I feel like their is an incredible amount of opportunities in either of the branches he's considering. The chance to get almost any imaginable skill set in such a short time and follow it up with several years of actual job experience is awesome.

Chances for base housing or a housing allowance is a nice bennifit, as well as good health care.

Both branches have bases over seas and in virtually every state. As Dave said, the Middle East is almost guaranteed. But then again, Korea has been on almost everyones deployment list I know in the Army. Ask about the policies on accompanied and un-accompanied duty stations (whether he can bring you and the kids along to live there). The Corps would send you off for a year un-accompanied or give you an option for a 3 year deployment accompanied. This can be a great opportunity to see the world or it could be a long time apart. Many wives were able to get teaching jobs at the base school and many learned Japanese by immersion.

Also, don't be lulled into thinking that reserves will be a way to avoid deployments. Many of the lads over seas now are reservists and national guard. My Guard Unit was deploying to Bosnia for a year when I got out. They were offering bonuses to keep me in but even with that and Hazardous Duty pay, the pay was not enough to allow me to leave my day job for a year.