[Cboldt]

But according to Air Force officials, Air National Guardsmen are not counted as members of the active-duty Air Force.

Do they realize they are infuriating thousands of Guard and Reserve men and woman with that statement?

I think the statement is meant to merely reflect accounting practices. How many in the AF? xx,xxx. How many in the Army? xxx,xxx. How many in the Air Force Reserves? xx,xxx. Etc.

[NavySEAL F-16]

Guard pilots come into the Air Force under Title 10 for training.

They are trained and treated the same as any active duty Air Force officer. There is no distinction made. They are USAF officers.