COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford, the only governor in the nation with an active military obligation, packed up his office files Friday as he prepared to report for Air Force Reserve officer training this weekend.

For the next two weeks, Sanford wants to be just the lanky guy in fatigues with first lieutenant bars at Maxwell Air Force Base near Montgomery, Ala. As the war plays out in Iraq, South Carolina's chief executive will be sitting in a classroom and going through drills.

"I think it will be a fascinating time to be locked down on an Air Force base for a two weeks of your life," Sanford said.

It's the first time since he left Congress in 2001 that he will be away from his wife and four sons for an extended time, but the family says they can handle it.

"Two weeks is going to be easy" compared with time apart while her husband was in Washington, Jenny Sanford said. Every night he's away from home, Sanford calls before the children's bedtime. "I expect he will do the same" for the next two weeks, she said Friday.

"We are going to miss him," she said. But "he's not going to Iraq or Kuwait."

The Sanfords, however, know that's a possibility some time after the governor completes his training.

Sanford must complete officer training as a minimum requirement for his medical service officer position with the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base. His job is a non-medical role that deals with the logistics of caring for the sick and wounded.

Sanford also has to complete the Reserve's health services administration school, either in person or through correspondence courses.

And while this round of training begins at a critical time, Sanford will continue to handle many of the affairs of state.

First, he's packing two cell phones: one for state business and the other for personal business.

Then there's the State Law Enforcement Division agent assigned to protect Sanford. The agent is also in the Air Force Reserve and will fulfill a two-week training requirement while at Maxwell.

The governor says the agent also is helping him pack and will act as a liaison between Sanford and his chief of staff, Fred Carter, while the governor is in Alabama.

"I'm going to carry with me a pile of executive orders" that may be needed to direct state affairs while he's gone, Sanford said.

Sanford, who took office just two months ago, says he's only a couple of hours away by plane if something happens that requires him to return South Carolina.

"If al-Qaida blew up the Wando Terminal (at the Port of Charleston) ... I'd be back here in an hour and a half," Sanford said.

His departure means larger roles for his wife and chief of staff, who will call Sanford at 9 p.m. each night to go over what needs attention.

"Fred will run the day-to-day (operations), and she'll do some of the ceremonial for me," the governor said.

Sanford, whose father and grandfather were World War II veterans, says he grew interested in military service while serving his three terms in the U.S. House. That interest was stoked when he was invited to a weekend of maneuvers with Army Rangers in North Carolina.

He said he kept up with the physical demands of 3-mile runs, all-night marches and crawling through muck. He prizes a picture of himself blending in with three mud-caked Rangers.

Sanford said he's ready to blend in again.

For the next two weeks, he wants to be "low-key and quiet about my other roles and responsibilities and just be a part of the group."