Echo the go guard or reserves theme:

Guard: Typically more laid back(if that matters to you-does to most people)
Generally less money for trips/pay days/etc.
Usually little movement to other units unless you want to(meaning stay in 1 unit for a career if you want)
State run so you get screwed by the lack of benefits at times for Title 32(No Tuition Assistance) orders but if
they really need you they'll activate you and you're no different than you reserve or ad counterparts(at least
until the orders end)

Reserves: A little closer mentality to active duty but still a good deal
Generally more money than guard to pay for days/trips/etc
More likely to move around the reserves if you desire
Federally run (Always Title 10)

One huge benefit: In the absence of federal activations to support wartime contingencies (AKA: Title 10 Orders) YOU retain the right to say no if you don't want to do something, go somewhere, fly a trip, take a deployment, etc. Not so on active duty. The caveat being that I understand this can affect pay days, future opportunities, etc. but you can say no if you don't want or can't do whatever it is that is being asked of you. For career and reputation sake you obviously don't want to say no to everything, I'm just illustrating a point. Both the guard and reserves will begin(some already so) to see big turnover in the technician/art world with airline hiring ramping up so there will likely be lots of future opportunity to grab those jobs if that suits you. For the guys that don't know; that's the full time guardsmen/reservists that aren't agr's (active duty orders in the guard). They're paid as a civil servant (GS-12/13/14 with pilot overrides) and work drill weekends and after hours as a military member. Good benefits and money with a pension to supplement your military pension at age 60 or whatever it is 20 years from now. Finally, most guard and reserves units have quite a few airline dudes so that can make networking for an airline job a bit easier. Active duty guys have the same thing, they just have to look harder since the guys they know have likely separated from active duty and may not be a daily contact.

AD: Steady paycheck on the 15th and the 30th with a decent retirement after 20(for now), if you can stand it. Like anywhere there are lot's of great people and commanders on active duty. There are also some really really bad ones that ruin it for everyone. You serve at the needs of the military. That's somewhat true for everyone but more so on active duty. That works out great for some people and not so great for others in terms of location, jobs, progression, etc.

Lastly, I have many many many friends who have come into the guard and reserves from active duty. I can say I have never heard any of them say they wish they could go back to active duty. Some guys have done limited returns to active duty to capture a 20 year full retirement as Lt.Col.'s, but that's it. Some may disagree on this forum but I doubt many.

Anyone, please weigh in if I've omitted something or you find this to be inaccurate.