Fiancé enlisting, good idea? Advice ?

Fiancé looking to enlist. He has been a chef 12 years and has his associates. Coast guard told him he would start as E-5 with 60k sign on as a culinary specialist. Goal is to obtain a BA and try to become an officer. I have a nine year old who he has raised the last 6 years and we would like to have another child soon. We plan to get married before he starts boot camp, which they said for him would only be 3 weeks.

Currently we are barely meeting ends meet. We pay high rent and cannot save. We don’t have enough for a down payment on a house yet and are hoping to take advantage of a VA loan down the line.

How would you say military wife life treats you? Does the benefits outweigh the struggles of LTR woes?

For any coast guard wives, how long do they typically deploy for?

Anyone recommend a different branch of service based off experience?