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They are often referred to as the "donor unit," as its members are picked to serve with so many other military units around the world.

But on Saturday, members of the 305th Military Police Co. from the U.S. Army Reserves in Wheeling put aside thoughts of war and spent time flying a space mission with their families at Wheeling Jesuit University's Challenger Learning Center.

The outing, complete with a holiday-themed celebration, was a way for the troops and their family members to spend some time together while still challenging their thought process, as the center simulates a mission in space. Kathleen Frank, assistant director of e-Mission programs at the center, coordinated the event. Her son Michael is a member of the 305th.

First Sgt. William Randolph of Wheeling said that when Frank posed the idea of the troops and families doing a space mission, he "jumped on the idea."

"We typically do something with the families for the holidays and I thought this was a great training opportunity, as well as having some fun with their families," Randolph said.

He said the mission allowed the troops "to think outside the box ... to do some creative, realistic thinking" - the same type of tactics they employ while serving in combat.

In addition to the space mission, the soldiers and their family members were challenged to build a house out of sticks, cotton and other materials to cradle a water balloon that would be dropped several floors to the ground. The exercise brought out the creativity in many of the participants.

Reservist Steve Sacco, his wife Kelly and son Kenny Benedict, 6, of Wheeling said it was fun to spend time with other members and their families. When not serving the military, Sacco works at Cabela's Distribution Center at The Highlands, while his wife is employed at United Bank in Elm Grove.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Warnock, of Canonsburg, Pa., and fellow Sgt. Jeremy Misenhelder, of Wheeling, recently returned from deployment in Iraq. Both worked intently on their task at hand as new recruit Stanislov Alforov of Elizabeth, Pa., looked on.

"This is a nice thing to be able to get together with everyone, " Warnock said. "We never all get deployed together so we appreciate when we do get to see each other."

Warnock, now in college, said he and Misenhelder actually served together in Iraq and were glad to spend some down time together on Saturday. He also noted that "things have calmed down a lot in Iraq."

"When we left, the Iraqis seem to be much more in control," Warnock observed.

Misenhelder, a new member of the Wheeling Fire Department, said routinely troops are given a few days to recoup and get readjusted to being home after spending time in combat. He, too, said he appreciated Saturday's get-together.

Meanwhile, Randolph said the troops are always at the ready to be called up for active duty across the globe. He said some of the military police members are currently serving in Iraq, while others just came back.

"We are the donor unit because our members get called to serve in so many places. We go wherever we are needed."