Active Duty Air Force personnel serve full time on Air Force installations. They work to execute the Air Force Mission of deterring adversaries in Air, Space and Cyberspace for the protection of the American People. They also preform humanitarian missions, as directed by the Secretary of Defense. Active Duty members are trained in specific, necessary and wide range of career fields to achieve the Air Force Mission and are given upgrade training to enhance existing knowledge on their career. They take orders from the President of the United States and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Active Duty members are deployable at any point throughout the year to aid with the Air Force Mission in a contingency environment. 

The National Guard consists of the Army National Guard and the Air Force's Air 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. The National Guard engages in a number of activities. During local emergencies, National Guard units assist communities endangered by storms, floods, fires, and other disasters. National Guard companies deployed overseas may see combat, but are more often building schools and hospitals, training local peacekeepers, or teaching local farmers more efficient farming techniques. As with the Reserve, the National Guard requires training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

Each branch of the military has a Reserve component and the Reserve are under the command of their respective military branch (e.g., Army Reserve are under the command of the Army). 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 a 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. The primary job of the Reserve is to fill the gaps in stateside service positions when the active duty forces fly overseas. Members of the Reserve are required to participate in training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

Civilians in the United States Air Force play a unique role in the Active Duty mission. They contribute additional expertise and experience that average Active Duty members might not have or be lacking. They contribute to all levels of the Air Force from working with Airmen to working in leadership roles and as supervisors. Air Force Civilians have most of the opportunities alloted to service members. They are valued members of the Air Force team and are treated as such by all levels of command. Their jobs range from part-time to full-time in any Squadron with an open position. They are deployable in some cases though not all. The only way to apply for a civilian job within the Air Force is through USA Jobs.