I've been a Canadian army reservist for 3 years - I've been on active duty since January and I'm going to Afghanistan in September. Quite frankly I wouldn't join the National Guard - I've worked with them and the ones I've met are fairly switched on troops (some of them were pumps but thats true of any unit), but if you want to be in the military and go overseas join the regular army.
Join the Guard and you may find yourself being forced to deploy at a time which is going to completely fuck up your real life. If you're in the regular army then that just plain is your life, but as a part timer a mandatory call up can really screw you. Believe me, I've seen it happen.
The big difference between our system and yours is that I volunteered to do a tour on the rotation of my own chosing, I wasn't compelled. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the Guard and I'd never tell someone not to join the military, but thats definately something you have to go into with your eyes open.
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