Here are two important lessons about joining the Army. (Strictly FYI, it's not what the topic is asking for really.)
#1. When/if you take the ASVAB test, DO NOT settle for anything less than a 110 GT score. If you score lower than that, I advise you to retake the test. The reason being is that you may get the MOS you want initially, but there are a lot of other great specialties out there that you won't be able to choose for reclassification with anything less than 110 GT. Hell, you need a score of 100 just to go to Drill Sergeant school without a waiver these days. You will also need a minimum of 110 if you plan to go Warrant Officer down the road. I've dealt with so many soldiers that have missed out on career opportunities simply because they didn't have the minimum acceptable score. Some try taking the FAST (Functional Academic Skills Training) class in order to raise it, but even then most are unable to because they've been out of the education system for so long.
#2. At the very minimum you should get atleast one special school in your contract. My advice is for you to choose Airborne because you'll get a suitable sum of extra change in your pocket ($150 a month), in addition to the fact that it opens door for other highspeed schools and specialized units (not to mention the esprit de corps). Being a paratrooper doesn't make you better than other soldiers but it most definitely gives you an edge in your career, especially when it comes promotions and professional advancement.
My last bit of advice: "Stay away from the Army if you absolutely hate waking up early as hell in the morning to do physical training in shorts and a t-shirt even though it's frosty as shit outside." Heh, units like the one I am currently assigned to absolutely refuse to allow any use of cold weather gear despite your numbing body parts during German winter.
Fortunately for me, I like a little pain for breakfast.
Run All Day, Run All Night...Airborne! :cool:
EDIT: One more thing I'd like to reiterate is that the Army tends to deploy for a lot longer than the other branches. Case in point; my last combat tour was 15 months and originally we were slated to serve 18 months. The one before that was 12 months. Most other services deploy for 7 months if I am not mistaken. I can tell you from experience that a full fledge Regular Army deployment is a hardship that isn't easy to tolerate. So think about the fact that if you join the Army you might attend a lot of ramp ceremonies for your fallen brothers, that you'll be exposed to danger on a regular basis when deployed, and that you'll be trapped in a isolated little shit-hole of a base while baking in the sun for ATLEAST a year whenever you deploy. It's a stressful lifestyle, be ready for it. And being back in garrison has it's problems too.
Other then those awful drawbacks, the Army is excellent.