Depending on whether I actually like the National Guard I may join an active duty branch later on.

Id like to go active after college but the current admistration cut DHS's budget so theres a waiting list to go to basic (they start recruiting in 2010 again) and going active takes up to 2 years, so im hoping that changes.

waiting list to go to Basic?

I'm scheduled to go in January.

The USCG is DHs, not DOD, so we have a different budget. Right now they can't afford to take in too many people.

I just got activated today at Fort Meade, I actually get to start doing stuff.

Remind me again, what does the National Guard do?

The National Guard is the Army for inside of America while the Regular Army mainly does stuff outside of America.

They help out in Natural Disasters, fight rioters, and enforce martial law.
They also deploy overseas to do stuff that the Regular Army does as well.

It's also part time.

Fourteen years in different branches of the U.S. Army (1986 - 2000). first there was the Army Reserve (1986 - 1988). Then there was the Idaho Army National Guard (1988 - 1993) and finally the Regular Army (1993 - 2000).

Go for it. It had it's high lights and it's low points. But overall I'm glad I did it. I got to live in Germany and New York. Saw some neat stuff and got to do some neat stuff. Never saw combat though. Wouldn't lie about that. And honestly I'm not real sorry that I never experienced combat. Just the way the cards were dealt I suppose.

I've been a cop for the past nine years though. I've seen some action in this job. So there you are.

Appreciate your service Checkman.

I got my first RSP drill tomorrow, I don't know whats gonna happen.

You'll stand around in a very busy and boring sort of way. People wil shake your hand and say welcome - or something like that. You might meet your commanding officer. They will start your inprocessing. ID card, some basic uniform items, perhaps (maybe) get your weapon issued to you.

Some of the "old" veteran enlisted guys (the ones that have been in for one or two whole years) will talk shit and try to get you all nervous about basic training. You might feel left out. People love to make new guys feel left out. You'll probably listen to alot of "war" stories.

I'm sure you'll be kept busy and they should have somebody escort you around and make sure everything is getting accomplished. If not you'll probably be best off just waiting quietly for somebody to take you in tow. You might find yourself reading alot of posters and old field manuals and back issues of The Army Times and Soldier magazine. Anything is possible.

Just keep a low profile and try not to talk too much. New guys who run off at the mouth tend to make an initial poor first impression. No matter how well meaning you are or enthusiastic you are. Be quiet and flexible.

Congrats. You are in the Army and now have 5,000 bosses. ;) You'll do fine.