I have been in the AF for 5 1/2 years and have to say that it has been a great ride. Until recently I didn't know a whole lot about the other services just that our living standards were much higher. As of the last 4 months I have been part of Joint Task Forces as I volunteered to come to Baghdad.
This has been a great assignment and since I have been working with all the services I can tell you some things. 99% of the Army (active or guard) wishes they had joined the Air Force and are asking me how they can cross over. That picture that you was in Anaconda (Balad). The guard is all over hear and won't go home until November thru January and plan on coming back within 6 months after that. You might feel all bad a** and full of WHOA right now but how about when you have a family and you have no choise but to go spend a year without them only to leave them again 6 months down the road. There are a lot of whiney beeches over here and they are only 8 months into it. The ones that thought they were safe because they got out a few years ago thought wrong. They are here too.
To avoid these down falls I would definatly "Cross into the Blue". You may be full of WHOA and gung-ho right now but there are 150 thousand people around me that that will tell you that that gets old really quick.
Reasons to join the Air Force:
1. I know they don't advertise it, but they have other things to advertise but yes we get the GI bill just like the Army and all the other branches.
2. 100% tuition while enlisted.
3. Much higher re-enlistment bonuses (Army does get re-enlistment bonuses and a laptop). On my way over here they were playing with thier laptops thinking they were cool until I asked them how many laptops my $60,000 bonus would buy me. Oh and by the way they previously didn't know I was in the Air Force because I didn't have to wear my uniform all the way there.
4. Higher wages when you get out. Most Army guys when they get out don't get a very good job. Some do but the AF puts you through so much training to make you very specialized. Then if you decide to leave they hold job fairs so that you can easily find a job. About a year before my first enlistment was through I had companies calling me to see if I planned on leaving the AF and if I changed my mind they gave me their #. I asked my Army counterparts if that sounded familiar to them...it didn't.
5. Quality of life. At Goodfellow AFB we have all branches of service. When the Army came asking for dorms we gave them ones that we condemed. They think they are in paradise.
6. Army is detail happy. If there is nothing to do they will find something to do. I was driving through a camp that is right by Baghdad International Airport with an army guy when we saw a bunch of Army guys sweeping the street while it was still blowing around. Thinking that they were in serious trouble, I asked him what those guys had to do to deserve that detail. He said nothing and that was part of being in the Army. I told him that he could not even make me make my airmen do that.
I know there are a lot more but this post is kinda long and it's like 0430 here. Do what is best for you in the end you will be a stronger person no matter what. No matter what branch you go in make sure you know and understand what job you are going to do.

Good Luck,

Fastrussman