• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
Monday, June 23, 2025
  • Login
Go WhereItzAt
  • Latest Issue
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

    Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

    Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

    Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

    Congratulations to Nickie E. Robinson Recognized as a Hero Behind the Culture

    Congratulations to Nickie E. Robinson Recognized as a Hero Behind the Culture

    Trending Tags

      • Gaming
      • Movie
      • Music
      • Sports
    • Celebrity
    • Lifestyle
    • Art & Culture
      J.E.S.A. NY Hosts Their 13th Annual Fundraising & Awards Event

      J.E.S.A. NY Hosts Their 13th Annual Fundraising & Awards Event

      Welcome to the Brunch With Sherls Experience 

      Welcome to the Brunch With Sherls Experience 

      The Weekly Pull-Up

      The Weekly Pull-Up

      Are You Going To Jerk Festival In NYC This Year?

      Are You Going To Jerk Festival In NYC This Year?

      Spirit of the Caribbean

      Spirit of the Caribbean

      BLACK PANTHER: A Review

      BLACK PANTHER: A Review

    • Business
    • Publisher’s Vibe
    • B.I.G. Awards
    • Advertise With Us
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Latest Issue
    • Entertainment
      • All
      • Gaming
      • Movie
      • Music
      • Sports
      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      Congratulations to Nickie E. Robinson Recognized as a Hero Behind the Culture

      Congratulations to Nickie E. Robinson Recognized as a Hero Behind the Culture

      Trending Tags

        • Gaming
        • Movie
        • Music
        • Sports
      • Celebrity
      • Lifestyle
      • Art & Culture
        J.E.S.A. NY Hosts Their 13th Annual Fundraising & Awards Event

        J.E.S.A. NY Hosts Their 13th Annual Fundraising & Awards Event

        Welcome to the Brunch With Sherls Experience 

        Welcome to the Brunch With Sherls Experience 

        The Weekly Pull-Up

        The Weekly Pull-Up

        Are You Going To Jerk Festival In NYC This Year?

        Are You Going To Jerk Festival In NYC This Year?

        Spirit of the Caribbean

        Spirit of the Caribbean

        BLACK PANTHER: A Review

        BLACK PANTHER: A Review

      • Business
      • Publisher’s Vibe
      • B.I.G. Awards
      • Advertise With Us
      No Result
      View All Result
      Go WhereItzAt
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Features

      USF Grad Receives Bronze Star After Afghan Attack

      WhereItzAt Staff by WhereItzAt Staff
      02/23/2017
      in Features
      0 0
      0
      0
      SHARES
      2
      VIEWS
      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

      By Ed Carpenter

      If Jophiel Philips JD ’11 had been five yards closer, he wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale. The U.S. Air Force JAG captain was blown into the air, when insurgents detonated a car bomb at the entrance to his military base in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 7 — killing six soldiers.

      When Philips regained consciousness, the first thing he did was rush to the rescue of an injured chaplain, shuttling him to safety. Then, he returned to the fight and helped repel the insurgents, who’d proceeded to attack Camp Integrity with machine guns and suicide vests, during a raging two-hour battle.

      “I witnessed the best of America’s best that day,” Philips says. “In the midst of extreme danger, they were called upon to do their jobs and they executed without hesitation.”

      The best of USF

      As a result of the explosion, Philips suffered a traumatic brain injury, a sprained ankle, and a sprained knee, among other injuries. He was evacuated by helicopter. He later received a Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart because he was injured in battle.

      At Camp Integrity, Philips was part of the legal JAG team that sifted through intelligence to determine probable cause for military action. Now recovered, Philip is stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he’s a prosecutor and advises commanders on the rules of war in ongoing battles in the Middle East and globally.

      “Capt. Philips represents the best of USF,” says law Professor Robert Talbot, who taught Philips evidence law. “His talent, perseverance, integrity, and willingness to take on difficult assignments exemplify the type of students that succeed here.”

      Philips chose the USF School of Law because it’s dedicated to producing good people who are lawyers — an important distinction from schools that just focus on producing lawyers, he says.

      A strong sense of family and love 

      Philips’ connection to USF faculty like Julie Nice, Sharon Meadows, and Jack Garvey went beyond a teacher-student relationship. They became mentors, and he’s still in touch with them. Some, like Talbot, even invited Philips and other students to their houses for Thanksgiving and Easter.

      “USF is an amazing place,” Philips says. “There is a strong sense of family and love there.”

      Philips wasn’t a natural at law to start, and his grades the first semester showed it. When faculty and fellow classmates saw him struggling, they went out of their way to help. “Students in my classes, those I was ‘competing against,’ often stayed after classes and joined study sessions to make sure I understood the material,” Philips says.

      The law school’s Academic Support Program (ASP) also contributed to his turnaround. “I’m speaking from personal experience when I say USF doesn’t give up on people and believes in people,” Philips says.

      In his second year, Philips decided it was his turn to help and joined ASP as a tutor, guiding first-year students who were struggling like he had.

      “USF taught me the importance of understanding the human element and story behind every legal issue. As a JAG, I never lose sight of the people who will be affected by legal action that I take and that has taken me a long way,” Philips says.

      WhereItzAt Staff

      WhereItzAt Staff

      • Trending
      • Comments
      • Latest
      100 Famous Short Men Everyone Can Look Up To

      100 Famous Short Men Everyone Can Look Up To

      02/11/2021
      8 Wealthiest and Most Influential People From Jamaica

      8 Wealthiest and Most Influential People From Jamaica

      02/11/2021
      Sherman’s 50th Birthday

      Sherman’s 50th Birthday

      02/11/2021
      Donovan Wilson, Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations U.S.A., Inc (UJAA) President is a 2023 B.I.G. Awards Honoree

      Naala Royale-Holder, Dunn’s River Lounge Owner is a 2023 B.I.G. Awards Honoree

      11/20/2023
      Melanated AI: A New Marketplace Celebrating AI Artists and Creators of Color

      Melanated AI: A New Marketplace Celebrating AI Artists and Creators of Color

      46
      New York City Releases 2021 Overdose Data Showing Unprecedented Overdose Levels

      New York City Releases 2021 Overdose Data Showing Unprecedented Overdose Levels

      39
      UJAA’s Commitment to Provide Devices for Students Continues

      UJAA’s Commitment to Provide Devices for Students Continues

      39
      5 Tips To Make Your Money Work For You All 2023

      5 Tips To Make Your Money Work For You All 2023

      38
      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      06/01/2025
      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      06/01/2025
      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      06/01/2025
      Survival Stories – Local Business Owners Talk Surviving the Pandemic and Hope for a Better 2022

      Congratulations Vital Health!  – “Ital Health For 34 Years and Counting”

      06/01/2025

      Recent News

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      06/01/2025
      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      06/01/2025
      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      Rhythms & Flavors: 15 Must-Attend Cultural Events in New York This Summer

      06/01/2025
      Survival Stories – Local Business Owners Talk Surviving the Pandemic and Hope for a Better 2022

      Congratulations Vital Health!  – “Ital Health For 34 Years and Counting”

      06/01/2025
      Go WhereItzAt

      At WhereItzAt our purpose is to help people discover the unique voices, narratives, personal experiences, and perspectives of the Caribbean-American and Urban Culture along with great local businesses like restaurants, bars, dentists, hairstylists, mechanics, and more. Time to Explore!

      For Inquiries Call: (516) 690-9060

      Follow Us

      Resources

      • The Magazine
      • Articles
      • Latest Issue
      • Entertainment
      • Celebrity
      • Lifestyle
      • Art & Culture
      • Business
      • Publisher’s Vibe
      • B.I.G. Awards
      • Advertise With Us

      Recent News

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      Back Like We Never Left: ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2025 Sets the Stage for a Legendary Return

      06/01/2025
      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      We’re Not Waiting to Be Saved—We’re Saving Ourselves!

      06/01/2025
      • About
      • Advertise
      • Contact us
      • Privacy Policy

      © 2021 Copyright WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved.

      No Result
      View All Result
      • Latest Issue
      • Entertainment
        • Gaming
        • Movie
        • Music
        • Sports
      • Celebrity
      • Lifestyle
      • Art & Culture
      • Business
      • Publisher’s Vibe
      • B.I.G. Awards
      • Advertise With Us

      © 2021 Copyright WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved.

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In

      Add New Playlist

      Are you sure want to unlock this post?
      Unlock left : 0
      Are you sure want to cancel subscription?