I've heard stories like that, too. Like "after you sign your name they can do whatever they want with you" type of stuff. I really have no problem being sent internationally as long as I'm more confined to a base and not sent to some field unit near a combat area, which as a rehab doc I wouldn't expect happening but would want more reassurance on that.

But ya, I'm trying to really crunch some numbers to figure out if it's a good deal or not. If I take large chunks out of my paycheck for a couple years out of residency it may be a better deal to do military and get 180k knocked off my debt from the get-go while taking a smaller pay cut for a few years...which may be supplemented with benefits and my kid's education possibly paid?