Vol. II, Issue 47 Telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story June 30, 2008

Victory Times

Medical, 

Page 3

R&R safety, 

Page 6

Karaoke, 

Page 8

Motorpool, 

See Pages 5-6

Photo by Spc. Samuel J. Phillips, MNC-I PAO

Tony Eugene Branham, civilian general mechanic, Task Force Dragon motorpool, reinstalls a turbo charger 

after taking it out to replace the vehicle’s fuel injector Wednesday.
Commentary

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III 

MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Col. Billy J. Buckner 

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka

MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

Editor: Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Staff: Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances L. Goch, Pfc. Eric 

J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissionsor comments to 

joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, 

accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

The Victory Times is an authorized 

publication for members of the Department 

of Defense. Contents of this electronic 

publication are not necessarily the official 

views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The 

editorial content of this publication is the 

responsibility of the Public Affairs Office of 

Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Page 2 Victory Times June 30, 2008

Chaplain’s Corner

Keep eyes open on road to relationships

By Chaplain Stephen Pera

Garrison Chaplain

Those of us who have been on 

deployments know, have heard, 

read about or have experienced 

the strain deployments can put on 

spousal relationships. Chaplains 

and others have tried to support 

couples through the strain of deployment. But what can we say to single 

Soldiers, who still have to negotiate 

their way to finding a life partner? 

For many people today, developing a relationship with a person of 

the opposite sex is simultaneously a 

quest for sexual activity. My point 

in this article is not to moralize about 

this, but to observe this as a fact and 

as a factor in forming relationships. 

Being sexually involved with 

another person is an intense bonding 

experience. Is that a wise thing to do 

with someone you don’t know very 

well and with whom you have not established the basis for a relationship?

People are normally drawn into 

a relationship on the basis of an 

emotional feeling of love. Love is 

blind, we say. When the relationship 

is built primarily on the basis of that 

feeling, it can be like driving blind. 

You could easily run into something 

down the road. That isn’t to say 

love isn’t important, it definitely is. 

But it is good to add a little wisdom 

from the head to the tugging of the 

heart. How does one do this?

First, get to know the other person. Learn that person’s values and 

character. Learn about the influences 

that have shaped this person. Once 

you begin to know a person, you beSee CHAPLAIN, Page 3

Military dining facilities try 

their hardest to satisfy the broad 

tastes of servicemembers, and to 

keep them motivated. Even though 

food service providers work really hard it’s impossible for them to 

get everything just right.

A jar of salsa from my favorite restaurant in New Mexico is 

sometimes the only thing that 

motivates me to get through the 

day.

I may be in Iraq, but I have a 

reminder of home, the sweet taste 

of my jar of salsa. It took three 

months for the jar to arrive, and 

while waiting I had to work my 

way through jars of what amounts 

to just tomato paste to me.

Just waiting for the right jar of 

salsa to arrive was something that 

brightened my day.

I’ve even only been motivated 

to get out of bed so that I can 

come to the office and make my 

nose run and tongue burn with its 

gloriously satisfying flavor. The 

tastes automatically take me back 

to New Mexico, and put me with 

my family and friends.

It’s important to find things 

here that keep you connected 

with home. A casual phone call or 

email is good, but having comfort 

food from home can add to your 

happiness.

Others in my unit have had 

cookies, candy, cheese and tons 

of beef jerky sent as reminders of 

home. These treats not only added to the individual’s happiness 

but to others as well. 

The culture, love and friendships of New Mexico are something that I can’t find in Iraq. 

There is one condiment that can 

sum it all up for me, and if you 

find have some kind of food you 

love I adamantly suggest receiving and sharing it.

Comfort food from home feeds motivation

By Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public Affairs Detachment
June 30, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

news

gin to form a trust picture of that person. When you first 

meet someone, your trust begins at close to zero. As you 

begin to learn things about that person it may increase. 

Over time, if you find that you can trust the other 

person, then you will more and more rely on him or 

her. Commanders learn to rely on their staffs, and 

they learn who are their most reliable staff personnel. Your reliance on another person shouldn’t move 

ahead of your trust, and your trust shouldn’t move 

ahead of your knowledge of that other person. 

Story and photo by 

Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Once you really know another person, have found 

that you can trust that person and rely on that person, you may be ready for a commitment. It will be 

important to talk about and understand what kind of 

a commitment you have and what kind of a commitment you are prepared to make to each other. 

Approaching building a relationship by using your 

head as well as your heart can prepare you for a bright 

future. It can mean that you not only will find the 

right person, but that you will be the right person.

CHAPLAIN, From Page 2

Medical team evaluates healthcare equipment

A Joint Medical Technology Assessment and Review Team is currently in 

Iraq evaluating the equipment being 

used at Level III healthcare facilities in 

Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

A Level III healthcare facility is one 

which is responsible for evacuating patients from supported divisional and 

nondivisional units and providing resuscitative and hospital care. 

The JMTART team’s role is to ensure 

these facilities are getting the best equipment possible to accomplish their missions, said Chief Warrant Officer Kevin 

T. Curry, JMTART team leader. “We 

need to ensure the right mix of equipment in to these facilities to enhance patient care,” said Maj. Carmen Bell, laboratory officer, JMTART.

Areas of focus for the JMTART’s evaluation are laboratory, operating room 

and imaging operations. The team is 

comprised of subject matter experts from 

the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency 

and the Air Force. Col. James Breitweser 

and Col. William Boisvert are consultants 

to the Surgeon General in radiology and 

laboratory management, respectively. 

Lt. Col. Prospero Donan’s background 

is in operating room nursing and Bell’s 

background is in laboratory operations. 

Elizabeth Poole is the information technology assessor. Curry and Air Force 

Chief Master Sgt. Tracy Wilhelm are biomedical maintenance technicians.

The JMTART was sent by U.S. Army 

Central Command to assist Army medicine is transitioning from an expeditionary force to a sustainment mission. They 

were brought out to offer an unbiased 

opinion on current capabilities and technical requirements and what it would 

take to transition the medical mission 

into the sustainment realm, he said. 

 “We’re trying to identify what mission we need to be doing and find what 

technology and equipment we need to 

do it,” he said. “In order to be able to 

provide quality care, the doctors and clinicians have the right equipment to do 

their job.” 

Curry sent out a questionnaire in 

March to gather as much information as 

possible on the capabilities and issues of 

healthcare centers overseas. The actual 

trip, Curry said, is to fill in the gaps and 

information and get a first hand look at 

the equipment and the quality of care.

While the team has only visited its 

first combat support hospital, Ibn Sina 

in the International Zone, it already has 

two significant issues its hoping to address while its here. The issues are standardization of the equipment acquisition 

system and getting a lifecycle management program in place which is specifically tailored for Iraq.

Bell said Army medicine has adapted 

well to the challenges of Iraq. However, 

Curry noted, the equipment longevity changes due to the heat and dust in 

this environment. A lifecycle management program will ensure equipment 

is replaced before it is beyond repair or 

obsolete, Curry said. “We need to practice proactive logistics, not reactive,” he 

said.

The team will spend the next few 

weeks in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait 

evaluating nine combat support hospitals. When it arrives home, the team will 

report its recommendations to CENTCOM to help healthcare providers in deployed areas to continue providing the 

best care possible to their patients.

Chief Warrant Officer Kevin T. Curry, Joint 

Medical Technology Assessment and Review 

Team leader, evaluates medical imaging 

equipment at the 86th Combat Support Hospital June 20. 
Page 4 Victory Times

Day in the life of the B

Task Force Dragon motorpool kee

Spc. Tony Dutra, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, Task Force Dragon, inspects a gear hub 

for cracks or any type of failures, during a routine inspection of one of the many vehicles 

that the TF Dragon mechanics service. Staff Sgt. Alexander Frederick, light-wheeled vehicle 

off of a hub back plate. Alexander will create a new 

Vehicles sit in the Task Force Dragon motorpool w

details of both Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Mul
Page 5

Battalion Motorpool 

June 30, 2008

eps servicemembers rolling along

e mechanic, Task Force Dragon, scrapes the old seal 

 seal using silicone when he reassembles the hub.

waiting for their monthly services and emergency repairs. The TF Dragon motorpool services all of the vehicles for the personal security 

lti-National Force-Iraq.

Story and photo by 

Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

With no more than 19 mechanics 

and a handful of civilian contractors, 

the Task Force Dragon motorpool is 

responsible for keeping both Multi-National Corps – Iraq and Multi-National 

Force – Iraq on the road.

“We support the PSD (personal security detail) mission,” said Sgt. First 

Class Joseph Manning, battalion motor 

sergeant, TF Dragon, “we ensure that 

their trucks are all in working order.”

Manning said that the most important thing is that the PSD teams have 

one less thing to worry about. “If things 

go wrong they should not have to worry about whether or not their trucks are 

going to be able to get them out of it.”

The motorpool has a couple different 

ways of making sure all of their vehicles 

are in proper working order, said Staff 

Sgt. Alexander Frederick, light-wheeled 

vehicle mechanic, TF Dragon. First, every two weeks each of the vehicles are 

brought in for quality assurance and 

quality control inspections. Second, each 

vehicle goes through a more intensive 

inspection and services each month.

Some of the common problems the 

mechanics run into are air conditioning 

units going out, clogged fuel injectors 

and clogged intakes. “It’s your normal 

mechanical problems. They are just 

made worse by the environment and 

amount of use out here,” said Manning.

The additional wear on the vehicles 

doesn’t keep the TF Dragon motorpool from accomplishing its mission. 

“We are always at the ready for any 

mission,” said Manning, “we never 

know when five or even 20 trucks 

might come rolling in.”
Page 6 Victory Times June 30, 2008

features

Interview and photo by 

Cpl. Frances L. Goch

MNC-I PAO

Pfc. Adam Jankowski

Unit: MNC-I

Job title: CIDNE 

Operator / COP 

webmaster

Age: 27

Time in Service: 2 years

Family: Wife and 

twins, boy and girl.

Hobbies: “Video 

games, role-playing 

games and reading.”

Person you most 

admire: “My 

grandfather.”

Why you joined: 

“To gain discipline in 

everything I set out to do.”

If you weren’t in the 

military you would be: 

“Living in Wisconsin 

working a crap job.”

One thing you’d 

change about the 

Army: “Nothing.”

One thing you’d never 

change about the 

Army: “Everything.”

Describe your job in one 

sentence: “Webmaster.”

Unusual fact about you: 

“The right side of my skull 

is lower than the left side.”

Goals: “Be a good Soldier, 

an awesome dad and open 

my own gaming store.”

Something you wish 

everyone would do: “Play 

Dungeons and Dragons.”

Words of wisdom: 

“‘Do I dare disturb the 

universe’ T.S. Elliot.”

The best thing about 

being deployed: “Ask me 

again in six months...”

Most exciting thing 

you’ve ever done: “Sat 

next to my wife during 

the birth of our children.”

Best Basic Combat 

Training memory: 

“Waking up under 

a layer of frost after 

sleeping outside in a 

sleeping bag in the 

middle of winter.”

By Jesse Martin

Corps Safety Office

Use caution on battlefield, at home

SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR SAFETY SECTOR

Get to know a Soldier...

Why should anyone survive his 

time deployed defending the Nation 

in a time of War, only to return home 

and have a serious accident or die 

while riding a motorcycle, swimming 

in the lake, rock climbing, cliff diving, 

or drinking alcohol? Yet, it happens 

all the time. These activities offer 

great challenges, excitement and can 

be great fun, but those who participate 

in them must remember to think, act 

responsibly and evaluate the inherent 

risks of the activity they have chosen.

Ultimate responsibility for safety 

rests upon the individual. It rests upon 

leaders to lead by example, to mentor 

and teach. It also rests upon the individuals who work beside you. 

We all know that leaders are charged 

with providing training, direction and 

supervision so everyone in the organization knows how to make safe responsible decisions. We promote safety in our units, we have meetings about 

safety, and we give safety awards. 

Ultimately, each of us must decide 

how to act and what to do on our own. 

When faced with a challenging decision, what factors will you consider? 

Will you think of the safety of others? 

Will you avoid unnecessary risk? 

What will you do when your peers 

are doing the wrong thing and heading for trouble? Will you stand by and 

watch, will you join in, or will you 

step in and demonstrate responsible 

leadership? Will you show care and 

concern for others? Will you demonstrate compassion?

Once again, the decision ultimately 

belongs to the individual. Our goal is 

to teach individuals to make the right 

decision, using the right tools, thinking before taking action and setting 

an example for others to follow. We 

must make safety our first priority in 

all that we do.
Coalition Cafe

Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Dinner 5 - 8 p.m.

Midnight Dining 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Sports Oasis

Breakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Dinner 5 - 9 p.m.

Education Center

8 a.m.-midnight

Camp Liberty Post Exchange

8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fitness Center

Open 24 Hours

Victory Main Post Office

Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

MNC-I STB Mailroom

9 a.m. - noon

5 - 7 p.m.

Al Faw Palace Post Office

Wednesday and Sunday

1-6 p.m.

Golby Troop Medical Clinic

Sick Call

Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon

Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noon

Dental Sick Call

Monday - Friday 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Saturday 9 - 10:30 a.m.

Mental Health Clinic

Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - noon

Post-Deployment Health Briefings

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 p.m.

Pharmacy

Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon; 

1 - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noon

Legal Assistance/Claims

Saturday-Monday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Operating Hours

Victory Chapel (Bldg. 31)

Sunday

7 a.m.........................Collective Protestant

8:45 a.m....................Collective Protestant

10 a.m........................Catholic Confession

10:30 a.m............................ Catholic Mass

noon..............................Gospel Protestant

2 p.m.............................. Latter Day Saints

4 p.m...........................Episcopal/Lutheran

6:30 p.m............Contemporary Protestant

Saturday

11 a.m................... Seventh Day Adventist

8 p.m................................... Catholic Mass

Mini Chapel (Bldg. 24F)

Sunday

8:00 a.m................................Divine Liturgy

9:30 a.m........................Breaking of Bread

3 p.m................................Church of Christ

7:30 p.m......................... Latter Day Saints

7 p.m.........................Knights of Columbus

Tuesday-Friday

11:30 p.m................................. Daily Mass

Friday

6:30 p.m.............................Jewish Service

Warrior Chapel (Camp Liberty)

Friday

6:30 p.m.............Victory Base Open Circle

Worship Hours

Al Asad ...... 107.3

Ali Base ..... 107.3

Ar Ramadi.. 107.3

Baghdad .... 107.3

Balad ......... 107.3

Fallujah...... 105.1

Kirkuk......... 107.3

Kirkush....... 107.3

Mosul......... 105.1

Q-West ........ 93.3

Taji ............. 107.3

Tal Afar....... 107.3

Taqqadum.. 107.3

Tikrit........... 100.1

AFN 

Freedom Radio

All stations are FM

Do you have an announcement about an event of interest to the Camp Victory community? 

Contact Spc. Samuel J. Phillips at samuel.phillips1@iraq.centcom.mil with the information. 

Information for community announcements needs to submitted at least two weeks prior to the 

event to allow for timely publication.

Announcements

Camp Victory Bible Studies

Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun.

Women’s

Bible Study

7 p.m.

Bldg 24F

Smoke & Joe

Bible Study

12 p.m.

Victory

Chapel Porch

Young Adult

Bible Study

5:30 p.m.

Victory

Chapel

Men’s

Bible Study

6:30 p.m.

Bldg 24F

Foundations 

Bible Study, 

Mini Chapel 

6:30 p.m.

SeventhDay

Adventist

10 a.m.

Victory

Chapel

Men of the

Bible Study

5 p.m.

MLB Room,

Oasis DFAC

June 30, 2008 Victory Times Page 7

community

Navy Advancement Program

The Navy’s Combat Meritorious Advancement Program has been created to advance sailors in paygrades E1-E5 in recognition of uncommon valor and extraordinary 

deeds demonstrated while engaged in, or 

in direct support of combat operations. The 

Combat Meritorious Advancement Program 

is effective immediately. Recommendations 

for advancement under this program are 

submitted based on actual action/performance in combat. 

 CISSP Exams offered

Posting of Certified Information System 

Security Professional (CISSP) Examination 

for interested military of civilian personnel. 

POC is Capt. Richard Y. Kofie, 822-5108. 

 Story ideas for Victory Times

Do you know of a good story on Camp 

Victory that you think should be covered 

for the Victory Times? Please submit your 

ideas to Staff. Sgt. Joy Pariante at joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. Please include any 

interesting facts about the topic and point of 

contact information.

Army Reserve Reenlistment

Reenlistment bonuses are excluded from 

federal taxes in theater. Building 123 located 

next to MWR 124 at Camp Victory is the Army 

Reserve Career Counselor’s office. Points of 

contact are Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Aleman Jr., 

318-822-4622; Sgt. 1st Class Merle Swecker, 

318-822-8453; Sgt. 1st Class Jose Torres, 318-

822-8464. If you have any questions call or 

e-mail your local career counselors.

Texas Hold’em

Every Monday night at Morale, Welfare 

and Recreation Bld. 124 there are Texas 

Hold’em Tournaments starting at 8 p.m. 

Every week prizes such as t-shirts, hats, 

poker books and coins are given to the top 

players.

The Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq will host the largest mass reenlistment ceremony ever. The ceremony will be on July 4, 2008 in the Al 

Faw Palace Rotunda, Camp Victory, Iraq. All active duty and reserve component Soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen are welcome to participate. 

Gen. David Petraeus, MNF-I commanding general, will host this event by giving 

remarks and administering the oath.

Each reenlistee will receive a flag, which has flown over Al Faw Palace, with a 

Flag certificate, signed by both Petraeus and Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, MNFI command sergeant major, their choice of either the MNF-I commander or command sergeant major coin, and an individual photo with the commanding general 

as a token of appreciation for their continued service.

The point of contact for the ceremony is Sgt. Maj. Yolanda Brock at 318-822-2846.

Participate in largest reenlistment ever
Page 8 Victory Times June 30, 2008

Sports

Civilian contractor sings way into 1st place

Story by 

Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Sgt. Eric Gorham, unit supply specialist, 11th 

Signal Brigade, sings “Sexual healing” by 

Marvine Gaye.

Karaoke enthusiasts from all over 

Victory Base Complex faced off in 

the final round of MWR 124’s karaoke competition June 22.

The overall winner of the three 

round event was Walt “Baby Love” 

Horton, civilian contractor, with the 

song “The first time I ever saw your 

face” which was popularized by Roberta Flack in 1969.

“Walt was feeling the song and getting the audience involved,” said Jose 

Bribiesas, MWR coordinator. “He sang 

directly to the judges and the crowd.”

Walt joined the competition not 

only to have fun but also to entertain 

the audience.

“My fellow competitors were all 

Walt “Baby Love” Horton, civilian contractor, singing “The first time I ever saw your face” which was popularized by Roberta 

Flack. Horton also handed out stuffed animals to the ladies in the crowd.

awesome,” said Horton. “The competition was exciting and was a very good 

way to entertain the troops.”

A crowd of 315 spectators showed 

up to see the contestants perform. 

MWR 124 is planning more events like 

it in the future.

“I wasn’t expecting this big of a 

turnout for the karaoke competition, 

but because of its success we might 

even be able to have a battle of the 

bands or more karaoke competitions 

like this one.” Bribiesas said

“I’ve been singing my whole life,” 

said Horton. “There is a possibility 

that I will perform in more competition in the future.”

“During the competition everyone felt like they where back home,” 

Bribiesas said “The contestants performed, the audience was relaxing or playing volleyball, and the 

10th Mountain Division rock band 

brought it all together. “

Photo by Sarah Hostetler

Photo by Sarah Hostetler