The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Steve Pence, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor who also is an Army Reserve officer, said Friday he has been activated for a week of training.

Pence, a lieutenant colonel in the Army's judge advocate general corps, said he is to report Monday morning to Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

The event is a worldwide training session for military judges. That will prevent him from taking part in a forum of Republican lieutenant governor candidates Monday night on Kentucky Educational Television, Pence said.

"It's mandatory training. It's been in place several months. It's not optional," Pence said.

Gubernatorial candidate Ernie Fletcher knew of the upcoming assignment when he selected Pence as a running mate, Pence said.

Pence is assigned to the 150th Legal Services Organization, which is made up of military judges. Its home base is Alexandria, Va.

Pence has been a reserve officer for 21 years. He said he planned to remain in the reserves if elected "unless it interfered with the job of lieutenant governor, which I don't think it would."