My husband and I are both P-3 pilots, he is on his Dept Head tour, I'm finishing up my disassocated, so we're at 12 and 10 years in respectively. We're at 6 deployments (6+ month, that doesn't count various workups, detachments, and underway periods) in 9 years of marriage. My advice to help you make a decision is to plot out a timeline for both of you... You'll need to get some information on the SWO pipeline, but in general you'll know OCS = 13 weeks (right?), then off to your first 2 sea tours, which I think are 24 and 18 months (please check this with someone who knows more about the SWO path). Figure out when you might start OCS, project when you'll get to your first ship, second ship, then shore duty. Then look at where he'll be in his career (if he stays in) and what options he'll have at those points for you.
As stated above, the colo instruction does not apply while in a training status. Enlisted have more flexibility to leave a tour early for colocation, as an officer you generally need to fill your orders to achieve career milestones. Colocation, even after training, is NEVER a guarantee.
Please ask if you have more questions!
