Active duty

Active Duty is a term used in military service to denote a full-time occupation as a member of a country's armed forces. It contrasts with reserve duty, in which service members are called upon only in times of need.

Overview

Active duty refers to full-time duty in the active military service of a nation. It includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance while in the active military service at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.

Active Duty in Different Countries

United States

In the United States, active duty status is defined by Title 10 of the United States Code. It includes full-time duty in the Armed Forces, such as unit deployment during war or peacekeeping missions. Active duty members of the United States military fall under the jurisdiction of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, active duty is known as "Regular Service," and it refers to full-time military service in the British Armed Forces. The term contrasts with "Reserve Service," which is part-time.

Active Duty vs. Reserve Duty

While active duty members serve full-time, reserve duty members have civilian jobs and train on a part-time basis, typically one weekend a month with a two-week training period once a year. Reservists are often called to active duty to assist with military operations or in times of emergency.

See Also

• Military reserve force
• National Guard
• Conscription
• Military service