I was an active duty (fulltime) air force officer, and am now in the USAF reserves. I say do it. Some thoughts:
1 -- Typical time commitment is 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks per year; no matter how fast your startup is moving, you can swing that. It's probably a healthy break.
2 -- Diversity is good for computer geeks. Life -- esp a startup -- takes a range of skills. Life in any of the armed forces will help build your character and experience.
3 -- Your enjoyment will be closely tied to your reserve duty station. There are absolutely places that will suck the life out of you, but there are also places where you will feel like you are in a movie. I am very lucky to have made contacts during my active duty years that got me a great reserve position. Take the long view. If you're not happy with your first assignment, talk to people and work the system to move.
4 -- health insurance for reservists is usually not effective outside your duty time (1 weekend/month, 2 weeks/year) note this is a political football; several years ago there was limited coverage for any reservist that did not have health coverage elsewhere. I'm not certain of the current status, and the coast guard is certainly a bit different than the other services.
5 -- the pay helps. it's not a lot, but nor is it chump change -- esp if you get the officer slot.
anyhow, my two cents. good luck.
edit -- reading more of the comments: don't be too scared by the threat of deployment. (1) I'm slotted in the system as a computer engineer, and engineers don't get deployed. 10 total years in, and never even the threat of time overseas -- and that's during the wars. (2) deployment builds character, and is reasonably safe given how many people we have over there. you recall the study from a couple years ago? you're more likely to get murdered living in DC or Chicago than as a soldier in Iraq.
For those reading, everything jjguy said is true except the "engineers don't get deployed". Engineers and Engineering USAF officers have a very low rate of deployment, but it absolutely happens. However, as jjguy said, don't be scared of deployments either, most non-Marines have enjoyed their deployments as incredible learning experiences and a chance to get in shape.
1 -- Typical time commitment is 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks per year; no matter how fast your startup is moving, you can swing that. It's probably a healthy break.
2 -- Diversity is good for computer geeks. Life -- esp a startup -- takes a range of skills. Life in any of the armed forces will help build your character and experience.
3 -- Your enjoyment will be closely tied to your reserve duty station. There are absolutely places that will suck the life out of you, but there are also places where you will feel like you are in a movie. I am very lucky to have made contacts during my active duty years that got me a great reserve position. Take the long view. If you're not happy with your first assignment, talk to people and work the system to move.
4 -- health insurance for reservists is usually not effective outside your duty time (1 weekend/month, 2 weeks/year) note this is a political football; several years ago there was limited coverage for any reservist that did not have health coverage elsewhere. I'm not certain of the current status, and the coast guard is certainly a bit different than the other services.
5 -- the pay helps. it's not a lot, but nor is it chump change -- esp if you get the officer slot.
anyhow, my two cents. good luck.
edit -- reading more of the comments: don't be too scared by the threat of deployment. (1) I'm slotted in the system as a computer engineer, and engineers don't get deployed. 10 total years in, and never even the threat of time overseas -- and that's during the wars. (2) deployment builds character, and is reasonably safe given how many people we have over there. you recall the study from a couple years ago? you're more likely to get murdered living in DC or Chicago than as a soldier in Iraq.