For me, yes. People gain a maturity from experiences like that, and that's something I look for - maturity and experience. Not just the ability to whack on a keyboard all day. Better still if you can apply your Boyd to the problem.

As for PG, he seems like a bit of a softy. I'm not sure how it'd go over with him.

Personally, if you were a marine and have some technical chops I don't see why you need anyone else's help. Or why you should give up any of your company.