Hi Julie,
My husband is also an ex squaddie, did 24 years - 18 yrs in the Royal Artillery & 6 years with the MPSC (Glasshouse in Colchester). He has been out for 11 years now and I think pensions must have improved recently as there is no way that we could live off his pension. However, in about 3 years when he hits 55 it will increase and we are hoping that together with our civil service pensions we may just be able to afford it.
It didn't feel like a prison sentence but I certainly didn't enjoy all the times when he was away and I was left with the 4 kids and had to organise the packing, painting and cleaning for the next move! Good luck with the house buying.
Chris