Gojack,
I wasn't meaning to attack. I was trying to state how hard it is to fly Space A. Heck, when Bullet got in, and we were stationed in the UK, I thought we could dart off around the world. Theory and reality never ever met in the 20 yrs he served.
Again, I don't want cadets thinking this is an easy process, like buying an Amtrack College student rail ticket.
The other thing to understand is once you get there, there is no guaranteed lodging. Again, it is Space A. May - August is PCS season, as an AD member there were times we were told "no room at the inn", even on PCS orders. You get it, it is still a night by night scenario.
OBTW AK and HA are considered overseas, they are not CONUS. A military member stationed, at least for the AF, in HA cannot be forced to PCS to Germany, Japan, Italy, or even HA, because it is seen as a concurrent overseas tour, that is a volunteer tour. I know I am muddying the waters, but it is important that members of this forum with no military background understand how AK and HA are not considered as CONUS, even though they are a state in the good old USA.
Yes, the thread got diverted to Space A, but at least the kids and parents understand that this option exists, but it is not all butterflies and bows.
Our DS is a military dependent, AFROTC, and no way on Earth would we let him pursue this unless he had hotels backed up along the entire route for the entire time.
Of course that might be due to the fact his Dad flew for the AF for 21 yrs and got stuck out somewhere often because his jet broke or the tanker was diverted due to weather. It happens more than we want to acknowledge.
Again, my only goal is if any poster or lurker here thinks "WOW, I can do this?" "Yes, you can, BUT..."
Janie Raincloud signing off.