I'm sure someone will give you a hard time for this statement but it's 100% true. The answer to the OP's question is prepare for 3 years of reserve on the Bus in senior bases and close to that on the 73.

Hopefully he or she lives in a junior base or can move to one. Otherwise flexibility is not in the cards for several years. The pay and benefits are probably worth it but don't come here without a very good child care plan. You will not be home when you need to be quite often for the first 2-3 years at best.