(Columbia) Jan. 28, 2003 - Mark Sanford has been a member of the 315th Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron for a year. His rank is first lieutenant. This month, Sanford took the oath to serve as governor.
    
Will he be called away to serve our country in the Air Force Reserves? In a letter Sanford letter wrote to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on Tuesday, "I made a committment and I am going to keep it. Therefore, as to any orders I receive I will do just as anyone else in my unit and follow them."

State of South Carolina Office of the Governor Mark Sanford, Governor

January 28, 2003 The Honorable Rudolph Andreas Bauer Lieutenant Governor, State of South Carolina Post Office Box 142 Columbia, S.C. 29202 Dear Andre, As President Bush is addressing our country tonight, I felt it was important to write to you and make clear exactly where I stand as it relates to my status with the Air Force Reserves. The bottom line for me is that I made a commitment and I am going to keep it. Therefore, as to any orders I receive I will do just as anyone else in my unit and follow them. I believe simply that this is consistent with who I am as a person. I've always done what I said I would do. I also think it’s about being a dad. I've said from the beginning that I did this because, on a personal level, I wanted to signal to my boys the importance of duty and the fact that there is a real disconnect in our country between the rights and the responsibilities that go with being an American. I also believe this is consistent with the concept of servant leadership. I have a much bigger responsibility now as Governor of South Carolina than I did when I began this process but ultimately the essence of servant leadership is being available not when you think the time is best – but when you are called. In the event my unit is activated, I have full confidence in your abilities along with those of Speaker Wilkins and Senator McConnell. Should that happen, I will work closely with each of you to ensure that the agenda I laid out for our state last week is fulfilled. Take care, Mark Sanford Cc: Sen. Glenn McConnell Speaker David Wilkins

WIS attempted to interview Governor Sanford about the letter, but his office told us he wouldn't be available to comment until Wednesday morning.
    
If Sanford were called up, the 33-year-old lieutenant governor could become acting governor, "If we should have the situation where the governor is deployed, I stand ready to do what he asks or the citizens of South Carolina ask me to do."
    
Sanford's letter to Bauer also says, "In the event my unit is activated, I have full confidence in your abilities along with those of Speaker Wilkins and Senator McConnell."
    
James Smith is the House Minority Leader, "This letter ought not to be necessary.  It ought to be what's expected, no pat on the back deserved here. It is simply what you do as an American, and what an American serviceman would do."
    
Sanford's letter comes after a December State newspaper article, in which the governor said of his Reserve duties, "I said all along it has to fall second to the responsibility the voters of South Carolina placed on me for the next four years."

Sanford gained his commission as a first lieutenant on January 30th, 2002, amid questions that he had used political influence. Critics also accused him of using military service for political gain. At the time, Sanford said he was not considering a bid for governor. Sanford says he began checking into military service during his third US House term. He also says he received no special treatment.
 
The governor's office says Sanford has fulfilled weekend training, but has not done the required two weeks of training. It's unclear if he would be eligible for deployment. An Air Force Reserve spokesperson in Charleston says Sanford's unit has not been notified it's being called up.

By Jennifer Miskewicz
Updated 11:22pm by BrettWitt with AP