victory times online Vol. II, Issue 76 Friday’s Online Edition October 3, 2008 Army celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month more. Hispanic Americans Story by Sgt. 1st Class have been living in what is Monica Bailey now known as present day Equal Opportunity Office United States since 1565. Hispanic Americans In 1968, Congress au- have made major contribu- thorized President Lyndon tions to the development of Johnson to proclaim Na- the nation and the Ameri- tional Hispanic Heritage can culture. They have Week, and this observance made their mark in all fields was expanded in 1988 to a such as politics, science, month-long celebration. law, sports, music and, of

During this month, course, the military. Spc. Josh LeCappelain, Multi-National Division-Center America celebrates the Hispanics have filled Lt. Col. Steven Parker, Pfc. Jacqueline Olvera, Maj. Guillermo San- tiago, Sgt. Glenda Sigaran and Lt. Col. Vance McLeod cut a cake traditions, ancestry and top positions in the U.S during Multi-National Division-Center’s Hispanic Heritage Month unique experiences of government with Mexican celebration Sept. 18 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation 124 those who trace their roots American Alberto Gonza- building on Camp Victory. to Spain, Mexico, the coun- les serving as U.S. Attor- league baseball hall-of- rean War, Vietnam, Des- tries of Central and South ney General and Cuban- famers include Orlando ert Shield and, of course, America, and the Carib- born Carlos Gutierrez as Cepeda, Juan Marichal Iraq and Afghanistan. The bean. Throughout history, Secretary of Commerce. and Luis Aparicio. Since military currently has tens Hispanic Americans have In 1998, Luis Caldera, the 1950s, a number of of thousands of Hispanic enriched the American cul- a Mexican American, be- Hispanic American music Americans serving in Iraq ture and way of life, and we came the highest ranking performers have gained and Afghanistan. Hispan- recognize the millions of Hispanic to hold office in widespread popularity, in- ics make up about 9.49 Hispanic Americans who America when he became cluding Julio Iglesias, Jen- percent of the overall en- have sacrificed so much for Secretary of the Army. Cur- nifer Lopez, Carlos Santa- listed force and 3.8 percent our great nation during this rently there are 23 Hispanics na, Gloria Estefan and the of the officer corps. Cur- month-long celebration. in the House of Representa- group, Los Lobos. rently Hispanics hold 1.36 Hispanic Americans be- tives and six in Senate. Hispanics have also percent of flag billets with- came the largest minority Hispanics have also influenced the arts with in the overall military. group in the United States made their mark in sports painters such as John Valez To date Hispanics have in 2002. Hispanics cur- ,with at least 30 percent of and actors such as Edward been awarded 42 Medals of rently make up 15.1 per- all major league baseball James Olmos. Whether it Honor, making them the na- cent of the United States’ players being born in Latin is politics, entertainment tion’s highest ethnic group total population. America, coming mostly or food, Hispanic Ameri- to be recognized. Hispanic They include sub-groups from Cuba, the Domini- cans have influenced and Americans have contrib- such as Mexican Ameri- can Republic, Mexico, Ni- changed the American uted much to the American can, Cuban American, caragua, Panama, Puerto way of life. way of life and that is why Colombian American, Do- Rico and Venezuela. Hispanic Americans hav- from Sept. 15 through Oct. minican American, Puerto Such names as Ro- ing fought for the defense 15 we celebrate and rec- Rican American, Salva- berto Clemente of Puerto of our Nation in the Civil ognize their many accom- doran American and many Rico and other major War, World War II, the Ko- plishments. News Army makes changes in death gratuity Story and photo by ley said. “As of January Pfc. Eric J. Glassey 2008 a Soldier can dis- tribute his $100,000 in 13th Public Affairs Det. allotments of $10,000. It The U.S. Army up- gives Soldiers more op- dated its policy on tions.” death gratuity and next These new policies of kin notification pa- open up avenues of perwork; requiring all possibilities for who personnel to use the Soldiers’ can give their new January 2008 ver- death gratuity. sion of DD Form 93. “If you don’t leave “Death gratuity is a all your money to your lump sum gratuitous spouse, then they will payment made by the have to be notified,” Army to eligible ben- Chief Warrant Officer eficiaries of a mem- Jenaro Nazario, human ber who dies on active resources technician, duty including full- S1, Task Force Drag- time active guard/re- on, MNC-I. “The Army serve personnel,” said will not tell them who Capt. Amy Stanley, S1, the money is being sent Task Force Dragon, to, but they will tell the Multi-National Corps spouse that you won’t – Iraq. “Its purpose is be leaving the whole to help the survivors in 100 percent to them.” their readjustment and It is mandatory that to aid them in meeting everyone must update immediate expenses their DD form 93 on incurred. At the pres- the new January 2008 Record of Emergency Data forms, the DD Form 93, have a new ent time, the amount forms. People going Jan. 2008 version. DD Form 93 is for death gratuity and next of of death gratuity is on leave or pass must kin notification. $100,000.” have a copy of the new to pass this informa- they are accurate,” “The major change is DD 93 form. tion along, but it is the Nazario said. “They that in May 2007, you “It is the responsi- Soldiers’ responsibil- need to have their de- could contribute only bility of the command- ity to update their re- sires known before to one person,” Stan- ers and first sergeants cords and make sure they pass away.”

The Victory Times Online is an authorized Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III electronic publication for members of the MNC-I Commanding General: The Victory Times online welcomes columns, Col. Billy J. Buckner Department of Defense. Contents of this MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: commentaries, articles and letters from our Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka electronic publication are not necessarily MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: readers. Send submissions or comments to MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante the official views of or endorsed by the [email protected]. The edito- Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord U.S. Government or the Department of De- Editor: rial staff reserves the right to edit for security, Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances L. Goch, Spc. fense. The editorial content of this publica- Staff: accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space. tion is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Samuel J. Phillips, Pfc. Eric J. Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Page 2 Victory Times October 3, 2008 Feature Combat stress team teaches warrior resilience Story and photo by losophy, said Maj. Thomas lis, states that A, activat- Spc. Samuel J. Phillips Jarrett, prevention team of- ing events, along with B, a MNC-I PAO ficer in charge, 98th CSC. persons beliefs, causes C, “We try to remind Soldiers emotional consequences, The 98th Combat Stress how durable they are as hu- Jarrett said. If someone re- Control Prevention Team man beings,” Jarrett said. places his irrational beliefs conducted a Warrior Resil- Since 300 B.C., cultures he can change the emotions ience Training brief Sept. have embraced a basic stoic that come from the situation. 12 at Hope Chapel on Camp idea, Jarrett said. This idea “Through this, Soldiers can Victory. This was the last of states that people can only limit anger, rage and depres- four briefs held on Victory fully control four things and sion and experience healthier, Base Complex before the 98th they are all internal; their ul- growth inspiring emotions CSC headed out to Multi-Na- timate direction or goals, their such as irritation, sorrow tional Division – Baghdad. beliefs, their emotions and and grief,” Jarrett said. The training is an edu- their actions and behaviors. “We teach the Soldiers cational class designed to “With this stoic idea, along the terms and coach them so enhance warrior resiliency with the ABC theory of emo- that when the time comes and posttraumatic growth tions we encourage post- they will be strengthened through the use of rational traumatic growth and the by their deployment experi- emotive behavior therapy. growth of resiliency, endur- ences, even if they are nega- Students are trained to focus ance and character within tive or painful,” said Sgt. upon virtue, character and Soldiers,” Jarrett said. Michael Venuto, prevention emotional self-regulation by The ABC theory of emo- team noncommissioned of- constructing and maintaining tions, propounded by famed ficer in charge, 98th CSC. a personally resilient phi- psychologist, Dr. Albert El- Having already bestowed this knowledge on approxi- mately 4,500 Soldiers in theater the prevention team works closely with chaplains and the surgeon general’s of- fice to find out where they are needed the most, Venuto said. After each course attend- ees are given a feedback form to get a chance to let the prevention team know how affective the brief was, Jarrett said. “We have re- ceived excellent feedback.” “The course has been ex- tremely successful,” Jar- rett said, “but we are al- ways looking to improve Sgt. Michael Venuto, prevention team noncommissioned officer in charge, 98th Combat Stress Control, gives instruction about warrior resilience in the final brief of a four-part it and teach the Soldiers series at Hope Chapel, Camp Victory Sept. 12. everything that we can.”

October 3, 2008 Victory Times Page 3 Information Rosh Hashanah is here Every vote counts

Chaplain David Goldstron, Jewish chaplain, Multi-National Division - Center leads the covering of the scrolls during Rosh Hashanah at Victory Chapel Sept 30.

Story and photo by and time for fellowship Pfc. Eric J. Glassey in Iraq with fellow Sol- diers,” Capt. Karl Kor- 13th Public Affairs Det. pal, preventive medical Rosh Hashanah and officer, Task Force 115. Yom Kippur make up the “It is also a pleasant sur- most important holiday of prise to see the civilians the Jewish faith. who we can share this Together, Rash Hasha- holiday with.” nah and Yom Kippur are “I’m glad I get the op- a 10-day period of repen- portunity to be there for tance and atonement. This Jewish Soldiers in Iraq,” period marks a new year Goldstron said. “It is very for the Jewish community rare in a deployment to Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Krawczyk, MNC-I PAO California Secretary of State Debra Bowen talks with 1st Lt. as it receives forgiveness take time and reflect on Autumn Horton, voting assistance officer, Company A, 4th for the past year’s sins and our lives. We are so busy Infantry Division, about voting issues facing servicemembers deployed to Iraq at Al Faw Palace Sept. 30. Bowen, along with are given a fresh start. seven days of the week. four other U.S. secretaries of states visited Camp Victory to “This is a time of re- During this time of Rosh answer questions and address concerns servicemembers may flection,” said Chaplain Hashanah and Yom Kip- have regarding their ballots being counted in the election. “Every ballot is counted and every vote can make a differ- David Goldstron, Jewish pur, we have to take stock ence,” Bowen said. “Some servicemembers think that their chaplain, Multi-National and examine our lives as vote doesn’t count or that they count absentee ballots differ- ently than ballots cast stateside. The truth, Bowen said, is as Division - Center. “Start- we go on a new year.” soon as the ballot arrives at its destination it is opened and ing anew while seeking The final services of placed in a pill of other ballots. When the polls close all the bal- forgiveness for those we Yom Kippur will be held lots are picked up and dropped off at the collection point. The counters have no idea if that ballot came from just down the have wronged.” Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. until Oct. street or across the world, she added. “It is a chance of a life- 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Victory time to have the freedom Chapel, Bldg 31.

Page 4 Victory Times Online October 3, 2008