What are disadvantages of joining army reserves? Anyone in the program?

I have been active duty as an airborne infantryman and in the reserves as a engineer detachment commander. First and foremost, my advice to you is to not join the military soley for money for your education. The only good reason to join the armed forces is because you want to serve, not that you are in an educational/economical bind. I have seen too many variations of your situation in which a person joined for other reasons than truly wanting to be there and serve. Their stories have always ended unfavorably for them. Additionally, the reserves only offer a fraction of what active duty service does for education. I went to a very expensive private college with my active duty gi bill ONLY because I served 4 years in active duty. Comparatively, serving 8 years in the army reserves (or any branch's reserves) would never have allowed the same benefits I recieved out of my active duty service.