PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Military officials say a handful of Marine reservists from Maine and New Hampshire are among the 1,800 being recalled to active duty.

The Marine Corps this week sent recall letters to reservists because of a shortage of volunteers to fill some jobs in Iraq. Maj. Steven O’Connor, a Marines spokesman, said letters were sent to five reservists in New Hampshire and 10 in Maine but did not name specific towns.

“We notified 1,800 because we understand we are human beings and life is not always conducive to being activated,” he said. “We’re trying not to create any undue hardships, so if there are legitimate concerns, like medical, family or even being in the middle of (graduate) school, the situations will all be looked at very seriously.”

Out of the 1,800-person recall, officials hope to get 1,200 Marines for aviation maintenance, logistics support, combat arms and several other skills needed for the early 2008 rotation into Iraq.

The letters were sent to members of the Individual Ready Reserve notifying them of plans to mobilize them involuntarily for a year.

The ready reserves are service members who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations. Generally, Marines enlist for four years, then serve another four either in the regular Reserves, where they are paid and train periodically, or in the IRR, in which they do not drill but can be involuntarily recalled.