Vol. II, Issue 42 Wednesday’s Online Edition June 18, 2008

victory timesonline

By Marine Cpl. 

Frances L. Goch

MNC-I PAO

Soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen gathered at Al Faw Palace June 

14 to celebrate the Army’s 233rd birthday. Cutting the cake were Master 

Sgt. Gerard Pantin, Command Sgt Maj. Joseph Allen and Pfc. Tara Hoban. Pantin,62, was the oldest Soldier present, Allen is the Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq command sergeant major and Hoban,19, was the youngest Soldier present. During the birthday ceremony, attendees were also 

treated to a motivational Army video. 

Happy Birthday Army!

Photo by Marine Cpl. Frances L. Goch, Multi-National Corps - Iraq PAO

See IAG, Page 2

The Iraqi Assistance Group provides training to the 

Iraqi security force 

through the use of 

transition teams so 

it can operate as an 

independent entity 

providing safety and 

security to the people of Iraq.

IAG is in charge 

of coordinating all 

transition teams 

for Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq. Their 

transition teams are 

split into three categories: military transition teams, national police transition 

teams and border or 

port of entry transition teams. Each 

team is made up of 

10 to 15 senior leaders, who are subject 

matter experts in 

their fields such as 

logistics and planning.

Each of these 

teams is embedded 

with a corresponding Iraqi security 

force team. 

“They grow very 

close over time beIAG puts Iraqis in lead

cause wherever the 

Iraqi teams go, so 

does the transition 

team assigned to 

them,” said Lt. Col. 

David Wood, future 

operations director, 

MNC – I IAG. “The 

Iraqis consider them 

[the team] their 

brothers.”

The Iraqis and 

transition teams 

are inseparable for 

a year. They live, 

sleep and eat together while the transition team mentors, 

advises and trains 

the Iraqis. 

One of the main 

focuses with the 

Iraqi Army is logistics. 

“We are trying to 

help make their systems faster and more 

efficient.” Wood 

said.

Another tool to 

making the Iraqi 

army more independent is the Warfighter Training Program. 

It is a three-week 

course with a more 

concentrated level 

of training.

Through this 

training, the Iraqi 

military personnel 
 

News

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 Goch, Pfc. Eric J. 

Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times online 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 Online is an authorized 

electronic 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 Online June 18, 2008

The largest fish caught on Camp Slayer was hooked June 1 by Sgt. 1st Class Douglas W. Anderson, Headuqarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment. He tried 

luring the fish with turkey sausage, but the line kept snapping. Finally after six lines broke, 

a 30-pound trilene was used with half of a bagel for bait and the behemoth was reeled in to 

shore. The fish was 5 feet, 10 inches long and weighed 105 pounds.

Believe it or not!

Photo courtesy of Camp Slayer’s Mayor Cell

IAG, from Page 1

get a higher level of individual training in weapons systems, medical and 

communications, leadership training in logistics, 

operations and intelligence and small group 

collective training such 

as convoy operations and 

room/building clearing. 

Throughout two of the 

three weeks, and during 

the third week, they are 

brought together at a battalion level for a series of 

“missions,” which is the 

culminating exercise for 

the course.

“The Iraqi Army and 

Police are increasingly assuming a greater role in the 

security of Iraq,” said Col. 

Thomas Kelly, senior Marine, U.S. Marine Corps, 

Central Command Coordination Element -Iraq. “A 

transition of security responsibilities is occurring 

and gaining momentum. 

The ISF led recent military 

operations in Sadr City, 

Mosul and Basrah.”

The successful initiatives at all three of these 

Iraqi cities were planned 

and executed by the Iraqi 

government and its security forces.
June 18, 2008 Victory Times

News

Page 3

By Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

13thPublic Affairs Detachment

The Lone Wolf Entertainment Comedy Tour visited Victory Base Complex courtesy of 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation 

during the month of June. The 

Victory Times sat down with 

comedians Jerry Wayne Longmire, Kris Shaw and Tom Tran 

to find out a little about their 

experiences on tour in Iraq.

What brought you guys to 

Iraq?

Tran: “Credit card debt and 

lots of it. Oh and Father’s 

Day is coming up and I really need to be out of the country when that happens.”

Longmire: “I come from a 

military family and I’m kind 

of a disappointment, so I’m 

trying to make up for it.”

Shaw: “You’re a disappointment no matter what.”

Longmire: “Seriously though, 

I’ve been trying to get on this tour 

for about two years. It’s our way 

of doing what we can to make 

things better for you guys here.”

Shaw: “I want to give back. 

I’m a giver. I want to entertain 

and do my part for the country, but I’m not a fighter.”

Longmire: “It’s amazing. Everyone back home 

loves you guys so much and 

we just want you to know.”

Tran: “That cute little E-7 

down there brought me here. 

Actually, I was here in ’03 (as a 

Soldier) and I was an NCO and 

I like taking care of Soldiers. 

NCOs are NCOs and they want 

to take care of their Soldiers.

Tom, what differences do you 

notice from when you were here 

as a troop?

Tran: “Better accommodations. I lived on a cot with 

mosquito netting. I feel like an 

old, salty vet. They didn’t give 

us bullets when I was here, we 

had to make them out of camel 

turds. We had to walk 20 miles 

in sand, up hill both ways, barefoot. But joes are still joes and 

they still have a good attitude 

about being here. Soldiers have 

to be doing an awesome job 

out here to be able to have the 

better living environment.”

What are your shows like out 

here?

Longmire: “It’s pretty amazing. You guys 

show a lot of love.”

Shaw: “More love than 

he gets from his wife.”

Tran: “I started doing something new out here for the Soldiers. I’ve been taking about five 

minutes and telling stories from 

my time in the Army. I normally 

don’t do that with a civilian crowd 

because they don’t understand.”

What are your impressions of 

the troops serving out here right 

now?

Longmire: “To have a sense 

of humor while you’re going 

through all this is amazing. I’ll 

come back as many times as I 

can until this is all over, or until 

everyone gets tired of my jokes.”

Shaw: “I’m glad we have 

people who want to come over 

and fight for our country.”

Tran: “I realize how much Soldiers appreciate us visiting them 

when they come up and thank us 

after shows. It means a lot.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason R. Krawczyk, command group photographer

Tom Tran, Kris Shaw and Jerry Wayne Longmire with the Lone Wolf Entertainment Comedy Tour visited Victory Base Complex to bring some laughs to the troops. They are 

pictured with Brig. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, chief of staff, Multi-National Corps - Iraq, at Al 

Faw Palace June 10.

Comedians bring laughter to troops in Middle East
Page 4 Victory Times Online June 18, 2008

news

Military Happenings Military Happenings

TV star in Iraq to help fellow “little people”

Matt Roloff, star of The 

Learning Channel’s “Little 

People, Big World,” examines the XVIII Airborne 

Corps pen set he was presented June 11 while waiting 

for the Rhino at Victory Base 

Complex. Roloff is in Iraq to 

visit and extend medical aid 

to an Iraqi citizen who is a 

dwarf. A film crew from The 

Learning Channel accompanied Roloff on the trip. 

Photo by Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka, 

Multi-National Corps - Iraq PAO

First Air Guard unit to fly F-22 

 Air Force News Service - The Virginia Air National 

Guard’s 192nd Fighter Wing is the firstAir Guard unit to fly 

the F-22 Raptor in support of Operation Noble Eagle. 

Aircrews from the wing’s 149th Fighter Squadron fly the 

Raptor.

Army leaders cut birthday cake, enlist Soldiers

Army News Service - Top Army leaders celebrated the 

Army’s 233rd birthday with multiple ceremonies.

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Chief of Staff of 

the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. were joined by Sergeant 

Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston and the oldest and 

youngest Soldier at the Military District of Washington, Col. 

Richard Sutton and Pfc. Jared Robinson, respectively.

USS Russell assists vessel in distress

Navy News Service - USS Russell responded to a vessel in 

distress between Bossasso, Somalia and the Yemeni coast in 

the Gulf of Aden June 8.

A 45-foot small boat experienced serious engine problems, 

leaving it unable to operate at sea, and had been adrift for two 

days.

Chopper makes mobile memorial for troops

Marine Corps News Service - Retired Staff Sgt. Jerry 

Royal, from Myrtle Beach, S.C., has built a custom chopper 

in dedication of Marines who served in support of Operations 

Iraqi Freedom.

“I wanted to make this bike in honor of Marines, especially 

the ones in Iraq,” said Royal.