(Columbia) March 27, 2003 - South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford is doing her best to juggle parenthood with ceremonial duties while Governor Mark Sanford spends two weeks in Air Force Reserve officer training.

The first lady is attending events in her husband's place and participating in morning meetings with the governor's staff in addition to her usual duties.

Governor Mark Sanford has started two weeks of military training at Maxwell Air Force Base near Montgomery, Alabama. First Lieutenant Sanford got the wake-up call around 5:00am Sunday. He is the only governor in the nation with an active military obligation.

Kara asked Mrs. Sanford how she and her children are reacting to Operation: Iraqi Freedom, "Some of the little kids will ask things like, 'Are they going to bomb us?' you know. Those questions are real questions, and they bring real challenges, but they also bring opportunities. I mean, we have prayed more about it, we've discussed more things than we normally do, and we'll just do the best we can."

A few months ago Jenny Sanford stopped being campaign manager in the most expensive governor's race in state history and settled into her new role as a mother of four and First Lady of South Carolina, "I've really enjoyed these past few months being focused on being a mom and making sure we get settled on the right foot for these next four years here as a family, not as a political machine, but as a real working family."

In January South Carolina's First Family moved into the Governor's Mansion, "It's a big physical change for me, and it's not just the change of physically moving into the Governor's Mansion. It's - you're in a new city, your kids are in a new school, so they have new friends. We didn't have security before, so all the sudden to have security, there's much more focus of the press on who you are. You're recognized more."

Mrs. Sanford says the recognition includes her four sons, "They are fine. I still think we have a ways to go. They are doing fine at school but they are not quick to have friends over yet. I don't think they feel comfortable yet, but that's the kind of thing that takes time." When asked if she thinks Governor Sanford's four-year term will change her family, Jenny says, "Oh, gosh. I hope not. No."

She says the public scrutiny associated with the highest office in the state's government will also take a little getting used to, "Right or wrong, we are going through this together. When the press is upset about something, or when people are happy with Mark about something, we all feel it.:

Jenny says she now advises the governor much less formally, "I'm there as a wife if he need's me, and he does ask, 'What do you think about this"' or 'What do you think about that?' But, aside from that, I have no formal roll in his administration. And, I mean, I don't expect to, and I don't choose to."

Her support includes standing behind her husband's decision to serve the country in the Air Force reserves, even though his training means he'll be away from the state and his family for two weeks of training.

To keep up with state business, Governor Sanford will have nightly conference calls with Chief of Staff Fred Carter. Sanford said a team is in place to conduct everyday responsibilities and to continue to support his legislative agendas.

Sanford insisted that if a serious disaster or emergency took place, he would only be a few hours away if anything required his immediate presence. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart says he wants the public to know he will be able to reach the governor almost instantaneously in Alabama. Sanford recently put Stewart in charge of the state's homeland security.

Sanford says it will be a fascinating time to be locked down on an Air Force base as the war plays out in Iraq. Sanford says the timing of his training is awful, coming as it does just days after the start of the disarmament of Iraq, but the scheduling has been in the works for months.

Sanford became a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve's 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron based at Charleston Air Force Base on January 30th, 2002. Critics called his commission a political move. Sanford says he started the process two years earlier, before he decided to run for governor.

In February and March about 45 reservists from Sanford's unit were called to active duty, though the governor was not among them. Those called up were mostly flight nurses and medical technicians.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris King says the squadron has about 120 members. He said at the time he knew of no plans to call up the governor. The Republican said in late January he will honor his military commitment to show his sons about service and keeping his word.

Sanford says he would not resign as governor if he were on an extended deployment, and he may seek a court's opinion about whether the state constitution prohibits him from keeping his commission. If Sanford were called up, Lt. Governor Bauer, 33, could become acting governor.

by Kara Gormley

updated 9:38am by Chris Rees