Phantom News Vol. I, Issue 6 Telling the TF Phantom story January 28, 2007 Bridging the gap Soldiers build relationships with Iraq’s next generation Story, photo by these kids don’t even have a Marine Cpl. Jessica Kent ball to play with, something MNC-I PAO we think is simple.” Because the children have Service members who very little, transition team conduct patrols in Baghdad members provided any help may catch a glimpse of what they could. They packed makes life so great at home. clothing donated from the In a country where elec- U.S. and delivered it to the tricity is scarce and mud school. Team members also huts are common homes, helped find desks and new many Iraqi families struggle doors for the school. to make a living. The trash- “The new units are wel- lined streets — often hiding come here,” the administra- explosives — are dangerous tor said. “I welcome them for children at play. because they help me.” One aspect of a child’s life Lt. Col. Anthony Cornett, team chief, 3rd Battalion, 7th Bri- During his last visit to that usually remains a steady gade, 2nd Division National Police Transition Team, speaks drop off children’s clothing, influence is going to school. to children at an elementary school in Baghdad. Lt. Col. Anthony Cornett, When Soldiers with the 3rd left school one day and nev- den areas,” said Sgt. 1st Class team chief, 3rd Bn., 7th Bde., Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd er returned. Patrick Andrus, communi- 2nd Div. NPTT, addressed Division National Police “Some were kidnapped cations NCOIC, 3rd Bn., 7th a classroom of bright-eyed Transition Team visited a lo- and never came back,” a Bde., 2nd Div. NPTT. “It def- students. A young girl asked cal elementary school, they school administrator said. initely makes me appreciate about terrorism in her coun- found the rooms so packed “We support what I have try, and how he would help to capacity with small stu- (the chil- “Here is where as an Ameri- the Iraqi people. dents that desks were moved dren) and you can make can.” “I work every day to en- outside to make an addition- give special A n d r u s sure that you’re protected; al classroom. attention to a difference for said it’s so does the National Police,” Although the school was the orphans Iraq.” hard to see he replied. “They’re my for girls, several small boys who miss Iraqi kids friends. But I’m a human be- were spotted among the their moth- -Lt. Col. Anthony Cornett without the ing just like you. Here (in the rows. Some families were ers or fa- team chief, 3rd Bn., 7th opportuni- classroom) is where you can granted permission to enroll thers.” Bde., 2nd Div. NPTT ties Ameri- make a difference for Iraq.” males in the school because Most of can children Because children are the sectarian violence made oth- the students often have. future of their country, An- ers too dangerous. are accustomed to hearing He added that the worst part drus said school students While the boys’ par- gunfire on the streets, seeing is that Iraqi children do not make up a generation that ents believe the elementary the destruction left by a mor- know to expect any better. can bring positive changes school is safer, each child tar round, watching Soldiers “It saddens my heart to Iraq. Transition team there has been touched by at traffic checkpoints, and sometimes to see the condi- members will spend the re- violence. Many lost parents chasing military convoys. tions they live in, when it’s mainder of their tour guid- and other family members “We travel down parts of cold outside and kids are ing National Policemen as who were murdered. Others Baghdad and then go to our wearing flip-flops without they struggle to make those lost a sibling or friend who sector and see the downtrod- jackets,” he said. “So many of changes. Page 2 Commentary January 28, 2007 Leadership days - motivating the troops It’s another chilly, damp, wet and I thought of how many special mo- muddy day in central Iraq. While Command Sgt. Maj. ments, holidays, birthdays, losses of walking to headquarters today as Neil Ciotola loved ones, and missed opportunities I always do, I was thinking about MNC-I Command with my true love that I have sacri- how cold it actually gets in the desert Sergeant Major ficed. I thought of the only two things compared to how miserably hot it can that got me through those days: sheer and will soon be. I thought of home determination and leadership. — Fort Hood, Texas —and how pleas- try, that I’ve endured the bitter cold I’m convinced my depth of char- ant the spring and fall are. I thought of and the stifling heat. I thought of all acter (no matter how shallow at the riding my brother’s Harley Road King those nights on guard duty and how time), and the thought of better times and feeling the breeze on my face. I miserable and alone I felt. I thought and more pleasant temperatures, thought of how easy it is, relatively of the nights when I felt sure there got me through the vast majority of speaking, to be out doing what we was not another soul awake and how the tough days and nights. I’m also Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and easy it would be to close my eyes, go convinced, on those days when my Civilians do on those days when it’s in somewhere else (figuratively speak- self-discipline was about to fail me, the 60s, 70s and 80s temperature-wise. ing), doze off, sneak away and steal leadership got me through the tough- I thought of how many days, in my some time in a warm building or in est times. Leadership in the form of 31 years of service to our great coun- my sleeping bag. See TROOPS, page 6 Chaplain’s Corner Freedom to worship fies and denounces regimes that are severe persecutors of their citizens or others on the basis of religious belief.” Chaplain Dan Stallard In the military, we have the privilege of helping se- MNC-I JOC chaplain cure freedom for people who are oppressed by tyrannical governments. Freedom is not free. Our service members Freedom of religion is one our Nation’s most cherished carry the burden of battle and experience firsthand the cost civil liberties. The U.S. Bill of Rights outlines the five fun- of individual lives for the cause of freedom. The Christian damentals of freedom in the first amendment. The presi- Scriptures teach that there is no greater love than one’s dent, in the National Security Strategy, promotes human willingness to lay down their life for others. We owe so rights and freedom of religion as a national interest. much to the young men and women who serve daily on the The State Department has an Office of International battlefields of freedom. Religious Freedom, which promotes “religious freedom as What can we do to support our warriors of freedom? a core objective of U.S. foreign policy,” according to www. We can give medals, which they do appreciate. We can tell state.gov. “This office monitors religious persecution and their stories in newspapers and on the Internet to ensure discrimination worldwide, recommends and implements they are not forgotten. We can build memorials to honor policies in respective regions or countries, and develops the fallen. One very important thing we can do is pray for programs to promote religious freedom. them and their families. “Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and A patriotic call to prayer — please pray for courage and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the vigilance for all our coalition forces; world peace, espe- inalienable right of every human being, the United States cially in the Middle East; all families and especially those seeks to promote freedom of religion and conscience who have lost loved ones to war; the innocent women and throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as children who face the collateral effects of war and who are a source of stability for all countries; assists newly formed directly exposed to war because of extremist ideologies; democracies in implementing freedom of religion and con- national leaders to make sound decisions and good policy science; assists religious and human rights non-government for a just and lasting peace; and military leaders to develop organizations in promoting religious freedom; and identi- strategies and tactics to defeat the enemies of freedom. Phantom News is an authorized electronic publication for MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno Phantom News welcomes columns, commentaries, articles members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. James Hutton and letters from our readers. Send submissions electronic publication are not necessarily the official views of MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Eric E. Parris or comments to [email protected]. The or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Department of MNC-I Command Info Chief: Sgt. 1st Class Terrence Hayes editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, accuracy, Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the respon- Editor: Sgt. Jacob Boyer propriety, policy, clarity and space. sibility of the Public Affairs Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Staff: Spc. Laura M. Bigenho, Spc. D. A. Dickinson, Cpl. Jessica Kent, Spc. Abel Trevino January 28, 2007 Page 3 Zeroing in Photo by Marine Cpl.