Spot on.
I spent two years in the "suck" as contractor (non-IT).
There are inherent risks with any job. Understanding and evaluating those risks and basing your decisions on that evaluation is the key.
With greater risk comes greater reward.
A lot of people came over with the expectations that they would be living in hotels, dorms etc and were shocked when they ended up in a modified shipping container with a bunk bed and a fat smelly roommate.
What I missed was privacy. Being in a small office with 4 other people 12 hours a day 7 days a week and then sharing a hooch doesnt allow for much privacy.
I learned a lot about myself in those two years. Sitting in a bunker while mortars fall around you gives you some time for personal reflection. I also saw parts of the world that most people never will. And yes, I did make some cash.
Its also a great conversation starter (yes chicks dig it!). People love to talk about it, and I have hours of stories and thousands of pictures to go along with my experience.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Would i recommend it? Depends on the person. Not everybody is built to handle it. The stress, the austerity, the separation from family can do crazy things to people.