sounds like an interesting decision. best of luck.
one thing to keep in mind is that 200k probably means more like 100k after taxes. that only leaves you about 20k overhead after you pay your student loans. just something to think about.
A friend of mine did this kind of work. He worked for KBR as some kind of contractor (in the green zone, out of the field). He said he grossed 216k in one year, 80k tax free. He also said that because he was always in the same location and working 12/hrs day, meals free, room free, he spent very little of what he earned. This was 2007, and he was ex-military, so mmv.
one thing to keep in mind is that 200k probably means more like 100k after taxes. that only leaves you about 20k overhead after you pay your student loans. just something to think about.