Congratulations! This wait is the longest, if you pas the others you can just amend /AG/AE
I'd suggest starting out with a scanner if you've got one or can find one for $10-20 at a yard sale, and see where the activity is in your area, if you need a 2m rig or a dual band one, if there's a repeater you want to hang out on and you live down the street from, or is your signal going to need to make it 20-30 miles. Also the scanner will help you listen to what's going on so you can pick up that stuff that's not in the book and get a feel for how the conversation flows, which will hopefully put any mic fright at ease.
If you have the budget and are planning on upgrading, get an HF rig that also does 2m and 440, then you can grow into the radio as an investment; if you're on a budget and just want to make the repeater then maybe a 2m mobile and power supply or even HT may be what works for you. Are you looking to go new, or are you going to take a look around at the next hamfest (or hurry up and get to Dayton soon!)
Most Yaesus, Icoms and Kenwoods do come with very helpful manuals, and I've heard good things about the nifty manuals as well, so if the radio is covered with either, then time reading and learning the specific radio will pay off. I'd also make sure to check the eham reviews on the radio and run a youtube search or two before buying so you can have a better idea of what you're getting into. If you're near an HRO or AES store you'll also likely be able to walk in and be able to handle the radio and get an idea for the buttons menus and size of the radio, and perhaps even try it out before making the purchase.
If you're like most of us, your first radio probably wont be your last; so don't get too worried about it being the best, just make sure it'll do some things that interest you can keep you interested in the hobby until you accumulate more.
