So are you seriously telling me that someone joining up since say 2000
didn't know that they would be spending long periods away? I'm all for family harmony etc, I spent long enough periods away during my service but that goes with the job. It's part of it. It's like teachers complaining that the job would be great if it wasn't for the kids, it's nonsensical.
You volunteered to do the job, you knew what it entailed, you're quite happy to take the money and pension. I can't understand why people stay in a job that they obviously dislike so much. I'm not aiming that specifically at you by the way. If you don't like it, don't do it. It's that simple.