Don't go guard. You will wish you went active. I am active currently stationed out of Ft. Carson, Co, which rocks btw. We are deployed to Diwaniya, Iraq currently and I am having an awesome time. With guard, you don't get nearly the benifits and basically no pay but still get all the risks of deploying. Don't listen to the people that say you won't deploy. With Iraq and Afganistan, and the increasing sit in N. Korea. You will deploy. Keep that mindset. Don't think if. You could somehow never do it, but just go into it thinking you will.

If you want some life changing experiences, a good career option, then any branch is a good option. It has been a fun ride. I will prolly get out when my contract ends in 2012 but I have no regrets.

If you want to enlist, I suggest do it quickly. With the economy going down, enlistment bonuses are going away. Don't do it for the cash but it is nice, lol. I got 24k. The pay is decent and even better oversees.

As others said, do it for the right reasons, not the money and the uniform. The uniform isnt even close to cool looking. Now the combat shirts, they are cool, lol.

Oh, and a good recruiter will help you no matter what. They will also lie to you, lol. Be careful on that one. Basic was so easy and ait is even easier. I am a 63B(light wheel mechanic).

If you, then good luck, I wish you the best, and welcome to the few that do what we do willingly.