I was a rotor guy from the Army and got on with a regional back in 2001 (yes I'm Old). As you might imagine I was almost immediately furloughed after 9/11......6 months later they called me back but I didn't go. Fortunately I had a better flying job in hand. They tried to come after me for the training contract since I was under a year of employment. I told them to **** off. As far as I was concerned they had fired me (furloughed) and I had zero responsibility to pay that money back. I never heard from them again. The point is, they will come looking for the money even when they know its not owed to them. In your case I'm quite certain they will be persistent in looking for repayment since it will have been your decision to break the contract.

Good Luck to you. As others have said, do what makes you happy!