Ron and Charlotte Willenborg found out just a few short days ago that their daughter Michelle Willenborg, 21, would go from an in-active status in the Army Reserves to her now current position on active duty in the 4249th Military Police Port Security home based out of Pocahontas, Iowa.

Though it was a shock for her parents to find out their daughter was being called up for active duty it was even more of a surprise for Michelle herself. Michelle was getting ready to tie up her studies abroad at the University of London in an exchange program with Buena Vista College where she is a junior. Michelle was anticipating finishing up and returning home to Iowa September 1st to continue her Economics and Marketing degree, which has now been put on hold indefinitely.

Charlotte said that her daughter received her orders on Tuesday, September 25th here in the states but she was difficult to get a hold of to pass on the orders. "She was in Amsterdam when we got the orders and it took us a while to get in touch of her. It wasn't until she was back in London that she found out she had been called to active duty status on the East Coast." Then the race was on.

There were many things that Michele had to get done in London before she could even get home. There were flight reservations that needed to be made and packing and only about two hours to spare. Charlotte said she picked her daughter up in Minneapolis and they drove straight home so that Michele could get her things ready to go in less than twelve hours. "She stayed up all night packing and getting her gear together. We were gone again by 7 a.m. It was all a lot of things happening in a very short amount of time. We didn't have a lot of time for anything," she said.

Michele enlisted in the United States Army Reserves just after graduating from Manning High School in 1998. She completed her training and AIT school in Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri two years ago in October 1999. She is currently stationed in North Carolina where her Military Police Port Security Unit will be providing security for military personnel and installations, which will be shipping the necessary supplies abroad and to others along the East Coast. The unit will move to a new location every thirty to sixty days.

Willenborg is currently listed as a Specialist E-4 and was accompanied by sixty other members of the Pocahontas Unit. One of the biggest incentives for Michelle to enlist in the Army Reserve was for the college money that she could earn. It now appears that Michelle will be taking a short break from college while she fulfills her duties in the United States Army for the remainder of her orders -- two years. Specialist Willenborg is the only woman serving in the 4249th unit.

Charlotte remarked that she is even more concerned about the possibility of such uncertain times ahead in our nation now that her daughter has been called to active duty. "We know that being an MP (military police) she will be called to where ever they will need that kind of assistance and that concerns me greatly."

The 4249th Military Police Port Security is the first of the United States Army Reserve Military Police Units to be activated. Once back in Iowa Michelle plans to trade in her army boots for a back-pack full of books and resume her status as a full time student.

PVT Michelle Willenborg, daughter of Ron and Charlette Willenborg of Manning, has recently completed United States Army OSUT (One Station Unit Training) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During July and August, she completed basic training where she received instruction in Army values, drill and ceremonies, weapons and hand grenades, map reading, military customs and courtesies, physical fitness and first aid.

Throughout September and October, Willenborg completed her advanced training and became a Military Police soldier. She was trained in military law, unarmed self-defense, human relations, security and safety.

Willenborg finished in the top 5 out of 240 in her class for physical fitness. She surpassed the grad. requirement score of 180 points and the maximum requirement of 300 points by receiving 325 points on the extended scale. She is now a member of the 4249th Port Security Reserve Unit in Pocohontas, Iowa.