Story and photo by Sgt. Brian James AndersonMNC-I PAO

“These transition teams, as we become even more successful with the Iraqi Se-curity Forces, will ultimately allow us to withdraw some of our major units from Iraq, and we will keep a much lower pro-file,” said Brig. Gen. Dana Pittard, com-manding general, Iraq Assistance Group, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. “Our large presence here causes many of the Iraqi people to feel like they are under an oc-cupation. With a lower profile and less presence, I think that we will see more stability.” Pittard oversees most of the transition teams throughout Iraq, and he said they are making a strong impact on the ISF.. “…our decisive effort is improving the capabilities and standing up the Iraqi se-curity forces,” he said. “If that is our de-cisive effort, then in fact, these transition teams, these small 11 to 15 man transition teams, are making a huge difference.” Transition teams are making a humon-gous difference. In 2005 there were only two Iraqi Army Divisions, today there are 10.

In Salaymanyia, the Pale Horse mili-tary transition team is training the 10th Iraqi Army Division by advising and de-veloping them professionally and building their war fighting capabilities. “(Pale horse) is focused on the brigade staff,” said Capt. Roberto Gomez, execu-tive officer, team Pale Horse. “We try to teach them U.S. procedures on how to do staff training, a lot of staff synchroniza-tion, training management and resource so the brigade staff can enable their bat-talions and their subordinate units to train and become a better force.” Iraqi Lt. Col. Abus Hamsa Shafic, train-ing officer, 3rd Brigade, 10th Iraqi Army Division said they would not be where they are today without the help of team Pale Horse. “Third Brigade has made so much prog-ress, and (Pale Horse) was very helpful in that.” Shafic said. “We have increased our force by 65 percent since they arrived.” Shafic also said that everything they have worked on with the MiTT has been successful and that he is happy to have the opportunity to work with them. The transition teams are not just help-ing the ISF, they are also helping coalition servicemembers.

Sgt. Maj. Jim Brown, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Pale Horse, volunteered to be part of a transition team because of the benefits it could offer servicemembers in the future. “If I can train the Iraqi Army to do what we do and not need us, then I have made a substantial impact in the effort to make Iraq independent,” Brown said. “Just the title of ‘Military Transition Teams’ shows how important it is. We embed with our Iraqi Army counterparts, talk with them on their level about their issues, and help them to discover solutions so they can continue to work efficiently.” The knowledge and consistency of the teams are growing and Pittard says some of that is due to the unitization of training for the different branches of the military. “Fort Riley, Kansas has become the transition team training center for the Army, Navy and Air Force.” Pittard said. “Marines are still training at Twenty Nine Palms, but I anticipate that eventually they will see what we have at Fort Riley and want to do the same thing.” The transition teams continue to train and advise ISF throughout Iraq. Currently there are more than 150 MiTT teams in Iraq.

Victory TimesVol. II, Issue 110 Sept. 30, 2006Telling the Camp Victory story

In today’s Victory Times:

Page 2: This Week in Military History

Page 3: Chaplain’s Corner, ROE/LAW conflict

Page 4: Camp Victory Operating Hours

MiTT teams improve Iraqi capabilities

Top ten reasons to utilize the sidewalk at the Palace10. It’s really hard to get axle grease and tire treads off your Army Combat Uni-forms.9. Nothing spells “DANGER” better than getting in front of someone driving from the palace to the dining facility.8. Do you really want to hear that bull-horn for the 17th time?

7. Driving privileges are given here by watching a PowerPoint slide show.6. The guards will shoot you if you don’t.5. SGLI doesn’t cover “Bumper Remov-al”4. CAB does not stand for “Collided with Automobile Badge”

3. Not everyone knows the speed limit is posted in kilometers, not miles.2. The geese own the road.And the number one reason to walk on the sidewalk outside the Al Faw palace is…1. Because it is an order as of Sept. 27, 2006, for every Soldiers own safety and protection.

Page 2 Victory Times Sept. 30, 2006

This Week in Military Historywith Lt. Tom Lewis, Australian Forces

This issue of the column was motivated by the observation that some of the forces in theatre have bayonets, and others do not. This weapon is not as old as some might think, being really only as old as the firearm on the battlefield. The longbow, which dominated European and incidentally the leading warfare sciences in battle, from around 1346 at the Battle of Crecy onwards, started to disappear when firearms began to be widely used. It seems a foolish idea to replace the fast-firing, reliable bow with the clumsy musket. However, single-shot firearms took a lengthy time to load, with a bagged charge of powder to be pushed down the barrel, followed by a lead ball, and then a wad to stop the ball falling out. Then the weapon had to be fired by a match brought to the breech to set off the charge. Variations and improvements on this theme appeared over several hundred years, but the concept was similar; whether the new change saw a shower of sparks setting off the charge, or the barrel getting some rifling. The best reason for the changeover from a bow, which fired 10-15 deadly armor-piercing arrows a minute, to a one round per minute firearm, was both the invention of better plate protection for soldiers, and the degree of expertise needed to fire the bow. Armored knights could slowly walk towards bowmen and attack them with reasonable impunity, and therefore the bow was not the ultimate weapon. Used quickly against cavalry, it was decisive; but if the other side used their plated foot soldiers then your bowmen were a neutral force, and once the bowmen broke and ran they were easy prey to be ridden down by pursuing horsemen. But the best reason for employing the new firearms was that a musketeer could be trained in an afternoon. A bowman had to be fit, and strong enough to pull back the bow time after time. It took some time to become proficient at the art of getting the arrows to be fired reasonably accurately and quickly. A musketeer, on the other hand, did not have to be a great physical specimen, and his training was simple. The main problem for musket men was that they were vulnerable when the weapon had been fired, and the weapon was only effective at a short range. If a line of these new firearms was fired at your cavalry at around 300 yards then there would be very few effective hits; and then your horsemen could be amongst them before they could reload. The use of the pike provided a hedge of spears to hold off inconvenient hostile enemy while your side reloaded. But these spear-men, wielding weapons sometimes up to 18’ in length, were really a stop-gap measure: they could not provide anything offensive, and limited the mobility of the infantry by their clumsy weapons. The bayonet came into being as a more effective self-defense measure for the riflemen. Three main types emerged. The first was a ‘plug’ bayonet: simply a long knife inserted in the muzzle of the firearm. This, of course, stopped the process of reloading the muzzle-loader! A socket bayonet fitted over the end of the firearm to one side, still allowing firearm use. But this too had drawbacks – the mounting had to fit the muzzle bore size accurately. Eventually bayonets became simply long sharp weapons that clipped onto the rifle with a couple of lug points – the knife bayonet. Variations on the theme have been many, including saw-bayonets – often the cause for retaliation from your enemy for being unduly nasty – and sword bayonets, which were meant to be used as swords when not attached in unwieldy form to the end of a firearm. Today, some forces see the bayonet as essential, and some do not. But it seems unlikely to fully disappear as the most basic of weapons, and of course, it is also often useful as a knife, a hammer, or a can-opener!

Tuesday

Camp Victory Three-day Forecast

SunnyHigh: 106 FLow: 78 F

SundaySunnyHigh: 106 FLow: 78 F

MondaySunnyHigh: 104 F Low: 77 F

Page 3 Sept. 30, 2006Victory Times

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ephesians 2:10

With retirement right around the corner for us, Wanda and I have spent a great deal of time considering our retirement home. We have only bought and sold one home since we have been married. So you can imagine all the questions we have yet to answer. Do we buy? Rent? Build? Townhouse? Condo? Studio? The questions keep popping up. One of my favorite homes is the grand and stately Victorian. There is just something peaceful in a “rocking chairish with a mint-julip” type of way about a beautiful stately Victorian home. Generally speaking, a Victorian home is way out of our budget but this thing called a “fixer-upper” is intriguing. What is this “fixer-upper”? I’m going to buy a broken and busted house that I need to fix right from the very beginning? We may get a fantastic deal on the house but go broke trying to bring it up to code and restore it to the former charm and elegance of the period.

One evening, sitting in my little CHU (Containerized Housing Unit), I began to consider that buying a fixer-upper Victorian home is just the image of what God has done for me through Jesus Christ. Just as the condition of a Victorian fixer-upper may have plumbing, wiring and other sorts of problems, Saint Paul clearly stated my condition – I was “dead in trespasses and sins”. My spiritual hopelessness never deterred God’s love for me. I was a “fixer-upper”! The restoration and remodel that God completed in my heart through Jesus brought new life. I was restored just as a stately Victorian home on a tree lined and cool shaded avenue. Saint Paul described it as “made alive together with Christ”. What God purchased at the grand cost of Christ Jesus, He gave freely to me. I was fully restored at a great cost indeed. To God, I was worth it. I was a “fixer-upper”. Closing my evening devotion, I realized that like the same old “fixer-upper” Victorian homes restored far beyond their former splendor, my spiritual home is still under renovation. The “son room” (pun intended) is finished and the renovation and restoration continues daily. Ultimately, my spiritual home will be complete in God’s time. He is the supreme architect and restorer. My prayer is that the spirit of my retirement home mirrors that of my restored spiritual home in Christ Jesus. Are you a “fixer-upper” too?

Chaplain’s CornerBy Chaplain Charles Herring

MNC-I Chaplain Office

Fixer-Upper

Coalition CafeBreakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.Dinner 5:30 - 8 p.m.Midnight Dining 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.Sports OasisBreakfast 5:30 - 8:30 a.m.Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.Dinner 5 - 9 p.m.ShopetteOpen 24 HoursCamp Liberty Post ExchangeEveryday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.Fitness CenterOpen 24 HoursPost OfficeMonday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Saturday - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.Golby Troop Medical ClinicSick Call Hours:Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noonSaturday & Sunday 9 a.m. - noonDental Sick Call:Monday - Friday 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.Saturday 9 - 10:30 a.m.Mental Health Clinic:Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. - noonPost Deployment Health Briefings:Monday - Friday 1 p.m.Pharmacy:Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - noon, 1 - 4:30 p.m.Saturday & Sunday 7:30 a.m. - noonLegal Assistance/ClaimsSaturday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.Friday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Personnel Service Support CentersMonday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.ID CardsMonday - Friday9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Peter W. ChiarelliMNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Michelle L. Martin-Hing

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Paul J. StevensonMNC-I Command Info Chief: Sgt. 1st Class Laurence R. Lang

MNC-I Production Chief: Staff Sgt. Jason B. BakerLayout/Design: Spc. Curt Squires

Victory Times Staff writers/ photographers: Sgt. Brian James Anderson, Spc. Curt Squires, Spc. James P. Hunter, Cpl. Jessica Kent, Spc. Sean Finch

Victory Times is an authorized electronic publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this electronicpublication 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.

Victory Times welcomes columns, commentaries, articles and letters from our readers. Send submissionsor comments to jason.baker@iraq.centcom.mil.

We reserve the right to edit for security, accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

Page 4 Sept. 30, 2006Victory Times

Operating hours

Submit letters from homeIs your loved one deployed in support of Multi-National Corps-Iraq? Would you like to write him or her a

message in the Victory Times? Send messages, three to four lines of text to curtis.squires@iraq.centcom.mil. Ensure to include Soldiers name, rank, and unit.

Worship OpportunitiesWorship Opportunities

MiniMini--Chapel (Bldg. 2)Chapel (Bldg. 2)Church of Christ Worship Service 3 pmChurch of Christ Worship Service 3 pm

Victory Chapel (Bldg. 31)Victory Chapel (Bldg. 31)

Friday:Friday:Jumu’ah (Islamic Prayer) 1 pm

Sunday:Sunday:Traditional Protestant Service 7 am – 8:45 am Roman Catholic Confession 10 amRoman Catholic Mass 10:30 amGospel Protestant Service 12 pm Latter Day Saints Service 2 pmEpiscopal/Lutheran Service 4 pmContemporary Protestant Service 6 pm

Saturday:Saturday:7th Day Adventist Service 11 amRoman Catholic Mass 8 pm

MondayMonday –– FridayFridayRoman Catholic Service 4 pm

FridayFridayJewish Service 6:30 pm

SundayChurch of Christ 3 pm

Latter Day Saints Service 7:30 pm

New Location For Army National Guard

Retention Office

NOW LOCATED IN AREA 51GO INTO AREA 51 PAST FUEL POINT

TURN LEFT AT BUS STOPGO THROUGH FENCE ON LEFT SIDE OF MWR

LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM PBOTRAILER 51TR8

STOP BY AND CHECK OUT YOUR OPTIONSSgt. 1st Class JOHN GRAY, THEATER RETENTION NCO