Vol. II, Issue 54 Friday’s Online Edition July 18, 2008

victory timesonline

Story and photos by 

Staff Sgt. 

Jason R. Krawczyk

MNC-I Command Group 

Qadisiya Province returns to Iraqi control

Qadisiya governor Al Khoudari and Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, Multi-National 

Corps - Iraq sign the paperwork turning Qadisiya Province over to the Government of Iraq Wednesday. 

Little Iraqi girls waving 

flowers and Iraqi boys in 

uniforms walked through the 

streets of Diwaniya chanting. They were followed 

by platoons of polished and 

professional Iraqi police 

officers and Iraqi army soldiers. This parade marked 

the beginning of festivities 

celebrating the return of Qadisiya province to the Iraqi 

people Wednesday. 

Coalition forces handed 

the security responsibilities 

for Qadisiya Province, in 

southern Iraq, over to the 

Government of Iraq. 

“This is a triumphant day 

for Iraq as yet another province assumes the lead for 

its own security and governance,” said Lt. Gen. Lloyd 

J. Austin III, commanding 

general, Multi-National 

Corps – Iraq. “And yet another demonstration by the 

democratic Government of 

Iraq that it is making progress toward providing for all 

its people.”

Qadisiya is the 10th 

province turned back over 

to Iraqi control since 2006. 

The ceremony was delayed 

from late last month when 

severe sandstorms grounded 

travel in Baghdad. The ceremony Wednesday was well 

attended, bringing together 

Polish, American and Iraqi 

servicemembers and many 

local and national GoI leaders.

“There are a lot of servicemembers and people 

that are responsible for this,” 

said Col. David Matakas, 

Polish advisor, Multi-National Division – Center 

South. “I hope when they 

see this they will know they 

had a big part in creating a 

free and safe environment 

in Qadisiya Province.”

An excited crowd gathered around a small table 

where Qadisiya governor Al 

Khoudari and Austin officially signed the paperwork 

returning the province to the 

GoI. 

“Multi-National Corps 

– Iraq will continue to support Qadisiyah and the Government of Iraq in maintaining security and increasing 

prosperity,” Austin said.

Iraqi girls march in a parade to honor the Qadisiyah Province security being handed back over to the Government of Iraq, Wednesday. The girls chanted about Iraq being complete again and the 

greatness of their country.
Page 2 Victory Times July 18, 2008

MP 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.
Feature

July 18, 2008 Victory Times Page 3

Photos by Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

13th Public Affairs Detachment

Custom Made 

entertains

servicemembers

Sabrina McLemore, female vocalist for the 

band, Custom Made, performs for servicemembers at Victory Stage July 8. Custom 

Made is a band out of Los Angeles, Calif., which plays a variey of music including R&B, rap and salsa. The band is on its 

fourth tour to the Middle East to perform 

for the troops.

Bryant McLemore, guitar player and singer of the band Custom Made, leads servicemembers in a classic rendering of the Temptations 

song and dance movements at the Victory Stage on Camp Victory July 8.
Page 4 Victory Times Online July 18, 2008

news

Military Happenings Military Happenings

‘Immediate Response’ underway in Republic of 

Georgia

Army News Service- About 300 Georgia National 

Guard Soldiers arrived in Tiblisi, Georgia, Monday 

for Immediate Response 2008, a three-week international exercise to help build relationships with coaliton partners from several Eastern European nations.

 Soldiers and Marines from the United States, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Ukraine will conduct this 

joint training exercise at Vaziani Military Base and the 

surrounding area. The annual, bilateral security cooperation exercise is conducted between U.S. , NATO and 

coalition partners, to focus on interoperability training and theater security cooperation, officials said. 

 

Air Force medics provide medical care in Panama

Air Force News Service - A two-week U.S. Southern Command sponsored exercise designed to hone the 

skills of medical personnel while providing free health 

care in remote locations began in Panama July 12 with 

the arrival of medics from seven military installations.

 The Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or 

MEDRETE, in Panama is one of about 70 MEDRETEs 

sponsored each year by U.S. Southern Command and, 

through partnership with host-nation doctors, will treat 

patients at three rural locations.

The range of medical specialties of the Air Force 

medics involved in this MEDRETE includes dentists, 

optometrists, general physicians, a pediatrician and a 

dermatologist.

Corpsman saves day

Marine Corps News - Petty Officer 3rd Class John 

L. Nelson, Marine Special Operations Support Group, 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, 

administered first aid to a Marine having a seizure during 

a physical training session at Camp Lejune, N.C. Nelson 

was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal as a result of 

his actions. 

On the morning of May 21, Nelson was alerted to a Marine begin carried by two other Marines across the street. 

Nelson ran across the street and quickly assessed the situation. His rapid appraisal of the Marine’s condition lead him 

to the conclusion that the Marine was having a seizure.

 “I revived him about three or four times but he kept passing out again and again,” said Nelson, who administered 

CPR to the Marine. “The last time he regained consciousness, the ambulance showed up and their team took over.”

The Marine was rushed to the hospital and, after a few 

days, made a full recovery. 

New service uniform available July 31

 Navy News Service - The new E1-E6 Service Uniform 

will be available for purchase in Great Lakes and 

California Navy Exchanges starting July 31, according to 

NAVADMIN 190/08.

 The SU is for year-round wear and replaces the summer 

white and winter blue uniforms. It is authorized to be worn 

for office work, watchstanding, liberty or business ashore 

when prescribed as the uniform of the day. 

 The mandatory wear date for all E1-E6 personnel is July 

2010. Clothing replacement allowances for fiscal years 

2008 and 2009 were increased to cover the purchasing of 

two sets of new uniforms by July 2010.

 Basic SU components include a short-sleeved khaki 

shirt for males and a short sleeved khaki overblouse for 

females; black trousers with black belt and silver buckle 

for males and black beltless slacks for females.