Vol. II, Issue 58 Friday’s Online Edition August 1, 2008

victory timesonline

Story and photo by 

Marine Cpl. Frances L. 

Goch

Lefebvre receives second star

Brigadier generals Daniel B. Allyn, chief of staff, Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq, and Michael Ferriter, deputy commanding general 

of operations, MNC-I, had the honor of pinning the rank of major 

general on Brig. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, deputy commanding general, MNC-I, at his promotion ceremony in Al Faw Palace July 24.

MNC-I PAO

Brig. Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, deputy commanding 

general, Multi-National 

Corps – Iraq, was promoted to major general July 24 

during a ceremony in the 

Al Faw Palace at Camp 

Victory, Iraq.

Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin 

III, commanding general, 

MNC-I, presided over the 

ceremony saying, “We are 

truly blessed to have a Marine of your caliber with 

us.”

Brigadier generals Daniel B. Allyn, chief of staff, 

MNC-I, and Michael Ferriter, deputy commanding general of operations, 

MNC-I, pinned on Lefebvre’s new rank.

“I have been fortunate 

to be a part of great teams 

in the Marine Corps and in 

joint environments,” Lefebvre said. “It is inspiring to 

work with people who sacrifice for what they believe 

in.” 

Lefebvre, a native of 

West Hartford, Conn., 

graduated from Springfield College in 1975 with 

a Bachelor of Science in 

Physical Education. Prior 

to entering the Marine 

Corps, he coached football 

at Penn State. 

Lefebvre started his career as a second lieutenant 

in April 1977 following 

completion of Officer Candidate School. Lefebvre 

held many operational positions throughout his career. More recently he was 

the commanding general 

of Marine Corps Recruit 

Depot Parris Island and the 

Eastern Recruiting Region 

before coming to MNC-I.

Lefebvre has served on 

the Board of Governors, 

Marine Corps Association 

and the Editorial Board, 

Marine Corps Gazette. 

He is also an honor graduate of Officer Candidate 

School, The Basic School 

and Amphibious Warfare 

School and a distinguished 

graduate of Marine War 

Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps 

War College.

“When you’ve been in 

the Marine Corps as long 

as I have you stay in because you love it,” Lefebvre said. “My wife is largely responsible for me being 

able to do what I do, I will 

never be able to repay my 

debt to her for her sacrifices she has made, allowing 

me to do what I do.”

In addition to his wife, 

Lefebvre has a daughter 

and a son who is a first 

lieutenant in the Marine 

Corps presently serving 

overseas. 

Deputy commanding 

general becomes 

major general
Page 2 Victory Times August 1, 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. 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 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.

Story by Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Veterans groups’ leaders visit Iraq to help troops

Leaders of America’s veterans 

groups came to Iraq July 29 to get a better picture of what life is currently like 

for servicemembers on the ground, to 

help shape the national image of our 

Armed Forces and ensure everyone 

in uniform is getting the treatment 

they deserve.

Currently, the majority of members in Veterans Service Organizations are Vietnam-era servicemembers. This doesn’t mean, however, 

that veterans’ needs are the only 

issues these organizations handle. 

“Veterans Service Organizations is a 

misnomer,” said J.P. Brown, national commander, AMVETS. “We’re 

there also to support the military today, which will join our ranks someday.”

“Those that wear the uniform today 

are very important to us,” said Staff 

Sgt. (Ret.) George Lisicki, commander in chief, Veterans of Foreign War. 

“They’re important to the veterans of 

the future and to their families. The future of the VFW is the men and women 

wearing the uniform today.”

In addition to taking care of veterans’ concerns, organizations such as 

the Military Officers Association of 

America, VFW, AMVETS and the 

American Legion lobby and petition 

for better benefits for servicemembers 

currently serving in the Armed Forces 

and their families.

“We came here to talk to young Soldiers and see what is needed,” Brown 

said. “We need to learn what you need, 

not what we think you need. To sit behind a desk at an office and think we 

know what you need over here is ludicrious.”

The group traveled to Taji, were 

briefed on reconstruction and Iraqi Security Forces training and learned about 

the capabilities of the Army’s mine resistant ambush protected vehicles. Their 

goal is to bring back to the states a better 

understanding of the accomplishments 

and needs of today’s military member.

Seeing the work of troops on the 

ground first hand gives VSOs a better 

platform for pushing medical and educational benefits, pay raises and other 

significant quality of life services for servicemembers, said Vice Admiral (Ret.) 

Norbert Ryan, president, MOAA.

These first hand accounts that the 

VSO leaders will bring back to their organizations, Capitol Hill and the media 

also serve to highlight the successes in 

Iraq that might be overlooked. “There 

is definitely progress being made over 

here,” Lisicki said. “I talked to a lot 

of Soldiers and some citizens and the 

Iraqis believe in the cause here now. 

Maybe they didn’t a few years ago, but 

now they believe someday they’ll be 

able to run their own country. That’s 

progress.”

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

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Norbert Ryan, first seated from center, president, Military Officers 

Association of America, asks Col. Rock Donahue, standing, director, C7, Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq, questions about reconstruction efforts in Iraq at the Joint Vistors Bureau 

July 29. Ryan and other Veterans Service Organization leaders came to Iraq to get a 

better idea of what servicemembers need in order to better represent them.
Feature

August 1, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

By Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Regulation changes civilian punishment for misconduct

Following the groundbreaking trial of a civilian contractor by 

court martial in June, the standards 

expected of civilians working for 

the military, especially in Iraq, 

have become enforceable under the 

Uniform Code of Military Justice.

A 2006 amendment to the UCMJ 

– Section 552 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal 

Year 2007 (October 17, 2006) states 

that civilian contractors working for 

the U.S. government can be punished 

for violations of the UCMJ. Punishable violations include any form of 

felony misconduct which is any conduct punishable by more than a year 

in confinement, said Maj. Terri Erisman, chief, Military Justice, MultiNational Corps – Iraq. This includes 

offenses such as bribery, drug distribution, assaults and serious thefts.

“The importance of this change 

to the UCMJ cannot be understated,” said Lt. Col. Jack Ohlweiler, deputy staff judge advocate, 

MNC-I. “Contractors can now be 

held accountable when their conduct detracts from the mission or 

affects good order and discipline.”

Contracted linguist Alaa “Alex” 

Mohammad Ali was accused with 

stabbing a fellow linguist in February. He pleaded guilty to wrongful appropriation of a knife owned 

by a U.S. Soldier; obstruction 

of justice for wrongfully disposing of the knife after it was used 

in a fight with another interpreter; 

and making a false official statement to military investigators. 

He was sentenced to five months 

imprisonment by a military judge. 

His case was the first time a civilian 

contractor was tried under UCMJ 

since 1967. “This shows we will be 

able to implement the new changes 

in Article 2 of the UCMJ,” Erisman 

said. “We absolutely will be able to 

successfully prosecute civilians.”

“Civilian contractors can now 

be held accountable for serious 

felony misconduct and they’re 

subject to criminal prosecution,” 

Erisman said. “They could face 

much more grave consequences 

than just being fired or sent home.”

Civilians will now be held to the 

same strict conduct standards as 

members of the armed forces. Civilians contractors play an important 

role in Iraq and they are depended 

upon for the success of the mission, Erisman said. This means they 

should be held accountable when 

their actions prove detrimental to the 

mission, just like servicemembers.

“They have to abide by 

the same rules everyone else 

does,” Erisman said.

Prior to Ali’s case, the most serious punishment civilian contractors 

faced was being fired from their jobs 

and sent home. Now all allegations 

of serious misconduct will be considered for disposition, Erisman said. 

The military trial for a civilian follows the same rules and regulations 

as that of a servicemember. The will 

first be sent to the Department of 

Justice for consideration and, if rejected by the DOJ, the individual will 

face a court martial, Erisman said.

During the trial, they will be 

given the same rights to fair trial 

and due process as they would in 

a civilian court. They will also be 

provided with legal representation during preceedings, she said. 
Page 4 Victory Times Online

news

Military Happenings Military Happenings

Army dominates Interservice Rifle Championships 

Army News Service - The Service Rifle Team of the 

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit of Fort Benning, Ga., 

won every team match at the 2008 Interservice Rifle 

Championships July 14 to 22. 

More than 125 shooters from the Army, Navy, Marine 

Corps, Reserve and National Guard competed in the rifle championships at Quantico Marine Corps Base. 

The Army Marksmanship Service Rifle Team won 

the prestigious Interservice Rifle 10-Man Team Match 

and brought home the trophy. Team coaches were Sgt. 

1st Class Emil Praslick III and Sgt. Walter E. Craig 

Jr. and team captains were Staff Sgt. William T. Pace 

and Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Peters. Shooters were Sgts. 1st 

Class Lance D. Dement, Grant L. Singley and Kyle A. 

Ward, Staff Sgts. Joel S. Micholick and Tobie L. Tomlinson, Sgt. Brandon K. Green, Spcs. Tyrel L. Cooper, 

Calvin G. Roberts, Matthew T. Sigrist and Nathan J. 

Verbickas. Ward shot highest score of 495 points out of 

a possible 500.

NASA turns 50

Air Force News Service - NASA is 50 years old. 

It was established on July 29, 1958, when President 

Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics 

and Space Act, providing for research into the problems 

of flight within Earth’s atmosphere and in space. 

The act inaugurated a new civilian agency designated 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or 

NASA. The agency began operations on Oct. 1, 1958. 

Today, in addition to its headquarters in Washington, 

D.C., NASA facilities include 10 centers around the 

country staffed by nearly 19,000 employees.

Exercise marks first for U.S., Brazilian navies

Navy News Service - The Iwo Jima Expeditionary 

Strike Group and the Brazilian Navy participated in a 

Composite Unit Training Exercise July 8-18, marking 

the first time a Brazilian Navy surface unit fully integrated into a U.S. strike group.

The crew of the Brazilian naval ship Greenhalgh (F46) used this opportunity to increase interoperability 

with other navies and to prepare for possible future international naval missions.

Another first during the exercise was the fact that 

Greenhalgh and the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo 

Jima (LHD 7) were the first two ships to operate the 

new CENTRIX IANTL system at the tactical level. 

This communications system allowed the exchange of 

classified messages and chat.

Marine mascot Chesty XII retires

 Marine Corps News Service - Sgt. Chesty the XII’s 

six-year tenure as the official mascot of the Barracks 

came to an end during a retirement ceremony in 

Washington D.C. Friday. 

Chesty the XII, a fawn and white pedigree English 

bulldog who enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 30, 

2002, will spend his years in retirement at home with 

his caretakers, Gunnery Sgt. Michael Mergen and his 

wife, Gunnery Sgt. Kristin Mergen.

During his six-year career, which marks the longest 

tour in Barracks’ mascot history, Chesty XII made an 

appearance at every Evening Parade and participated in 

several other events in the national capitol region. For 

his devotion to duty, Chesty XII was awarded a Navy 

and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

August 1, 2008