Nearly 1,700 soldiers of the 27th Brigade Combat Team, including two Cornell alumni in Delta Co. 2-108th IN in Ithaca and four area residents whose wives are staff members at Cornell, are preparing for deployment to Afghanistan in early 2008 as part of the approximately 26,000 American forces in the country. The soldiers will assume command of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII, whose mission is to train the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.

Two of the three alumni are 1st Lt. Timothy Pasto '00 and 2nd Lt. Benjamin Fleming '06. Pasto, who is the executive officer of Delta Company, will be in charge of logistics, supply and maintenance. He received his B.S. in human development from the College of Human Ecology before going on for his master's in science and education at Syracuse University and subsequently being commissioned in the National Guard.

Fleming received his operations research degree in engineering and is in charge of one of the five platoons in the company. Both will be leaving family behind: Pasto has a wife, daughter and many family members living in Ithaca; Fleming's family lives in Michigan and he hopes to see them before his deployment. Pasto's father, grandfather and two uncles also are Cornell grads.

The third Cornell alumnus, 2nd Lt. Joshua Van Buskirk CALS '07, is assigned to the Joint Task Force Headquarters J2 Section as a tactical intelligence officer.

With approximately 90 soldiers in the Ithaca-based Delta Company, it was almost inevitable that some of them would be closely related to Cornell employees. At least four Cornell staff members have husbands who also are being called up for this deployment: Samantha Adsitt, employed in Cornell Dining (SPC Michael Adsitt); Trisha Bush, with the Cornell Chronicle (SSG Carl Bush); Margaret Rolfe, in the Department of Anthropology (SFC James Rolfe); and Carol Zhe, School of Hotel Administration (SPC Michael Zhe).

"It's not easy to see him go," said Bush. "But my supervisor and co-workers have been very understanding. They've given me the time I've needed not only to prepare for Carl leaving, but also to take care of our two little boys."

Rolfe agreed: "We have two teenage girls. My department has been very understanding and allows me to take time off whenever I need it."

Noting that the period of time right before and during deployment is an emotionally difficult one, Zhe is finding the same kind of support in her work setting.

"All of the people in my office have been wonderful and sensitive," she said. "They understand that I am not always going to be my usual self, that there will be ups and downs."

Adsitt concurs, but with a young child to take care of, and until now having always lived within commuting distance of her husband's assignments, she has decided to work part time for Cornell Dining for the duration of his Afghanistan deployment. "Everyone has been very flexible," she said.

In addition to the support of their colleagues and supervisors, Bush and Rolfe find the local Family Readiness Group (FRG) to be a source of support. Rolfe is a co-leader of the group, while Bush serves as treasurer. The FRG, which is a support group for family members, was developed by the Armed Services for military families nationwide. The group meets once each month, and members keep in contact through e-mail and a newsletter.

"Joining the FRG has helped me emotionally," Bush said. "You know that everyone in the group knows exactly what you are going through. Becoming an officer has given me the opportunity to develop close friendships with the other women. I am very thankful for that."