Well, I'm thinking of joining the guard, and I need some opinions. I'm a student at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, but I'm a resident of the state of FL. I plan on commissioning in the Army (active) after I graduate, but at the same time, I don't know if I want to enlist or commission. I know that I can join the guard, and go to basic and AIT and have that experience, but I don't know if I should or not. Any advice?
Thanks,
Tom

hmm, ROTC or enlisted?

I'm an active duty duty NCO.  What you wanna know?  Long and short of it is going to boil down to this: What are your goals and what path will get you there the quickest and most sucessfully.

The Army has a lot of benifits but i'm not going to sit here and tell you its the greatest instatution on earth.  To be quite honest I don't really like the Army at all.  That being said my station in life has been greatly improved since joining and for that I am thankful.

The question is what do you want or need from the Army?  Answer that and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction.

Well, I'm in ROTC now, and ultimately i want to commission (although I don't know what I want to branch...I know that it's either Infantry or Avation) I really want to know if enlisting and being in the NG as either an Infantryman, or as a helicopter repairman will help me decide what I want to commission and whether I ultamately want to enlist or commission. Thanks alot,
Tom

I am enlisted, have been for 25 years, if you are in ROTC, I can't think why you would want to enlist in the Guard.  If you want to stay in the guard, get your commission first.  If you want to go AC, get your commission first.

Everyone always wants to be infantry, well there are lots of other jobs which are just as rewarding.  Someday this war is going to end, and then it will be back to guarding the motorpool and changing pacs on the tracks because something needs done.  

If you want a job which always has employment, go EOD. There is always ordnance to be destroyed, IEDs to be rendered safe and VIP missions to be done.  The quality of people can be slightly better as everyone has a security clearance and a year long school has a tendency to eliminate lots of fools.  

Quoted: Well, I'm in ROTC now, and ultimately i want to commission (although I don't know what I want to branch...I know that it's either Infantry or Avation) I really want to know if enlisting and being in the NG as either an Infantryman, or as a helicopter repairman will help me decide what I want to commission and whether I ultamately want to enlist or commission. Thanks alot, Tom

I'm guessing you're an MS1 or MS2.  Beware that the word is that if you join AR/NG as SMP cadet, you are stuck in the Reserves after graduation.  They have shortage of officers and will not let you go active when you graduate.

You should take advantage of LTC program.  See the scenic Ft. Knox, visit Patton museum, get some tan, and see if the Army life is for you.  Too easy.