[craigepo]

Astronomy's take is spot-on. Another plus to joining the guard if you get out: Once out of the active duty army, you are re-entering civillian life with only what you have in your head and your moving van. Your active-duty friends are scattered all over hell and creation. Many of your old high school/college era friends are gone, or have no idea what you have experienced in life, with a result that you don't have a hell of a lot in common with anybody. Moreover, your income stream can decrease to a trickle.

Conversely, many of the guard guys are very tied-in in their communities and vocations, are quite successful in their new careers, and have been to many of the same places as you. It's sort of like the idea of a masonic lodge, in that you go somewhere absolutely foreign, walk in, and you almost automatically have a bunch of new friends. Additionally, guard guys have been off active duty for a while, so you can go borrow their crap that they have that you never needed while on active duty.

Big plus---guard guys have the best intel on hunting/fishing/outdoors stuff. Our team did an annual "movement to contact" weekend, complete with shotguns, quail, bird dogs, and beer and chow.