How do I get the courage up to leave my husband? And is the right thing to do under the cirstances?

I have been married for nearly 6 years now. I am very unhappy! I believe in my heart that my husband has a drinking problem. He lies to me and his mother, sisters, etc about his drinking. I know when he has been drinking because his behavior changes dramatically, yet he denies it. I guess he thinks that he is putting one over on me or something? Naturally he gets very defensive when I try to talk calmly to him about it, it's just impossible! There have been MANY occasions over the years where he has left our home alone to go out and "cool off" and has been gone all night drinking! He has gotten arrested for public intox once before. I can't even tell you how many times he has come home from one of his drinking binges only to argue with me and than p out in bed until noon or one the next day. When he wakes up he either doesn't remember anything, or refuses to talk about it! His mothers, sisters etc......are getting fed up also and are starting to see exactly what I have been dealing with for nearly 7 years now. Fortunately we do not have any children and in all honesty, I refuse to have kids with someone who drinks! That is NOT the way I would want my kids to have to grow up. I am starting to feel like by constantly accepting his apologies, that I have basically let him think that his drinking is acceptable. I KNOW I don't make him drink, but he sure does try to blame me sometimes. There have been a couple of incidents where he has really lost his temper and either hit a door or wall or gotten a little physical with me (twice in 7 years). He curses and yells at me when he is drunk and now he is even starting to do it to me in front of my in-laws! I really don't want to be married to him anymore. I have to get my financial ducks in a row before I can leave. This is not meant to sound shallow, but I put my whole life with him as an Army wife first, and neglected to establish a career or get an education for myself. BIG mistake!!! I really need some solid advice here. This is not an easy situation! Should I stick it out and encourage him to go to AA or get out now? This is really a sad thing, because I know my marriage is on the brink of ending.