Cruz Jones, master supply technician, Honeywell, and Spc. Gerald Vissepo, orderly room clerk, 

4th Infantry Division, perform a plena style dance Oct. 14 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda during 

the final Hispanic Heritage Month performance.

Vol. II, Issue 84 Telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story October 27, 2008

Victory Times

Bicycle race,

Page 8

Workplace safety,

Page 6

Voting update, 

Page 3

Photo by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

Hispanic Heritage,

See Pages 4 and 5
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. Christopher M. Gaylord

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 submissions or 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 October 27, 2008

Kazakhstani, Georgian troops end mission in Iraq

Capt. Mzia Sutaberidze, 1st Georgian Bde., logistics officer and officer-in-charge, and her senior-enlisted soldier case their colors during 

an end-of-mission ceremony on Forward Operating Base Delta Oct. 20. 

Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq deputy commanding general, 

presents Sgt. Erlan Dusetov, Warrant Officer 

Amantay Ismuhambetov and 1st Lt. Akylbek 

Mazhimbekov with their Army Achievement 

Medals .

Story and photos by 

Multi-National Division - Center

Another two valuable members of 

the coalition effort in Iraq marked the 

end of their time serving with U.S. 

forces. The remaining 30 soldiers of 

Georgia’s 1st Infantry Brigade and 

troops from Kazakhstan cased their 

colors with a ceremony at Forward 

Operating Base Delta Oct. 20. 

“For the time they’ve been here, 

tasks were completed fully and well,” 

said Capt. Mzia Sutaberidze, 1st Georgian Bde., logistics officer and officerin-charge of the remaining contingency. Nearly 1,600 Georgians left FOB 

Delta in August to support combat operations in Georgia.

Other leaders stood up to offer the 

Georgians praise. “We thank the Coalition forces, especially Georgian 

troops, who participated in liberating 

Iraq from the Baath Party and criminal 

Saddam (Hussein),” said Wasit Deputy Governor for Administration Yousif 

Reja. 

Kazakhstani soldiers have been 

serving in Wasit since ealy 2003. 

“Since the first day, (our) soldiers have 

been meritoriously carrying out their 

mission,” said Lt. Gen. Bulat Sembinov, Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of 

Defense. 

During their five years in Iraq, Kazakhstani soldiers performed a variety 

See DEPARTURE, Page 3
October 27, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

News

Troops’ chance to submit absentee ballots nearing end

Story by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

13th Public Affairs Detachment

DEPARTURE from, Page 2

“The right of citizens 

of the United States to 

vote shall not be denied 

or abridged by the United 

States or by any State on 

account of race, color, 

or previous condition 

of servitude.” –Amendment XV, Section 1 of 

the U.S. Constitution. 

Deployed servicemembers have that same 

right to cast their votes 

by using absentee ballots 

from their home states. 

“Servicemembers 

should have requested the 

absentee ballots using a 

Standard Form 86 through 

the county in the state 

they are going to vote,” 

said Capt. Amy Stanley, 

S1, Task Force Dragon, 

Multi-National Corps 

– Iraq. “They should have 

already gotten their ballots 

through the mail. If they 

haven’t, then they should 

be using the federal write 

in absentee, which is the 

Standard Form 186 in lieu 

of their absentee ballots.”

Ballots are arriving at 

Victory Base Complex, 

being filled out and sent 

back by servicemembers and American civilians serving here.

“We get a pretty big 

stack on a daily basis that 

we bring in and push out,” 

said Staff Sgt. Ronald 

Garcia, noncommissioned 

officer in charge, postal 

operations, MNC-I.

With election day drawing near, servicemembers 

need to finish their absentee ballots and send 

them back to the states.

“For the military as 

a whole, this is the last 

week to send in your 

absentee ballot,” Stanley 

said. “It does depend on 

the state. Some states 

want it by a certain date, 

while others want it postmarked by a certain date.”

The government 

makes sure every vote 

is accounted for. 

“There are things in 

place in each state to 

make sure absentee vote 

ballots are brought to 

the appropriate location 

and are counted correctly,” Stanley said. 

“It is a lot of work,” 

Garcia said. “We are held 

to a higher standard to 

make sure every individual receives his balloting 

materials in order to vote.”

With election day 

approaching, the U.S. 

military is about to find 

out who will be its new 

commander-in-chief, 

which provides servicemembers an opportunity 

rare to most Americans.

“A lot of Americans 

don’t get a say in who 

their boss is, but in the 

military, you do when 

you vote,” Stanley said. 

Photo illustration by Pfc. Eric J. Martinez, 13th Public Affairs Detachment

of different missions. A Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit provided more than 6,000 cubic meters of 

clean water for Iraqi citizens and Coalition forces at and in the surrounding areas of Patrol Base Murray.

An explosive ordnance disposal 

platoon destroyed more than 4 million pieces of ordnance. A medical 

section of the EOD platoon provided 

care to more than 5,000 Iraqi civilians. 

“Never forget what you have accomplished here. Years from now, 

you will be able to look back and 

know you were part of something 

great, something that shaped the 

world for future generations,” said 

Marine Maj. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, 

Multi-National Corps – Iraq deputy 

commanding general.
Page 4 Victory Times

 HISPANIC 

Servicemembers, civilians celebrate H

Story and photos by 

Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Personnel from across Victory Base 

Complex gathered to observe the closing 

ceremony for Hispanic Heritage Month 

Oct 14 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda.

The ceremony continued to share the 

diversity of Hispanic culture by highlighting cultural and traditional dances 

Sgt. 1st Class Roboam Felix, career counselor, Task Force Thunderbird, plays the guitar while 

slides depicting scenic photos of Hispanic countries play Oct. 14 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda.

Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Caballero, operational security office, information operations, Multi-National Corps - Iraq, and Veronica Leyva, senior security coordinator, Kellogg, Brown and 

Root, perform a Puerto Rican bomba dance Oct. 14 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda.

Sgt. Dante Steel, administration specialist, Multi

form a salsa dance during the closing ceremony 
Page 5

 HERITAGE

October 27, 2008

Hispanic cultures with music and dance 

performed by dancers who regularly attend salsa nights.

“At least 50 percent of the VBC 

Salsa Dancers have never set foot on a 

dance floor until just a few months ago 

and here they are today performing for 

all of you,” said Lt. Col. Alberto C. 

Rosende, S3, Headquarters, 926th Engineer Brigade. “Ian [Ian Carr, operations 

cell chief, Aegis, and a salsa instructor] 

choreographed a majority of the dances 

you experienced tonight along with our 

various input.” 

“We demonstrated quite a bit from 

different cultures, from the Caribbean to 

Central America,” Carr said “If we had 

more time we would have even thrown 

in the tango.”

Cultural observances help servicemembers relate to on another through 

celebration.

“Cultural events like this one demonstrate that our strength comes from all 

over the world and not just one area or 

group of people,” said Lt. Cmdr Daniel 

Caballero, operational security officer, 

Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and a salsa 

dancer. “Learning about other cultures 

gives you an awareness of where others 

come from, their mindset and their heritage.”

Caballero also stressed why dancing 

is an important theme in Hispanic heritage. 

“Dancing is a huge part of Hispanic 

culture as well as food and language, 

but dancing is what keeps us together. 

It doesn’t matter where you are in the 

world, everyone understands salsa,” said 

Caballero. “It allows people to forget 

their differences and celebrate through 

music and dance.” 

The ceremony also included food and 

a slideshow containing scenic photographs of Hispanic countries. 

i-National Force-Iraq, and Spc. Maureen Walz, cable systems installer, 44th Signal Battalion, per

y for Multi-National Corp-Iraq’s Hispanic Heritage Month Oct. 14 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda.

Members of the VBC Salsa Dancers stand with 

a certificate of appreciation given by Brig. Gen. 

Joseph Caravalho, surgeon, Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq and Multi-National Force - Iraq.
Page 6 Victory Times October 27, 2008

Features

By Jesse Martin

Corps Safety Office

Safety precautions vital in workplace

Interview and photo by 

Staff Sgt. 

Jason R. Krawczyk

Spc. Maureen Walz

Unit: 44th Signal Battalion

Job title: Cable systems 

installer

Age: 22

Time in service: 3 years

Family: “Mother, father, 

five younger brothers.”

Hobbies: “Softball and 

salsa/swing dancing.”

Person you admire the 

most: “My parents and 

Colin Powell.”

Why you joined: “September 11, 2001.”

If you weren’t in the military you would be:

“Working toward a degree 

at college.”

One thing you’d change 

about the Army: “The 

Army is getting too soft.”

One thing you’d never 

change about the Army: 

“The bond among Soldiers.”

Describe your job in one 

sentence: “Laborious.”

Unusual facts about you: 

“I believe in the supernatural.”

Goals: “Become a sergeant, 

finish college and help children in need.”

Something you wish 

everyone would do: “Be 

respectful to others and lend 

a hand to someone in need.”

Words of wisdom: “Keep 

your chin up.”

The best thing about being deployed: “The experience and the Iraqi kids.”

Most exiting thing you 

have ever done: “Bungee 

jumped in Spain.”

Best basic training 

memory: “On the first 

day, standing in front of 

our building, a Soldier 

got so nervous they threw 

up all over the Drill 

sergeant’s boots.”

Get to know a Soldier...

 Many personal injuries in 

this theater of operation can be 

prevented. What may look like 

an obvious hazard to some may 

be overlooked by others, until 

someone gets hurt. Work environments should be analyzed and 

assessed, and problems within the 

environment should be fixed. 

Leaders, mangers and supervisors should conduct an assessment 

of their work areas at least monthly. 

With employee safety in mind, you 

should check all walking surfaces 

in and around your organization, 

looking for trip hazards such as 

holes in the floors or side walks, 

broken stairs, curbs and poorly lit 

areas where personnel normal walk. 

Some problems in your work 

environment require you to 

block an area off until the problem can be fixed. Instead of letting someone get hurt, submit a 

work order to your Mayor Cell. 

Electrical outlets should be 

inspected for obvious damage or burns, or overloading. 

These faulty power sources 

should be replaced if found. 

Fire and emergency exit plans 

should be reviewed. Picture where 

each person works and how that 

person would exit the building. 

Ensure doors and aisle ways are 

not blocked and each person is 

aware of a pre-planned escape 

route and assembly area. Broken lights and doors that may 

prevent proper exiting of the 

facility should be replaced. 

To keep employees safe, leaders should ensure they are using 

proper personal protective equipment when the job requires it, 

such as gloves, eye/hearing protection, steel-toed boots, reflective 

vest, hard hats and face shields. 

Some other tips for keeping 

personnel in the workplace safe 

include replacing broken chairs or 

other furniture, designating a smoking area and making sure it is used, 

and looking at your parking areas 

and ensuring the designated area 

doesn’t conflict with normal personnel and vehicle traffic. Prioritize 

the listed hazards and report these 

findings to the Mayor Cell or other 

appropriate agencies for repair. 
October 27, 2008 Victory Times Page 7

Community

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-Sunday 7:30 a.m.-5:30 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)

Thursday

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

Friday

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

Saturday

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

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

Sunday

7 a.m............. Liturgical Protestant Service

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

4 p.m............... Epicopal/Lutheran Service

Mini Chapel (Bldg. 24F)

Tuesday

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

Wednesday

7 p.m...............................Men’s Fellowship

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

11:30 p.m............... Roman Catholic Mass

Friday

1 p.m..................... Muslim Prayer Service

8 p.m......................... Women’s Fellowship

Sunday

8 a.m................ Eastern Orthodox Service

10 a.m.............. Protestant Sunday School

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

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

Hope Chapel (Bldg 24B)

Monday

12 p.m........... Charismatic Prayer Meeting

Sunday

8:30 a.m...... Collective Protestant Service

10 a.m.................... Roman Catholic Mass

12 p.m............................... Gospel Service

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

Service

Warrior Chapel (Camp Liberty)

Friday

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

Worship Hours

AFN 

Freedom Radio All stations are FM

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

Contact Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord at chris.gaylord@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;

Gospel Protestant 

Bible Study

 7 p.m. Hope 

Chapel

Women’s Bible 

Study 7 p.m. 

Bldg 24F

7:30 p.m. 

Purpose Driven 

Life Bible Study 

(Victory Mayor’s 

Cell)

Young Adult

Bible Study

5:30 p.m.

Hope

Chapel

Men’s Bible Study

7 p.m. Victory 

Chapel;

Spanish Bible 

Study 7 p.m. Bldg 

24F 

7:30 Bible Study 

(Victory Mayor’s 

Cell)

Foundations 

Bible Study, 

Mini Chapel 

6:30 p.m.

SeventhDay

Adventist

10 a.m.

Victory

Chapel

Legal Services

Cooley Law School is offering 

servicemembers free legal consultations via video-conference with an attorney regarding answers to civilian 

legal matters from 8-11 p.m. the first 

Wednesday of each month. For more 

information contact Kathryn D. Hudacek at khudacek@freedomcalls.org 

or (973) 290-7886

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.

R&R Briefings

Reunion and Suicide Intervention 

Briefings are at the Victory Chapel, 

Monday at 3 p.m., Wednesday at 9:30 

a.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. All servicemembers going on leave or redeploying 

must attend this briefing.

ISC (2) Exams offered

CAP, SSCP, CISSP, ISSAP, ISSMP, 

and ISSEP exams are being offered for 

interested military and civilian personnel. 

Contact Michael Kahler at 435-2265. 

Toastmasters

Improve your public speaking skills 

while having fun with creative, goal-oriented people. No speaking experience 

necessary. Capt. Armin Reyes 485-3968 

Armin.reyes@iraq.centcom.mil.

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

MNC-I Chaplain’s Office:

485-3743

The Corps Report

“The Corps Report” is a 15 minute monthly television newscast highlighting the stories and events 

happening in the Multi-National Corps-Iraq area of operations. The program airs Sunday at 8:15 pm and 

Monday at 11:15 a.m. on the Pentagon Channel here in Baghdad. The October edition of the newscast will 

feature stories on the Task Force 62nd Medical Brigade transfer of authority, 9/11 memorial 5k run and the 

Armenian end of mission ceremony, to name just a few. Be sure and catch the latest edition of “The Corps 

Report” and contact the broadcast team at MNC-I if you have a story idea at 485-4652.
Page 8 Victory Times October 27, 2008

Feature

Story and photos by 

Pfc. Eric J. Martinez

13th Public 

Affairs Detachment

Victory Base Complex holds first-ever bicycle race 

Servicemembers and 

civilians pedaled their 

way into history during 

Victory Base Complex’s 

first-ever bike race held 

on Camp Victory Oct. 

19.

The Lost Lake Bike 

Race was hosted by a 

group of cycling enthusiasts who wanted to share 

their sport. Bikes ranged 

from professional models shipped from home to 

mountain bikes purchased 

in country at the Post Exchange.

Col. Michael Thomas, 

foreign policy executive 

officer, command group, 

Multi-National CorpsIraq organized the race 

with the help of the Victory Base Complex Cycling 

Club and Camp Victory 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation representatives.

“I’ve put on several 

races back in the states 

and this is probably one 

of the best venues to have 

a race like this,” Thomas 

said. “We had a closed, 

1.6 mile loop around Lost 

Lake, beautiful weather, 

a lot of great participants 

and motivation.”

Capt. Michael Frese, 

chaplain, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 

Lt. Col. Robert Cornes, deputy chief of staff of operations, 44th Medical Command; Maj. Kurt 

Rowland, 4th Infantry Division; and Chief Warrant Officer Howard Pepper, 503rd Maintainence 

Company, lead the way Oct. 19 in the 45 and below age group during the first-ever bike race 

held on Victory Base Complex.

completed the five laps 

first in the 34 and younger 

category. Terrell Herbert, 

civilian contractor, MultiNational Force-Iraq, 

completed his four laps 

first in the 45 and older 

age group. Lt. Col. Robert Cornes, deputy chief 

of staff of operations, 

44th Medical Command, 

finished his laps around 

Lost Lake first in the 45 

and younger age group.

“It was a great event 

for first time bicycle riders and avid bicycle riders to come out and compete in a in a venue you 

don’t normally see,” said 

Cornes. “I didn’t bring 

my bike at first, but when 

I got here I saw the race 

flyers, the groups of people that were riding and 

that the roads supported 

it. I had a friend take [my 

bike] down to the local 

bike shop so they could 

mail it to me a week-anda-half ago.” 

The race wasn’t just 

about competing or gathering together, but showed 

the changing environment 

in Iraq.

“One of the most important things is that having a bike race like this, 

as well as some of the 

runs, like the [Baghdad] 

Army 10 Miler that had 

1200 runners, is that it 

demonstrates that the security situation in Iraq has 

improved over the last 12 

to 18 months,” Thomas 

said. “It is safe enough 

and secure enough for 

us to conduct events like 

this that add some sense 

of normalcy to what is 

otherwise a pretty tough 

deployment.”

The Victory Base Complex Cycling Club holds 

Friday training rides as 

well as Sunday leisure 

rides starting at 5:45 a.m. 

at Warrior Park.