What Does Active Duty Mean in the Army?

In the United States, the U.S. Army is the branch of the military that is generally responsible for operations that occur on land. One of three branches of the Department of Defense, the first mission of the Army is to provide military support for the security of the nation and to aid in strategies of defense. There are a few different ways to serve in the army, and one of these is through active duty.

Origins

The U.S. Army was formed on June 14, 1784, after the end of the revolutionary war. It was created to replace the Continental Army, which had been disbanded. Trust of standing armies was lacking during this period, and until the formation of the U.S. Army, state militias were formed to patrol and maintain order. But after continuing conflict along the frontier with Native Americans, Congress saw the need to form the U.S. Army. Major Gen. Anthony Wayne, hand-picked by President Washington and a former lieutenant under the president during the revolution, led the new army.

Defined

In the United States, active duty refers to all personnel serving in a full-time capacity in the U.S. Army. In other words, the army is their full-time job. This refers to both officers and enlisted personnel. The same is true of other branches of the military---the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and the Air Force. Outside the United States, the definition of active duty is not always the same.

Components

The U.S. Army can be broken down into three main groups: the U.S. National Guard, the Army Reserves and the regular Army. Of the three, only the regular Army is considered an active-duty role. The Reserves comprise a support role and are called to active duty only as needed, such as in times of war or national emergencies. The Guard is under jurisdiction of both state and federal government and is called to active duty during national emergencies.

Duties

Active duty in the Army is full-time job or career. Whether stationed at home or overseas, in barracks or off base, all personnel are required to report to duty daily as any other employee might. Days start early, usually by 5:45am, and end in the early evening. Obviously, during war this all changes, but during peace time there are numerous tasks throughout any given day. Examples include greater knowledge of specialty, combat-simulation exercises, weapons, barracks and uniform inspections, vehicle inspections, physical fitness and skills testing, identification of opposing forces and equipment, regular maintenance and field exercises where forces are deployed for weeks in areas simulating combat situations. As the need arises, personnel can expect to spend extra time to accomplish tasks.

Combat

In times of conflict, active-duty Army personnel who are attached to combat or combat support units will be the first to deploy. If numbers are found to be insufficient to accomplish a given mission, Army Reserve personnel are called to active duty. If further forces are required, a draft is initiated. In the past, serving in combat situations generally implies one year in the field. But as war in Iraq has shown, this is not always the case. If forces are needed, deployment length can change.