Council History - Track our progress!

* 2004 -- Green Zone Council (GZC) established in IZ.

* Early 2008, MNC-I Chaplain Wade and several Hearts for Baghdad volunteers participate in a camp event in the IZ with the GZC. The seeds of scouting are for VBC are planted! Chaplain Wade posts flyers around MNC-I HQ looking for scouters.

* March 2008 -- Chaplain Wade has first dinner with Victory Base volunteers: Louise, Mike, and Eric.

* April 2008 -- First school visit. GZC endorses VBC plans. VICTORY BASE COUNCIL named and established. Drive for volunteers begins. Chaplain McDowell joins as Chaplain Wade heads home.

* May 2008 -- Official acknowledgement of Victory Base Council by Scouting Council of Iraq. Meeting to teach tennis with donated equipment. Campsite designated, plans for improvements begun.

* June 2008 -- New Council logo/patch finalized. Web site created. Improvements to Camp & Meeting site underway supervised by MSGT Lake. Our first troop meeting is a runaway success (see photos!). Regular troop meetings begin. Volunteer group grows past 2 dozen.

* July 2008 -- Troop meetings every Saturday. First Campfire/cookout meeting is a big hit. SPL is designated. Volunteer group grows past 3 dozen. Additions to campsite/meeting area include: floor for main tent, second tent, storage unit.

* August 2008 -- SPL begins to run meetings. 4 Patrols created by Iraqi leaders and scouts. Camp improvements continue with grading and fencing.

* September 2008 - Volunteer group grows to 50+. Admin officer and QM positions filled. Wells and electricity and lights for camp. Growing of grass begins. First game of Mhebis (the ring) with Iraqi friends. Second Cookout/Campfire planned. Computer bags added to fundraising line.

* October 2008 - Another great Cookout and Campfire, group grows with every meeting. Campsite development continues.

* November 2008 - Continued to develop partnerships with local area schools.

* December 2008 - Our first "TOA" (transfer of authority) and award ceremony! LCDR Fretz officially retires as the founding co-chair and Major Hanke (along with fellow co-chair COL Pugmire) tries to clean up the mess he left behind.

* January 2009 - Began work on the 2009 goals of increased Iraqi leader planning and meeting roles.

* February 2009 - Had some great visits on site with fire trucks, some more archery, and of course SOCCER! Began putting out a weekly newsletter with photos!

* March 2009 - More fire trucks! Iraqi led events are part of every meeting now. We welcome some new names to the leader slate, the VBC machine is functioning smoothly as we come up to the one year anniversary of its "founding". : ) Somehow we survive Mayjah Cheryl's R&R absence...

* April 2009 - Planning is underway for our first ever OVERNIGHT CAMPOUT! Happy Anniversary VBC, one year ago formal meetings began with four people staring at LCDR Fretz over a dinner table in the OASIS DFAC. You've come a long way, baby!

* May 2009 - The first ever VBC Camporee/Campout was a raging success. Training of Iraqi youth leaders becomes a regular meeting feature. Iraqi partner leaders run at least one event per meeting. The second TOA ceremony took place and a third set of co-chairs continued to lead the VBC to ever greater success.

* June 2009 - The VBC celebrated its first birthday (anniversary of the first troop meeting) in style complete with cake and a candle. A ton of new volunteers are making a huge difference and bringing some new ideas. We introduced a plethora of new games and sports as part of this month's theme of physical fitness. Jump-rope might just be a new favorite on Saturdays!

* July 2009 - The older boys got a campout to practice the camping skills they'd been working on. Substantial leadership training was woven into the campout and graduates were awarded with an Int'l Scouting Knot patch!

* August 2009 -

* September 2009 -

* October 2009 -

* November 2009 - A basic advancement program is begun in partnership with the Iraqi leaders. Each Scout gets a sash, and locally developed badges for various skill areas are awarded.

* December 2009 - Forget reindeer! SANTA visits the troop meeting in an MRAP!

* January 2010 -

* Feb 2010 -

* March 2010 Another great Campout, 40 kids enjoyed an overnight that included the usual fire and great food, but also chess and fishing!

* April 2010 - Peter Santaniello is elected as a new co-chair, and LTC Robert Menti is selected as the "council executive" to provide high level liaison to the Corps HQ.