Bush OKs calling up reserves

The Pentagon plans to activate thousands of military reservists to strengthen defenses of U.S. airspace and to assist in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.\nIU's ROTC programs are not among the personnel affected, but some IU students might be part of "Operation: Noble Eagle," said Lt. Col. Wayne Pollard, professor of military science.\nNo cadets on college campuses will be activated, he said.\n"Our mission is to prepare college students to serve as officers in the army," Pollard said. "Their student status is protected because it would retard this process."\nBut being activated is not the same as being affected. Cadet Battalion Commander Rosemarie Hirata, a senior who will graduate from the ROTC program next year, is anxious about what the future will hold. \n"It hit home that I'll more than likely be over there in a year or two," she said. "We won't be in the U.S. stuck at a base but overseas fighting terrorism."\nPollard remembers when a different George Bush activated guard reserves during Desert Shield. Nobody expected the size of the mobilization that occurred then, he explained. \n"The problem here is that nobody has a complete idea what air, ground, diplomatic, of economic measures are going to be used," he said. "It's no longer sit around and play cards. Everyone's on pins and needles." \nUnder President George W. Bush's authorization, the United States could call as many as 1 million reservists, but armed forces officials say they will need no more that 35,500 troops.\nBush said in a formal declaration of national emergency the extra troops are needed in light of a "continuing and immediate threat" of further terrorist attacks on the United States.\nIt is the first partial mobilization of the nation's 1.3 million reservists since January 1991, when 265,322 were called to active duty at the outset of the Persian Gulf War. Such a call-up is permitted by law if the president declares a national emergency. Bush said an emergency exists because of Tuesday's aerial attacks on the Pentagon and New York's World Trade Center.\nIU realizes the mobilization of reserves may affect IU students.\n"Any student called to active duty may withdraw from all courses and receive a 100 percent refund of tuition and fees," according to the Office of Communications and Marketing. \nReservists who leave school, might -- by permission of instructors -- "receive an incomplete or a final grade in the courses taken."\nStudents who wish to withdraw from courses as a result of being called to active duty must provide a copy of their orders to the Registrar's Office along with a signed note asking to be withdrawn. \nCraig Duehring, a senior Pentagon personnel executive, said he was not sure when the first call-ups would be made. Victoria Clarke, spokeswoman for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, said they would come within days.\nAll are intended for duty in the United States, officials said, although additional call-ups beyond the initial 35,500 might be sent abroad. Besides the "homeland defense" role, some others will provide mortuary services in New York City and other support for civilian agencies, Duehring said.\nA key task for those called up will be continental air defense, a mission the active-duty military ceded to the Air National Guard in the aftermath of the Cold War.\nNormally, only 20 fighter-interceptor jets are on 24-hour alert to protect against violations of U.S. and Canadian airspace, but after Tuesday's attacks from hijacked airliners Rumsfeld ordered combat air patrols over numerous U.S. cities.\nPatrols are now being flown only in the New York-Washington air corridor, but Rumsfeld said Thursday he ordered fighter-interceptors at 26 bases to be ready to launch with 15 minutes notice.\nAn unspecified number of the 35,500 reservists being called to active duty will fill those air defense missions, said Maj. Gen. Paul Weaver, director of the Air National Guard.\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.