Vol. II, Issue 67 Telling the Multi-National Corps - Iraq story September 1, 2008

Victory Times

Hood to Coast relay,

Page 8

Stay safe,

Page 6

Inspector General 

conference, Page 3

Sgt. Julius Toney, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus, marches in place 

while singing cadence during a ceremony held Aug. 22 at the Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory, Baghdad. 

The ceremony paid honor to the first parachute jump, and the XVIII Airborne Corps’ 64th birthday.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, MNC-I PAO

See pages 4-5

Birthday,
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 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 September 1, 2008

Chaplain’s Corner

Service to God requires sincere thought, intention

By Chaplain Ibraheem Raheem

Iraqi Assistance Group Chaplain

See CHAPLAIN, Page 3

What do you do to stay fit while deployed?

“I do a rotation of all 

the muscle groups.” 

“Cardio and weights, 

we have some nice gyms 

here.” 

“Go to the gym and wait 

for my Wii Fit to arrive.” 

“I run after work.”

Maj. Isaac Williams, assistant program manager, 

Army Space Program 

Office

Staff Sgt. Lee Johnson, 

maintenance noncommissioned officer, 445th Civil 

Affairs

Tech Sgt. Brian Tatum, 

joint tactical air controller, 11 Expeditionary 

Air Support Operations 

Squadron

Staff Sgt. Akiesha Foster, 

supply sergeant, Rapid 

Equipment Force

Victory Voices : 

“So announce the good news 

to my servants. They are those 

who evaluate all of the facts, and 

follow the best of them. They 

are those who God guides, and 

it is they who are endowed with 

insight” [Quran 39:17-18] 

The above verses introduce the 

characteristics of the servants of 

God. They are not blind followers, but instead people of intellect. 

I begin this article with this passage intending to lay the foundation that any type of service to God 

requires sincere thought and intention. The practice of abstinence 

requires using intellect in order to 

overcome destructive behavior. 

“...and they [people of intellect] 

contemplate the wonders of creation 

in heavens and earth and pray. Our 

Lord, You certainly have not created all of this without purpose. 

Glory to thee! Save us from destroying ourselves.” [Quran 3:191]

The practice of abstaining from 

food and water is supposed to act 

as a portal that connects our bodies 

and minds to our soul. The expression “the body is a temple of the 

spirit” sheds light on this idea. As we 

decrease our intake of the many additives and preservatives and pollutants into or body and begin to take in 

smaller meals with plenty of water we 

are in fact purifying our “temple”. By 

abstaining from destructive behavior, 

and studying the Qur’an we are simultaneously purifying the soul. The 

true goal of abstinence in Ramadan is 

overcoming the destructive behavior 
September 1, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

News

Inspector Generals meet on Victory, discuss future

Story and photo by

Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

MNC-I PAO

CHAPLAIN from, Page 2

in our life. Also, if we can connect 

our hunger and thirst with those who 

are not able to break their fast around 

the world, Ramadan will make us 

more charitable human beings. 

Ramadan is the month in which 

the Qur’an was revealed as a guide 

to mankind also as an exposition 

to judge between right and wrong. 

Therefore whichever of you are witnesses of this month should spend 

it in abstinence... [Qur’an 2:185]

Part of the significance of the 

Qur’an’s revelation during this 

month was for us to understand that 

in order to live up to the values and 

duties required of believers we must 

first be spiritually developed. So let 

us challenge one another towards 

purifying our minds, bodies and 

souls. Let us gain control over our 

urges, addictions and lusts this Ramadan and prepare for life’s spiritual 

challenges. Ramadan Mubarak.

The Multi-National Corps – 

Iraq Inspector General’s office 

held the 2008 IG conference Aug. 

21-22 at the Al Faw Palace. IG 

representatives from all over Iraq 

and Afghanistan attended the conference to discuss current and upcoming events.

The Inspector General acts as 

an extension of the eyes, ears and 

conscience of commanders. The 

IG also acts as the principal advisors in matters that relate to fraud, 

waste and abuse.

“I’m extremely glad that everyone could make it here for this 

conference. The Inspector General plays an important roll on the 

battlefield,” said Lt. Gen. Lloyd 

J. Austin III, commanding general 

MNC-I.

There was one issue that Austin 

hoped would be a topic of discussion during the conference. “The 

major problem that I see is that 

Soldiers and units jump to the 

wrong conclusions when they hear 

IG. I think that one of the things 

that should be discussed is finding 

a way to better inform units about 

the mission of the IG office.”

“It is important that we find a 

way to make sure that units are 

properly informed when it comes 

to IG,” said Maj. Gen. Paul E. 

Lefebvre, deputy commanding 

general MNC-I. “Properly informed units can come to IG before an issue gets out of hand.”

These issues are exactly why 

the IG conference was being held. 

The IG offices understand the importance of generating an overall 

view of the issues in both Iraq and 

Afghanistan and the importance 

of devising a plan of action that 

will allow them to attack those issues with full force, said Col. Ramon Valle, IG MNC-I.

Valle said to get this view and 

make this plan, each IG office 

gave a brief on the current issues 

that they are facing. This allowed 

others to see what trends were 

popping up. It also gave them the 

chance to see if the trends resembled the ones that they are experiencing.

The conference was extremely 

successful, Valle said. The information shared during the conference will be of a great help in 

molding the IG’s future plan of 

actions.

All the representatives for Inspector General offices from across Iraq and Afghanistan 

gather for a group photo in front of the Al Faw Palace Aug. 22 at the conclusion of their 

two-day conference to overview their current status and discuss future plans.
Page 4 Victory Times

Birthda

Story and photo by 

Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp

MNC-I PAO

A two-fold ceremony took place at the Al Faw Palace 

here Aug. 22, one which celebrated a historic birthday 

as well as honored all airborne-qualified servicemembers from past and present. 

The XVIII Airborne Corps turned 64-years-old Aug. 

25, while the first official Army parachute jump celebrated its 68th anniversary Aug. 16. Both milestone 

events were celebrated in ceremonial fashion at the palace – complete with a birthday-cake cutting, a video on 

the history of the airborne force and a performance from 

the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Chorus.

Paratroopers from all branches of service attended 

the ceremony, including past XVIII Airborne Corps 

general officers: former XVIII Abn. Corps Commander, retired Gen. William F. Kernan, and Multi-National 

Force – Iraq Commander, Gen. David H. Petreaus, who 

was chief of staff for the Corps from 2000 to 2001. 

Presiding over the ceremony was the Corps’ current 

‘Dragon 6’ and commanding general of Multi-National 

Corps – Iraq, Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III. 

Austin outlined the history of the airborne for those 

in attendance. 

“On August 16, 1940, Lieutenant (William) Ryder’s 

platoon of volunteers lined up their parachutes on Lawson Field at Fort Benning, Georgia.” Austin said. “Later 

that day, they climbed inside a B-18 aircraft and made 

their first jump from it while in flight. It was on this 

field in Georgia where a group of young Soldiers became the first paratroopers of the United States Army.”

Austin went on to highlight past campaigns and 

achievements from airborne units, such as the 1943 invasion of Sicily with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment executing Operation Husky, to more recently with 

operations in Honduras and Panama. 

“Since World War II, our airborne forces have earned 

an impressive reputation,” Austin said. “They are known 

around the world because of their discipline, their tenacity and their will to win.”

And that will to win has carried over to the Iraq theater of operations, he added.

Camp Victory paratroopers celebrate airbo

“The Sky Dragons of the XVIII Airborne Corps and 

all paratroopers have continued to maintain a professional, warrior reputation through their actions here in 

Iraq – which is extremely important in a counterinsurgency environment,” Austin said. “As I walk through 

markets in places like Mosul and Sadr City, it is clear to 

me that Iraqi citizens have faith and trust in our troopers – and that is absolutely necessary for us to achieve 

our goals.”

One trooper in attendance, Spc. Eric-Brandon Oce, 

who is deployed with the Corps’ security and intelligence section, took part in cutting the birthday cake 

with Austin, Kernan and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph 

R. Allen, MNC-I and XVIII Abn. Corps’ top noncommissioned officer.

“It feels great to be able to take part in history, and it 

was a nice surprise.” said 20-year-old Oce, an 11-jump 

Servicemembers from Camp Victory, bow their heads during the invo

a celebration ceremony honoring the first parachute jump and the X
Page 5

ay bash

September 1, 2008

orne history, XVIII Airborne Corps’ birthday

veteran from Cooper City, Fla. “I was made 

aware yesterday that I was going to be able to 

take part in the cake cutting, and I’m really glad 

I did.” 

While one young paratrooper took part in the 

ceremony, a veteran of 269 jumps veteran did as 

well. 

“You can’t help but feel proud to be Airborne 

during a ceremony like this,” said Chaplain (Col.) 

John P. Hash, MNC-I chaplain, who gave the invocation. 

The ceremony was complete as the Army, the 

XVIII Abn. Corps and the U.S. colors marched 

from the rotunda, but it was a final word from 

Austin, said during his speech, which highlighted 

that which all in attendance were there to celebrate: “... Airborne!”

Sgt. Jay Goldsborough, a 

member of the 

82nd Airborne 

Division’s AllAmerican Chorus, addresses a 

crowd of servicemembers gathered to celebrate 

the first official 

parachute jump, 

which took place 

Aug. 16, 1940, 

and the XVIII 

Airborne Corps’ 

64th birthday, at 

a ceremony Aug. 

22 at Al Faw Palace. 

ocation given Aug. 22 at the Al Faw Palace during 

XVIII Airborne Corps’ 64th birthday. 

Retired Gen. William F. Kernan, former commander, XVIII Airborne Corps, 

shakes the hand of Spc. Eric-Brandon Oce, security and intelligence, 

MNC-I, following the cutting of the XVIII Airborne Corps’ birthday cake at 

a ceremony Aug. 22 at Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory. 
Page 6 Victory Times September 1, 2008

Features

Interview and photo by 

Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

Sgt. 1st Class 

Steven Downey

Unit: 168th Brigade 

Support Battalion

Job title: Iraqi Truck 

Company NCOIC

Age: 41

Time in Service: 

14 and a half years

Hobbies: “I 

like wrenching 

(fixing) on cars.”

Person you most 

admire: “My mother.”

Why you joined: 

“I like it. I get to go 

all over the world.”

If you weren’t in the 

military you would be: 

“I would be working 

on cars.”

One thing you’d 

change about the 

Army: “I would bring 

back the technical 

rank of Specialist 

5th and 6th Class.”

One thing you’d never 

change about the 

Army: “The standards 

of discipline.”

Unusual fact about 

you: “I speak 

fluent German.”

Something you wish 

everyone would do: 

By Jesse Martin

Corps Safety Office

Get to know a Soldier...

13th Public 

Affairs Detachment

Make conscious decisions to be safe

“What they are told.”

Words of wisdom: 

“No matter what 

you do in life, be 

the best at it.”

Goals: “Retire 

after twenty years 

and teach.”

Best thing about 

being deployed: 

“Watching Soldiers 

develop into leaders.”

Best Boot Camp 

memory: “My 15-

mile road march.”

Safety doesn’t just happen. 

Everyday we all must make a deliberate decision to do things the 

safe way. Completing daily task 

as simple as driving to Baghdad 

International Airport, picking up 

mail or cleaning your weapon 

must have safety as your first priority. 

When you make the decision to 

be safe you not only maintain discipline standards but it prevents 

injuries in a preventable accident. 

The truth is we’re getting better 

in the area of safety, but our work 

is not done. 

Safety, accident prevention, 

composite risk management and 

risk mitigation are terms you will 

hear and read in our regulations 

and policies. They are all important but the bottom line is readiness. When someone gets hurt in 

an accident, it directly affect the 

unit’s readiness. Individual unit 

readiness affects overall readiness.

Enlightened leaders understand 

the value in creating and fostering a strong safety culture within 

their organizations. It promotes 

good health, increases morale 

and productivity. Safety should 

be elevated to a value of an organization as opposed to an additional duty or quarterly training. 

A proactive approach to accident 

prevention demonstrates the importance of working safety into 

the entire culture of the organization. 

Anyone can and everyone 

should make the “on the spot corrections” and/or stop a potential 

life threatening situation immediately. Don’t just walk away and 

think that it’s not in your job or 

not your lane. 

Don’t be the person who walks 

away and says, “I knew that was 

going to happen.” Do something 

now.
September 1, 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. 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;

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, Black Forge 

Conference Room)

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 Book of Matthew Bible Study 

(Victory Mayor’s 

Cell, Black Forge 

Conference Room)

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 to answer 

questions regarding civilian legal matters. 

The first Wednesday of each month: 8-11 

p.m. (Iraq time); Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, 

Nov. 5, Dec. 3, 2008. For more information contact Kathryn D. Hudacek, Director 

of Development, Freedom Calls Foundation at khudacek@freedomcalls.org, www.

freedomcalls.org, (973) 290-7886

CISSP Exams offered

Posting of Certified Information System 

Security Professional (CISSP) Examination 

for interested military of civilian personnel. 

POC is Michael Kahler, 822-2003. 

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 who are going on leave or redeploying must attend this briefing.

Toastmasters

Improve your public speaking skills 

while having fun with creative – goal oriented people. No speaking experience necessary. Capt. Armin Reyes 318-822-7627 

Armin.reyes@iraq.centcom.mil.

The Corps Report

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

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 August edition of the newscast will 

feature stories on Hope Chapel at Camp Victory, Logistics Training Advisory Teams at Taji and the Guam 

Liberation Celebration Day at Camp Victory to name just a few. Be sure and catch the latest edition of 

“The Corps Report” and contact the broadcast team here at MNC-I if you have a story idea. (822-8719).

MNC-I Chaplain’s Office:

822-7358
Page 8 Victory Times September 1, 2008

Feature

Story and photo by Spc.

Christopher M. Gaylord

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Soldier runs Oregon relay from Baghdad

Lt. Col. Jeff Mark, commander, 140th Military Police 

Brigade, participated in the 2008 

Oregon Hood to Coast relay 

from Victory Base Complex via 

satellite phone Aug. 22-23. 

Mark ran his three legs of 

the race – legs three, 15 and 27 

– while his Vancouver, Wash., 

team stayed in close contact with 

him via satellite phone, which 

Mark used to figuratively pass 

the baton. 

Starting out Aug. 22 at the 

Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Fitness Center, Mark completed his 

first leg of 3.93 miles by treadmill, running to a video of the 

course sent over by his team. 

For his second leg, Mark 

ran 7.25 miles the following 

day around the entire camp, 

passing his starting point in 

the late morning hours. 

Mark’s goal was finally complete the evening of Aug. 23 with 

a third and final leg taking him 

5.98 miles around Camp Slayer. 

“It was a dream come true 

for me to be able to participate in the event,” Mark said 

of running Hood to Coast from 

Baghdad. “If you’re any kind 

of runner and you haven’t done 

Hood to Coast, you’re crazy.”

“I owe team 360 Goes 

180 big time for all they’ve 

done for me,” Mark said.

Team 360 Goes 180, named 

after its primary sponsor, 360 

Physical Therapy, and the fact 

that one of its members, Mark, is 

halfway around the world, began 

bringing to life its teammate’s 

dream back in December of 2007. 

In January, the team approached 

the Hood to Coast director of 

marketing and executive director, 

who were more than willing to 

facilitate the request. Soon after, 

they began soliciting sponsors.

“Getting permission from 

Hood to Coast was pretty easy,” 

said Angela Wells, a teammate of Mark’s. “They were 

receptive to the idea and very 

helpful. We were able to get a 

number of companies to sponsor our team in different ways.”

Wells contacted the Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation supervisor 

on Camp Victory and worked out 

a plan to permit Mark to run his 

first leg in the gym by treadmill.

The event was all just another 

example of how supportive most 

Americans are of their deployed 

servicemembers, as team 360 Goes 

180 has used the event to show 

troops its own immense support. 

“I imagine keeping in touch 

with the happenings at home 

makes the distance seem shorter 

and the tough tasks at hand a little 

easier,” Wells said. “What Jeff and 

everyone over in Iraq are doing for 

us is unimaginable. Troops sacrifice a lot to serve their country.”

“One thing is clear,” Mark said. 

“The American public – my teammates – do support the men and 

women serving in the military. We 

are all grateful for all of the support they give us every single day.”

“Hopefully I’ll run with them 

in person next year and our team 

bond will grow,” Mark said. “All 

things considered, this was a 

great experience, and I can’t wait 

to get back home to the states so 

I can do this for real.”

Lt. Col. Jeff Mark runs his second leg of 7.25 miles in the 2008 Hood to Coast relay from 

Camp Victory, Iraq, Aug. 23 while a member of his Nevada Army National Guard unit 

follows behind in a vehicle draped with a team sponsor banner.