"We're doing exciting things," he said.

But Nomiyama also wears another hat — one with an eagle on it denoting the rank of colonel, and with it, the school principal of 280 kids might soon be off to war.

Nomiyama was one of about 150 Hawai'i-based Army reservists who were recently told to prepare for a likely 18-month mobilization and deployment to Iraq.

The 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade is far from the first Hawai'i Guard or Reserve unit to be called up for active duty, but it is emblematic of the increasing number of professionals or soldiers in their 40s and 50s who are serving in the war.

With calendars marking 2004 and 2005 on the wall behind him, Kalihi Uka Principal Calvin Nomiyama, a colonel with the Army Reserve's 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, based in Hawai'i, works in his office at the school knowing that he may soon be deployed to Iraq. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

A unit like the 322nd, heavy on lawyers, doctors, engineers and government administrators, gives new meaning to the term senior NCO and officer.

About 70 percent of the soldiers in the brigade are 40 to 60 years of age. About a quarter are 24 or younger.

Sgt. Maj. Cal Sagara is a Vietnam veteran a month shy of his 58th birthday. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Bretschneider, who was a combat medic in Vietnam, already is 58.

It's one thing for a 24-year-old to put his or her college education on hold, or to serve in Iraq while seeking some direction in life. It's another for entrenched professionals to do so.

Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Irie, 45, says wearing 40 to 50 pounds of full combat gear every day is a bit of a strain for older reservists. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ramsdell also is part of the 322nd, and facing possible call-up. Speculation among the reservists is that they will go to Iraq sometime after the Jan. 30 elections there.

"The hospital's been super supportive, but we've been really working very diligently to get this program off the ground," Ramsdell said. "We've been starting this brand new program, and Uncle Sam comes calling."

Reservists like Ramsdell and Nomiyama knew what they were getting into when they signed up — in Nomiyama's case 33 years ago. For the first time, he's hearing the bugle call to war.

There's still a chance he won't have to deploy. He admitted there's not even a small piece of him that wants to go.

"Not one bit," said Nomiyama, who is married but has no kids. "It's centered around the job here. I've got a really good thing going."

If he goes, he'll have a job with the Department of Education upon return, but not as principal of Kalihi Uka School.

He also understands his obligation.

"I've benefited a lot from the Army. You can't just take something. You've gotta give something back," he said. "Plus, duty, honor, country — it goes without saying."

Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Irie, 45, with the 411th Engineer Battalion, has been there, done that. In fact, he's still doing it.

Irie, who works as a range operations officer at Schofield Barracks in the civilian world, is back in Hawai'i on R&R from Camp Liberty — formerly called Camp Victory North — northeast of Baghdad International Airport.

The 600 reservists at Camp Liberty include about 300 from Hawai'i, a company each from Alaska and Guam, soldiers from American Samoa and about 100 from the Mainland. They have worked on medical centers, churches, office space and the base post office.

"We travel to like five different locations, so not just Liberty," Irie said. "It's the whole Baghdad area."

Irie said about 40 percent of the engineer battalion is about age 24; 20 percent is 30 to 40 years of age; and about 20 reservists are in their 50s.

Irie is one of those soldiers who knows he's not 20 years old anymore.

"Lugging things around is not easy, especially keeping up with the younger soldiers," he said. "Yes, it puts a strain on all of us having full battle rattle (full combat gear) every single day."

That's 40 to 50 pounds of gear. The Waipahu man said it takes a toll on your back and legs.

"It is an issue, but we all try to think we're still young at heart," he said. "We take our little beating. It's a little extra that we have to put into it."

But he added that "everyone's actually in pretty good shape."

Ramsdell joined a reserve civil affairs unit in Chicago in May of 2003 and switched to the 322nd with a move to Hawai'i in March of last year.

She said she did so in large part to take advantage of excellent preventive medicine and public health courses the Army has to offer.

"I really enjoy my patients. It's going to be real really hard to leave the clinic and my colleagues. We've worked really hard to develop an outstanding program," Ramsdell said. "I understand. I don't want to say I'm not looking forward to serving my country. It's what we do."

Like many others his age, Nomiyama joined the Army Reserve in 1971 to avoid going to the Vietnam War. His unit, the famed 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment — now also training for Iraq duty — was coming off a mobilization.

"I convinced myself that since they had come back for demobilization, I was safe for the next six years," Nomiyama said. "Then after six years, I thought, it's not bad. There's good people, you get to do a lot of things you wouldn't normally do."

People he got to know in the Reserves became mentors.

"It's that camaraderie that makes you want to stay on — plus there wasn't the threat of war," said Nomiyama, who's a planner and trainer with the 322nd.

Irie said it's harder for reservists 30 and younger to deploy to a war zone like Iraq because they've got young kids to take care of. Older reservists may have children in college.

"They still miss their wife and all that," Irie said, "but it's the little kids that make the hardship."

There's also the experience that a reservist like an educator brings to Iraq.

"That's what we're doing right now (in Iraq) — we have operations to get into the colleges, the universities, elementary schools," Irie said. " ... Yes, it puts everything on hold here in Hawai'i for the students here, but there's another gain on the other side."