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Phantom News Vol. I, Issue 11 Telling the TF Phantom story March 4, 2007 Proper weapons practices 1 key to ending negligent discharge incidents in Iraq Drop the magazine Story, photos by Spc. Abel Trevino zotti, MNC-I trial counsel. “With no 28th Public Afairs Detachment type of misconduct is there (a set UCMJ punishment).” The recent death of a Soldier near Rizzotti added that every incident 2 Baghdad from poor weapons handling is different and should be handled that has increased awareness throughout way, usually at the lowest command Iraq, including Camp Victory, on the level. Criminal cases of negligent dis- prevention and consequences of neg- charge are usually the cases passed up ligent discharges. to the corps level. Pull the charging handle So far in 2007, 16 negligent discharg- Commanders dictate unit policy es have resulted in 16 injuries and one for responses to negligent discharges. death in MNC-I areas of operation, said Those responses can range from infor- Lon C. Cooper, MNC-I safety officer. mal retraining in weapons handling to 3 A safety alert addressing this prob- criminal charges in negligence and der- lem was released by Lt. Gen. Ray Odi- eliction of duty. Injuries or death can erno, MNC-I commanding general, result in harsher punishments. Jan. 31. “With a negligent discharge with He emphasized that each incident no injury, it’s usually handled (at the Ensure the chamber is clear was “unnecessary, preventable, and a commander’s level),” Rizzotti said. “If direct result of (soldier and leadership there’s any sort of injury, it’s a much failures to enforce safety standards).” more formal, more involved investiga- “Each time a leader fails to enforce a tion.” 4 weapon procedure standard, he or she At a minimum, Soldiers should be missed an opportunity to prevent a fu- aware that their commander should ture negligent discharge,” he wrote. make an inquiry every time their weap- The prevention of future negligent on is fired, regardless of intent. discharges starts with proper clearing “Any weapons discharge is re- Put the weapon on semi procedures and treating every weapon viewed by the commander in the (af- — regardless of its status — as if it is ter action review),” said Lt. Col. John loaded, Cooper said. Wells, MNC-I administrative law chief. “Weapons handling is one of our “Depending on the outcome of that, it 5 most basic Soldiering tasks,” Odierno could require (an investigation).” wrote. “Though they are a part of every- Wells said that every investigation day life in theater, we cannot become and inquiry allows commanders to complacent. We must be disciplined make changes on the battlefield, from Soldiers who do not carelessly injure what is being viewed as a hostile act Squeeze the trigger ourselves or our battle buddies.” and intent from the Soldier’s perspec- If knowledge that they have injured tive to what caused negligent discharg- or killed another because of their own es. negligence is not enough to make Sol- The Soldier is ultimately responsible 6 diers observe proper practices, they can for his weapon and its actions, he said. also face wide-ranging charges under “Every Soldier should know – when the Uniform Code of Military Justice. he fires his weapon – exactly where “The common misconception is that that round is going to go,” Wells said. there is a blanket policy for negligent “It’s not just a matter of professional- Put the weapon on safe discharges,” said Capt. Michael Riz- ism, it’s a matter of pride.” Page 2 Commentary March 4, 2007 You hurt, but your kids may hurt more Sgt. 1st Class Terrence L. Hayes routine of exercise, game and my daughter is getting 28th PAD Detachment Sergeant work, fellowship with agitated. I guess it’s normal for her to friends and sleep. feel that way, but sometimes I wonder “Daddy, where are you?” That’s And I actually feel “What is she thinking?” become a familiar question. like the depressed one A year is short for us when you put Deployments affect many troops at times. it in perspective. A year for a toddler in different ways. Some may suffer On the flip-side, is forever in her eyes. Hayes the depression of being away from she continues her “Daddy, do you want to watch loved ones, while others may suffer routine without me — wishing that I’d Dora?” she asked me yesterday. In- fear of going outside the wire on daily walk through the door like I always stead of saying I can’t, now I say yes missions. No matter what way deploy- do and hug her and join in her “daddy and then she places the phone to the ment affects you, it probably affects time.” Who’s actually the one hurting TV like I can see it. That’s the beauty your children the most. more? of children. I knew being away would affect my Each time I speak to my wife she So, next time you feel down and 2-year-old daughter, but I didn’t know tells me how much Nailah has grown out of it from “the me against the how so. “Daddy, come get me,” she al- — and I don’t mean in height and world syndrome,” think about your ways tells me when I speak to her. But, weight. She’s maturing her spirit, or son or daughter back home who feels honestly, how should I respond? I hurt as Big Mamma calls it, “she has an old like they lost their best friend the day every time she asks these questions, soul.” you left. Pick up your troubles, work but then I think how much she could I once was the relief pitcher, as I harder and reflect on those days ahead be hurting knowing that something is like to call it at home. My wife would with your kids. Your troubles and different with our relationship. be the starter and then I would come pains will seem small and you’ll un- No longer do I have “Dora the home at the bottom of eighth inning derstand that they feel the same pain Explorer” afternoons or “Bratz” dolls and close out my daughter’s day. — nothing that a mother or father’s playtime with her. Now I’m in a set Now, my wife has to pitch the entire love can’t cure. Chaplain’s Corner in Babylon, one of the king’s minis- mystery of chance, of startling twists The Mystery ters authored a plan to murder en and sudden opportunities. masse an entire nation that had been It may seem, as the “bad guy” in of Chance exiled to Babylon for nearly 70 years. this story thought, that life happens Chaplain Raymond Milburn Through a convoluted series of events, at random and that there is no order 504th MI Brigade Chaplain his plan backfired and the tables were to what is happening. God may seem turned. concealed, but He is there all the time, The Bible often seems like a fairy On the very day that he chose to playing a constant role in our lives. tale — the sea splits, the evil die, the have all the Jewish exiles in Babylon He may not openly intervene, but righteous are rewarded. God is so ac- killed, the king’s minister was hanged still God is there — guiding, directing tive and life is so orderly. on a gallows he had ordered built as and steering a joyful recognition in an Yet the world of our experience part of his evil plan. often bleak and frightening world. seems very different. It’s disorderly, The Biblical book of Esther is the Life seems to be pretty ordinary unfair and cruel. The evil prosper and narrative of the events circumstances here in “Babylon.” We march from the righteous just become cynical. surrounding the Feast of Purim. It is day to day not really noticing whether On the fourth and fifth of March neither filled with signs and wonders, God is here or not; not really doing a there will be celebrations to commem- nor prophecies and miracles. God’s whole lot to find out. Then, just like orate a significant Biblical event — the presence in this extraordinarily ordi- the Jewish exiles in Babylon, we get Feast of Purim. Some 2,500 years ago nary story is revealed throughout the See MYSTERY, page 3 Phantom News is an authorized electronic publication for MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno Phantom News welcomes columns, com- members of the Department of Defense. Contents of this MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. James Hutton mentaries, articles and letters from our electronic publication are not necessarily the official views of MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Eric E. Parris readers. Send submissionsor comments or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Department of MNC-I Command Info Chief: Sgt. 1st Class Terrence Hayes to [email protected]. The Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the respon- Editor: Sgt. Jacob Boyer editorial staff reserves the right to edit for sibility of the Public Affairs Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. Staff: Spc. Laura M. Bigenho, Spc. D. A. Dickinson, Spc. Beatrice Florescu Vila-Verde, security, accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity Spc. Stephanie Homan, Cpl. Jess Kent, Spc. Abel Trevino and space. March 4, 2007 Page 3 Platoon secures convoys from Victory to IZ Story, photo by Spc. Beatrice Florescu-Vila Verde MNC-I PAO Soldiers assigned to Multi-National Corps-Iraq’s Convoy Platoon provide security and transportation to personnel traveling from Victory Base Complex to the International Zone each day to ensure those travellers are protected.