"He cuts one entire product line for us," Hulser said. "That's how critical he is. It will take us one-and-a-half to two people to replace him. Retired guys like my father-in-law would like doing that job, but he wouldn't like making 2,200 frames every week."

Spc. Tandal, 23, has been activated by the Hawai'i Army National Guard to serve with the 2nd of the 299th Infantry. Tandal joins fellow Pictures Plus frame cutter, Spc. Ka'aiakamanu, 24, who belongs to the 1st of the 487th Field Artillery Battalion.

Their military activation means Hulser will have to find enough people who are good enough, fast enough and safe enough to make up temporarily for their loss, Hulser said.

"We have many people who look right, sound right and smell right, but they see the type of speed we operate at and they say, 'I can't do this,' " Hulser said.

Frame cutters need to keep track of their supplies, maintain their machinery and stay focused on safety while grinding out 5,000 frames per week, Hulser said.

"These guys on average cut less than 20 bad frames out of 5,000 every week," Hulser said. "They can't waste material — all while they're operating saws at amazing speeds without losing a finger. My father was a woodworker who said, 'Measure twice and cut once.' These guys don't have time to measure twice. They measure once and cut right now."

Workers protected

The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act ensures that Guard and Reserve troops get equivalent jobs when they return to work, as well as seniority and promotion opportunities.

Employers such as Hulser will be ecstatic to see Tandal and Ka'aiakamanu return to work. Hulser even welcomes having too many frame cutters when they come back.

"My challenge is to make Pictures Plus grow enough so that we can find work for all of the employees," Hulser said. "I have a business problem to solve. But I'll be darned glad to watch these two fine young men walk back into our business with all of their parts and pieces intact."

Until then, Hulser is in a similar situation to Sam Burchette Sr., the owner of Wahiawa Pawn.

Retirement delayed

Burchette bought the pawn shop five years ago with the plan to turn it over to his son, Sam Burchette Jr., who goes by the nickname Lee.

For just over a year, Burchette has peered over Lee's shoulder for what father and son expected to be a three- to six-year training and transition period.

Eventually, Lee was supposed to take over and let Burchette enjoy retirement.

Instead, Spc. Burchette's 1101st Army Reserve unit was activated in January to serve full-time duty at Schofield Barracks.

Now Burchette Sr. finds himself once again running the business by himself, waiting for his son's military service to end.

"I was going to retire," said Burchette, 56. "That's why I brought Lee in, to train him. By now I should be staying home and playing golf. ... Instead I'm here six days a week."

Burchette has had to hire part-time help to make up for the loss of Lee, and indefinitely postponed the business' succession plan until Lee's military service is resolved.

Although Spc. Burchette's military status disrupts both the pawn shop's operations and Burchette's retirement plans, his father insists he'll get by just fine.

His own Army career as a chief warrant officer taught Burchette the value of adapting to changing situations.

"After being in the military for 24 years," Burchette said, "you learn to be flexible."