Wrapper

[Qslim]

If you join the guard or reserve, you will deploy, and you'll deploy regularly. One thing to keep in mind here is that the guard exists to augment the regular active duty guys when their numbers are being stretched thin, as they are right now. Of course, I work on jets, so I don't know for certain that the same holds true for computer dudes as it does for maintainers, but every guard or reserve guy that I went to basic and tech school with deployed within a couple of months, and some of them have gone back several times on a regular basis.
In active duty, there are commands and wings that don't directly have anything to do with the war, and thus aren't even in the deployment cycle (mostly R&D and test wings, like the one I'm at). The guard and reserve are around to make sure that the guys working at these bases can keep on doing what they're doing without getting pulled away from their mission, and that means deploying, and doing it often.
Not that it's a bad thing, though. It's good experience, and luckily your deployment will be based on how long a squadron of 25 year old jets can fly combat missions without falling out of the sky, which isn't too long at all. The guys I know are gone for around 180 days usually.
As far as basic training goes, it'll go by in a flash. Look at the big picture, don't let something like 6 weeks of BMT and a couple months of tech school influence your decision too much. The first year will be rough, but you'll find a groove. Get all the info you can and make an informed decision.