Vol. II, Issue 76 Friday’s Online Edition October 3, 2008

victory timesonline

Story by Sgt. 1st Class 

Monica Bailey

Equal Opportunity Office

Army celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon 

Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage 

Week, and this observance 

was expanded in 1988 to a 

month-long celebration. 

During this month, 

America celebrates the 

traditions, ancestry and 

unique experiences of 

those who trace their roots 

to Spain, Mexico, the countries of Central and South 

America, and the Caribbean. Throughout history, 

Hispanic Americans have 

enriched the American culture and way of life, and we 

recognize the millions of 

Hispanic Americans who 

have sacrificed so much for 

our great nation during this 

month-long celebration. 

Hispanic Americans became the largest minority 

group in the United States 

in 2002. Hispanics currently make up 15.1 percent of the United States’ 

total population. 

They include sub-groups 

such as Mexican American, Cuban American, 

Colombian American, Dominican American, Puerto 

Rican American, Salvadoran American and many 

league baseball hall-offamers include Orlando 

Cepeda, Juan Marichal 

and Luis Aparicio. Since 

the 1950s, a number of 

Hispanic American music 

performers have gained 

widespread popularity, including Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan and the 

group, Los Lobos. 

Hispanics have also 

influenced the arts with 

painters such as John Valez 

and actors such as Edward 

James Olmos. Whether it 

is politics, entertainment 

or food, Hispanic Americans have influenced and 

changed the American 

way of life. 

Hispanic Americans having fought for the defense 

of our Nation in the Civil 

War, World War II, the Komore. Hispanic Americans 

have been living in what is 

now known as present day 

United States since 1565. 

Hispanic Americans 

have made major contributions to the development of 

the nation and the American culture. They have 

made their mark in all fields 

such as politics, science, 

law, sports, music and, of 

course, the military. 

Hispanics have filled 

top positions in the U.S 

government with Mexican 

American Alberto Gonzales serving as U.S. Attorney General and Cubanborn Carlos Gutierrez as 

Secretary of Commerce. 

In 1998, Luis Caldera, 

a Mexican American, became the highest ranking 

Hispanic to hold office in 

America when he became 

Secretary of the Army. Currently there are 23 Hispanics 

in the House of Representatives and six in Senate. 

Hispanics have also 

made their mark in sports 

,with at least 30 percent of 

all major league baseball 

players being born in Latin 

America, coming mostly 

from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto 

Rico and Venezuela. 

Such names as Roberto Clemente of Puerto 

Rico and other major 

Lt. Col. Steven Parker, Pfc. Jacqueline Olvera, Maj. Guillermo Santiago, Sgt. Glenda Sigaran and Lt. Col. Vance McLeod cut a cake 

during Multi-National Division-Center’s Hispanic Heritage Month 

celebration Sept. 18 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation 124 

building on Camp Victory.

Spc. Josh LeCappelain, Multi-National Division-Center

rean War, Vietnam, Desert Shield and, of course, 

Iraq and Afghanistan. The 

military currently has tens 

of thousands of Hispanic 

Americans serving in Iraq 

and Afghanistan. Hispanics make up about 9.49 

percent of the overall enlisted force and 3.8 percent 

of the officer corps. Currently Hispanics hold 1.36 

percent of flag billets within the overall military. 

To date Hispanics have 

been awarded 42 Medals of 

Honor, making them the nation’s highest ethnic group 

to be recognized. Hispanic 

Americans have contributed much to the American 

way of life and that is why 

from Sept. 15 through Oct. 

15 we celebrate and recognize their many accomplishments. 
Page 2 Victory Times October 3, 2008

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, Spc. 

Samuel J. Phillips, Pfc. Eric J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times online 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 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.

Army makes changes in death gratuity

they are accurate,” 

Nazario said. “They 

need to have their desires known before 

they pass away.”

Story and photo by

 Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

13th Public Affairs Det.

The U.S. Army updated its policy on 

death gratuity and next 

of kin notification paperwork; requiring all 

personnel to use the 

new January 2008 version of DD Form 93.

“Death gratuity is a 

lump sum gratuitous 

payment made by the 

Army to eligible beneficiaries of a member who dies on active 

duty including fulltime active guard/reserve personnel,” said 

Capt. Amy Stanley, S1, 

Task Force Dragon, 

Multi-National Corps 

– Iraq. “Its purpose is 

to help the survivors in 

their readjustment and 

to aid them in meeting 

immediate expenses 

incurred. At the present time, the amount 

of death gratuity is 

$100,000.”

“The major change is 

that in May 2007, you 

could contribute only 

to one person,” Stanley said. “As of January 

2008 a Soldier can distribute his $100,000 in 

allotments of $10,000. It 

gives Soldiers more options.”

These new policies 

open up avenues of 

possibilities for who 

Soldiers’ can give their 

death gratuity. 

“If you don’t leave 

all your money to your 

spouse, then they will 

have to be notified,” 

Chief Warrant Officer 

Jenaro Nazario, human 

resources technician, 

S1, Task Force Dragon, MNC-I. “The Army 

will not tell them who 

the money is being sent 

to, but they will tell the 

spouse that you won’t 

be leaving the whole 

100 percent to them.”

It is mandatory that 

everyone must update 

their DD form 93 on 

the new January 2008 

forms. People going 

on leave or pass must 

have a copy of the new 

DD 93 form.

“It is the responsibility of the commanders and first sergeants 

to pass this information along, but it is the 

Soldiers’ responsibility to update their records and make sure 

Record of Emergency Data forms, the DD Form 93, have a new 

Jan. 2008 version. DD Form 93 is for death gratuity and next of 

kin notification.
October 3, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

Feature

The 98th Combat Stress 

Control Prevention Team 

conducted a Warrior Resilience Training brief Sept. 

12 at Hope Chapel on Camp 

Victory. This was the last of 

four briefs held on Victory 

Base Complex before the 98th 

CSC headed out to Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

The training is an educational class designed to 

enhance warrior resiliency 

and posttraumatic growth 

through the use of rational 

emotive behavior therapy. 

Students are trained to focus 

upon virtue, character and 

emotional self-regulation by 

constructing and maintaining 

a personally resilient phiStory and photo by

Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

losophy, said Maj. Thomas 

Jarrett, prevention team officer in charge, 98th CSC.

“We try to remind Soldiers 

how durable they are as human beings,” Jarrett said.

Since 300 B.C., cultures 

have embraced a basic stoic 

idea, Jarrett said. This idea 

states that people can only 

fully control four things and 

they are all internal; their ultimate direction or goals, their 

beliefs, their emotions and 

their actions and behaviors.

“With this stoic idea, along 

with the ABC theory of emotions we encourage posttraumatic growth and the 

growth of resiliency, endurance and character within 

Soldiers,” Jarrett said.

The ABC theory of emotions, propounded by famed 

psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis, states that A, activating events, along with B, a 

persons beliefs, causes C, 

emotional consequences, 

Jarrett said. If someone replaces his irrational beliefs 

he can change the emotions 

that come from the situation.

“Through this, Soldiers can 

limit anger, rage and depression and experience healthier, 

growth inspiring emotions 

such as irritation, sorrow 

and grief,” Jarrett said.

“We teach the Soldiers 

the terms and coach them so 

that when the time comes 

they will be strengthened 

by their deployment experiences, even if they are negative or painful,” said Sgt. 

Michael Venuto, prevention 

team noncommissioned officer in charge, 98th CSC.

Having already bestowed 

this knowledge on approximately 4,500 Soldiers in 

theater the prevention team 

works closely with chaplains 

and the surgeon general’s office to find out where they are 

needed the most, Venuto said.

After each course attendees are given a feedback 

form to get a chance to let 

the prevention team know 

how affective the brief was, 

Jarrett said. “We have received excellent feedback.”

“The course has been extremely successful,” Jarrett said, “but we are always looking to improve 

it and teach the Soldiers 

everything that we can.”

Combat stress team teaches warrior resilience

Sgt. Michael Venuto, prevention team noncommissioned officer in charge, 98th Combat 

Stress Control, gives instruction about warrior resilience in the final brief of a four-part 

series at Hope Chapel, Camp Victory Sept. 12.
Page 4 Victory Times Online

Information

October 3, 2008

Rosh Hashanah is here

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen talks with 1st Lt. 

Autumn Horton, voting assistance officer, Company A, 4th 

Infantry Division, about voting issues facing servicemembers 

deployed to Iraq at Al Faw Palace Sept. 30. Bowen, along with 

four other U.S. secretaries of states visited Camp Victory to 

answer questions and address concerns servicemembers may 

have regarding their ballots being counted in the election. 

“Every ballot is counted and every vote can make a difference,” Bowen said. “Some servicemembers think that their 

vote doesn’t count or that they count absentee ballots differently than ballots cast stateside. The truth, Bowen said, is as 

soon as the ballot arrives at its destination it is opened and 

placed in a pill of other ballots. When the polls close all the ballots are picked up and dropped off at the collection point. The 

counters have no idea if that ballot came from just down the 

street or across the world, she added. 

Every vote counts

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Krawczyk, MNC-I PAO

Rosh Hashanah and 

Yom Kippur make up the 

most important holiday of 

the Jewish faith. 

Together, Rash Hashanah and Yom Kippur are 

a 10-day period of repentance and atonement. This 

period marks a new year 

for the Jewish community 

as it receives forgiveness 

for the past year’s sins and 

are given a fresh start.

“This is a time of reflection,” said Chaplain 

David Goldstron, Jewish 

chaplain, Multi-National 

Division - Center. “Starting anew while seeking 

forgiveness for those we 

have wronged.”

“It is a chance of a lifetime to have the freedom 

Story and photo by 

Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

13th Public Affairs Det.

and time for fellowship 

in Iraq with fellow Soldiers,” Capt. Karl Korpal, preventive medical 

officer, Task Force 115. 

“It is also a pleasant surprise to see the civilians 

who we can share this 

holiday with.”

“I’m glad I get the opportunity to be there for 

Jewish Soldiers in Iraq,” 

Goldstron said. “It is very 

rare in a deployment to 

take time and reflect on 

our lives. We are so busy 

seven days of the week. 

During this time of Rosh 

Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we have to take stock 

and examine our lives as 

we go on a new year.”

The final services of 

Yom Kippur will be held 

Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. until Oct. 

9 at 6:30 p.m. at Victory 

Chapel, Bldg 31. 

Chaplain David Goldstron, Jewish chaplain, Multi-National Division 

- Center leads the covering of the scrolls during Rosh Hashanah at 

Victory Chapel Sept 30.