is: could i get married possibly in between graduating indoc and starting SCUBA? I would like her to PCS to Kirtland with me, no matter what it takes. If anyone can tell me the best way of going about this or give me pointers on how I can make it happen it would greatly appreciated. Also, info on the negatives (i.e., if you get married to late, she wont come with you) or anything I might need to know. ANY info is appreciated.

That’s a lot of unnecessary duress you are putting on yourself and your potential future spouse. You will be hard pressed to plan on any specific month, week or day for the wedding to happen. There is no best way of going about it as your legal obligation is to report to training as scheduled.

There is no best way of predicting downtime between courses as the AF puts considerable effort to ensure minimal not-in-training-days exist between courses. Indoc courses typically end a few days before the first pipeline course begins.

Marriage is beast in itself , then in the military and then the pipeline I would save myself the headache of all the drama with planning a wedding until I can get settled. You love her now and you will love her then.Believe me you will be doing a lot of running around from the pipeline schedule and that takes a toll on people I seen a lot of people do less stressful jobs get married right away to keep them from being separated and that just made things worse. The main thing is focus you dont want that added pressure on yourself with all the extra stress you will be dealing with in the pipeline. I havent been in the pipeline but in the military alone its stress and on the other hand with you, you dont really have control of your schedule so that makes it even harder.

The best option is to do the quick justice of peace so she can PCS with you to Kirtland. She will stay where she's at until then.

As Yukon said, there is little time for even a quick marriage in the pipeline and no time to plan and conduct a full blown wedding.

A buddy of mine in the cct pipeline had about a month wait in between selection course and ATC. So while they do try to put them close together sometimes it doesnt happen. When will i find out my exact schedule of school dates? and is it completely set or tentative?

and thanks for your help guys

According to your post history you are a PJ applicant. The CCT pipeline requirements differ considerably from the PJ pipeline requirements, ie., Military Freefall and Combat Diver courses. This means not only is there more required training on your plate after completing the INDOC course but also gives sequence of training options not available in the CCT pipeline.

Furthermore the Department of the Air Force is never happy with 30-days not in training situation for members in required training for award of AFSC. I’m sure the CCT functional managers had to explain why it happened (presuming it was a class situation and not an individual situation) and were directed to take steps to ensure this does not happen very often, if not being given make sure it doesn’t happen again marching orders. Yes it happened, but I wouldn’t bet on a snow balls chances of being in a very hot place for long on such a situation and circumstances existing for your convenience of getting married in the PJ training pipeline.

You also are ignoring ten weeks is considerably longer to successfully complete than two weeks or four weeks. A lot can happen or change during 8½ weeks of BMT immediately followed by 10 weeks of Indoc.

everything you said is very true yukon. now the only thing that i'm still curious about is my last question i stated above about getting your schedule and how permanent it is.

I doubt any schedule will be disclosed to you until the earliest of you reporting to Indoc. My best educated guess is such info is not available to students until the last week or two of the Indoc course as these applicants remaining at this point are the most likely to successfully complete the Indoc course (I could be wrong, it has become a kinder and gentler Air Force since I retired).

Just because I'm getting kind in my old age I emailed a long time friend who is cadre at Indoc. Here’s his reply:

thank you yukon. i appreciate all of your help. Im pretty sure we're gonna do the quick justice of the peace, then have the real ceremony later. again thank you.

Hey, my name is Jennifer, and i am Nick's (PX_Crusader_07) girlfriend, soon to be fiance'and then wife! I have been reading these posts and it has brought a lot of information to the table, but also, made me realize what i think is best. So thank you for that!
Here is my input from a female/girlfriend on standby persepective on being married before, during, or after the PJ training/schooling. I personally would rather get married before because you actually have a set date and not have to worry about something coming up last minute or not being allowed to have the weekend off because of someone misbehaving. I feel that trying to figure out plans and schedules while Nick is away training, our conversations will be brief, and also few making it hard to plan a wedding that will be what he likes as well. Waiting until afterwards will be hard on me, and any wife/girlfriend i am sure, and would be worse having to wait.Not to mention the obvious economical incentive/ convenience to being married before he is "PCS'd" to whatever base. SO in my personal opinion i would rather marry before, and CHOOSE to go through the training/schooling with him because i love him that much. It's all subjective to your wants and individual choice Have a blessed day!

This is far off because I'm not mentally or physicaly prepared for pararescue but I'm trying to get my ducks in a row. All information will be appreciated. My girlfriend of 4 years doesn't like the length of time pararescue training requires. I've seen others say your lady can get sent to kirtland afb when you get there. I know indoc is boot camp style, my question is : Is the remainder of the course this way?When I get to Kirtland Will I go home at the end of the day and weekends? Honestly, I think it better if she stayed home in GA because of the amount of focus this career requires but I would just like to know my options.

Thanks- Andrew

Andrew,
The Air Force will pay to move your spouse and household goods to Kirtland when you PCS there. They won't pay for girlfriends, fiances, etc. Pararescue Trainees go home at the end of the day and weekends when they are doing academic training. Academic periods are often punctuated by field exercises that won't permit Trainees to come home for a few days or more at a time.

The other schools prior to Kirtland are short duration and high intensity, so I would not recommend anyone trying to link up with their significant other while attending them.

If your relationship isn't strong enough to hack the separation period in the first year of training, there is little hope you will remain together when you get to a Team. You will be gone about half of any given year for the rest of your career, maybe more. Consider this fact when you decide what you want to do with your future.

Thanks for the input. I've been taking all this into consideration. I heard Pj's had shorter deployments but everyone on here says different. What about guard Pj's? Are their deployments just as long?