Freedom Broadcasting CBS affiliate WWMT Kalamazoo, Mich., anchor Jeff McAtee has decided to leave the anchor chair to go on active duty in the Navy. McAtee will be serving overseas as a commander in Naples, Italy.

McAtee has been the co-anchor of WWMT's 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts for the past three years. He also helped launch and anchor the station's 10 p.m. newscast on its digital channel CW7. His last day at the WWMT anchor desk will be July 18.

"It's my time to serve", McAtee said. "Last month, our admiral asked for volunteers from those of us who hadn't yet been mobilized. I had a long talk with my wife, and she agreed that it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

This September marks McAtee's 20th anniversary of service. His many overseas assignments have included hurricane relief efforts in Haiti as well as stints in Latvia, Poland, Germany, Italy and the UK. He was currently assigned to NATO Allied Command Transformation HQ in Norfolk, Va.

"Jeff has done a great job for the station, and we are sad to see him go, but understand why he made his choice. We are proud of his decision during this difficult time," said Jim Lutton, WWMT vice president and general manager.

McAtee will relocate to Naples and start his new assignment on July 21.