maybe I can provide a little incite in to military life, I am active duty navy so i do not know first hand what the other services are like but i have worked with some of these guys on JTF missions and I can tell you this much, If you want to go guard be sure you are ready to go to Iraq, Afghanistan and/or Djibouti. You will be (not maybe) mobilized over and over again. I went to a training seminar with a NG Sargent who said since 9/11 he has been activated something like 9 times. Luckily in his civilian he works for a government contractor so they being activated does not affect his employment. He told me many of his brothers in arms have lost their jobs or were pass up for promotions or demoted because they are gone so much and they have become "guard bums" now seeking orders to anything just to pay the rent. National public radio did a piece on this not to long ago and they said not only jobs are being lost but also marriages are being ended and houses are being foreclosed. I am not saying to not join, in fact I am seriously considering joining after I get out of the Navy, All I am saying dont be surprised one month after OCS or boot you are getting called up.
Military service is great whether active or reserve but I personally think that the national guard has no business overseas. I signed up to fight all wars both foreign and domestic, the national guards mission is to defend our nation on our soil, aid in disaster relief and in declared states of emergency (IE large scale riots.)
PLEASE remember everything the recruiter tells you is a lie unless you see it in writing in your contract. Sometimes even in your non-mobilization agreement they may try to slip in something about it is not applicable if they need you to meet the needs of the army or in a time of war. If anything wait until 2009 when we get a new president, which will most likely be a democrat, the odds of activation of the depleted reserve and guard will be very slim.

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AAT, Electromechanics, Excelsior College 2007
BS, Political Science, Excelsior College 2008
MSSL, Strategic Leadership, Mountain State (currently enrolled) 2009