Active Duty
A person who is active duty in the military is considered “full time.” Active duty personnel work for the military full time, may live on a military base, and can be deployed at any time.
The Reserve
The purpose of the Reserve is to provide and maintain trained units and qualified persons to be available for active duty in the armed forces when needed. This may be in times of war, in national emergency, or as the need occurs based on threats to national security. Their presence can be called upon to serve either stateside or overseas. Members of the Reserve are required to participate in training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.
National Guard
While federally funded, the National Guard is organized and controlled by state. However, in times of war, the National Guard can become federalized and deployed. During local emergencies, National Guard units assist communities endangered by storms, floods, fires, and other disasters. As with the Reserve, the National Guard requires training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.