DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Recent Episodes
DoD Emerging Media
The Department of Defense (DoD) Bloggers' Roundtable connects bloggers and online journalists with DoD civilian and military leaders and subject matter experts. The Roundtable provides source material where available, including audio, photo, video, transcripts, biographies and related fact sheets. The appearance of advertising on this Web site, does not constitute endorsement by the (Department of Defense), of the products or services advertised on this site.
President Barack Obama will award the nation's highest award for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor, to Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry on Tuesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. EST. Petry is being awarded the medal for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the Paktia Province, Afghanistan, in May 2008. Petry will be the second living Medal of Honor recipient from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan (see attachment for official Medal of Honor poster). Wednesday July 13, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, please join us for a Bloggers Roundtable with team members of the newest Medal of Honor awardee, Sgt. 1st Class Petry.
We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with British Maj. Gen. Phil Jones, director of the Force Reintegration Cell for the International Security Assistance Force. He will discuss the state of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration. According to Maj. Gen. Jones, more than 500 Afghans have come forward during the past 60 days to join, which brings the total number of reintegration candidates to nearly 1,200 former fighters from 13 provinces.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Jack H. "Jay" Pittman, commander of 302nd Air Wing. For the past two weeks, at the request of the USDA Forest Service, and under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander, members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with numerous active duty counterparts and other federal agencies have responded to the wildfires that have been plaguing Texas and the southwest border region. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) has been deployed to aid in this effort. MAFFS is a self-contained platform aboard Air Force C-130s, and to date, the C-130s have discharged nearly 200,000 gallons of retardant to help contain the massive fires.
We have scheduled a U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, Director of Strategic Effects and United States Forces - Iraq Spokesman.
Buchanan will speak with bloggers interested in discussing Operation New Day, the long term strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq, transition to civilian authority, and current events in Iraq.
The Air Force is making final preparations for the second hypersonic flight test by the X-51A Waverider slated to launch this spring from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-51A team made some slight vehicle modifications following the May 26, 2010 longest-ever hypersonic flight powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet engine. Charlie Brink, Air Force Research Laboratory's X-51A technology demonstrator program manager; Joseph Vogel, Boeing Phantom Works/Defense, Space and Security Director of Hypersonics X-51A program manager; and George Thum, X-51A Program Manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, will participate in a roundtable to discuss the upcoming X-51A test flight. We sincerely hope you can join us for this important update on the program.
Join the U.S. Army’s Online and Social Media Division for a Bloggers Roundtable in conjunction with the public reveal of the new Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT) and the Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT).
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s, deputy commanding general for Initial Military Training, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, will present the APRT and ACRT at Fort Jackson, S.C. Pilot programs for the new tests are scheduled to begin next month in various locations throughout the Army and are slated to replace the current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Army-wide later this year. The U.S. Army Physical Fitness School (USAPFS), led by director, Frank Palkoska, will provide a live demonstration of both tests, marking the first public revealing.
Preceding the live demonstration at Fort Jackson, bloggers participating in the roundtable will be provided a brief background and overview of changes, addressing how the tests correlate with the Army’s Physical Readiness Training and how they better assess a soldier’s physical ability.
The current PT test, which consists of two minutes of pushups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run, has remained unchanged since 1980.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, I Marine Expeditionary Force deputy commanding general and I Marine Expeditionary Brigade's commanding general, will be participating in a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable to discuss Pacific Horizon 2011.
Pacific Horizon 2011 training involves Marines and sailors quickly gaining access to the beach then conducting operations ranging from humanitarian assistance to contested assaults. Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and I MEB will work together to provide a sea-based approach for America's armed forces to operate across the range of military operations.
We have scheduled a U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. Michael Vane, Director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center. Vane will be discussing the latest developments in how the Army is evaluating smartphone technologies and software applications to provide soldiers the ability to learn anytime/anywhere.
Join us for the final bloggers roundtable with Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston, as he discusses his tenure in the Army and as the 13th Sergeant Major. He will also talk about his successor and answer any questions you may have.
While serving as the longest-standing Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Preston serves as the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on all enlisted-related matters, particularly in areas affecting soldier training and quality of life. He devotes the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Army observing training, and talking to soldiers and their families.
Preston was sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army on January15, 2004. Preston has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career ranging from cavalry scout to command sergeant major.
Throughout his 35-year career, he has served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander to his current position as Sergeant Major of the Army. Other assignments he held as command sergeant major were 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 3rd "Grey Wolf" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, and V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany.
His most recent assignment was as the command sergeant major for Combined Joint Task Force 7 serving in Baghdad, Iraq.
We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with The Honorable Robert F. Hale, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Hale will be discussing the FY12 DoD budget proposal, which will be rolled out in a series of briefings at the Pentagon on Monday, Feb. 14.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Navy Capt. Dale Fuller, the former Amphibious Squadron 3 commander of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, and Marine Corps Col. Roy Osborn, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, led a Navy-Marine Corps team that completed a wide range of missions across the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Fuller and Osborn will discuss value of forward-deployed Navy-Marine Corps forces, challenges they faced, and how their team accomplished a wide range of missions, including pirate takedown in Gulf of Aden that generated so many headlines last fall.
Jack Kem, Ph.D., deputy to the commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, will participate in a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable on Wednesday, February 9.
Kem will discuss gender initiatives within the Afghan National Security Force and how NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan is working with the Afghan Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense on these initiatives.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Ms. Barbara Thompson, Director of the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth.
Ms. Thompson will be talking about President Obama's announcement this week of new efforts to better coordinate and strengthen the Federal government’s support for military families. She will be discussing some of the specific programs already in effect as well as what military families can expect in the future.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Tom Hicks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy. Mr. Hicks will be discussing the recent RAND Report on Alternative Fuels for Military Applications submitted to Congress yesterday.
U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable to discuss how virtual reality applications are being designed and implemented across various points in the military deployment cycle to prevent, identify and treat combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo will be discussing virtual approaches to dealing with PTSD. His latest project has focused on the translation of the graphic assets from the Xbox game, Full Spectrum Warrior, into an exposure therapy application for combat-related PTSD with Iraq War veterans. Rizzo is a pioneer in using immersive technologies to address issues of mental health and brain injury, including virtual reality treatments for post-traumatic stress and motor rehabilitation. At the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, he leads several projects that use virtual humans and virtual reality for mental health training and support. Dr. Rizzo will discuss these various projects and explain how virtual reality can be an effective supplement to more traditional treatment options in addition to ways in which virtual reality and virtual humans can provide a safe and easily accessible avenue for support for military members, their Families and civilian populations. Specific projects include exposure therapy for PTSD, stress resilience training, virtual patients for clinical training, virtual human health guides and game-based physical and cognitive rehabilitation.
The Air Force Reserve Command contributes 100 percent of the U.S. Air Force's Weather Reconnaissance and Aerial Spray capabilities and 25 percent of the Air Force's Modular Airborne Firefighting System capabilities. On January 12-13 experts from all three of the Air Force Reserve Command's C-130 special missions will convene at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs for the first ever, AFRC C-130 Special Missions conference. All three missions provide significant contributions to our nation's Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions. The high experience level of its Airmen and the ability to respond to nature's fury at a moment's notice makes the Air Force Reserve Command an ideal partner in these missions.
Joining us on the call will be Capt. W. Travis Adams, Assistant Chief of Aerial Spray, 757 Airlift Squadron, Lt. Col. Jonathan Talbot from the 403rd Wing, Lt. Col. David Condit who will be representing the 302d Airlift Wing, and Maj. Gen. James T. Rubeor, 22nd Air Force Commander.
We have scheduled Army Bloggers Roundtable with Tim Owings, deputy program manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, for Thursday, Jan. 13, at 9:30 a.m. ET, to discuss program issues such as quick-reaction time updates, ground-based sense.
In developing robotic technologies, the Pentagon looks to integrate manned and unmanned elements of the “total system”—leader, unit, soldier and equipment—by first considering the requirements of the warfighter. The military’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office provides a comprehensive management and technical approach by focusing on such input early in the acquisition design process.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Air Force Col. Brett Wyrick, air surgeon, Air National Guard for Monday, Jan. 10. Col. Wyrick will discuss the new medical mission for Air Guard. Beginning next week specialized medical personnel from the Air National Guard will begin flying Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) missions from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The CCATT consists of a physician specializing in an area such as critical care, pulmonology, anesthesiology or surgery, along with a critical care nurse and a respiratory technician. The Air Guard will place at least one CCATT on each rotation flying out of Ramstein for the next two years, and are looking to combine with the Air Force Reserve to field even more teams in the coming months.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Army Col. John Ferrari, deputy commander for programs, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transitions Command-Afghanistan. Col. Ferrari will be talking about coalition procured equipment given to the Afghan National Security Force to help them in their fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with World War II Navy Cross recipient and fighter ace William E. “Bill” Davis. Davis will share details of his October 1944 bombing attack that sunk the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku. The Zuikaku held a special place in the minds of a Navy pilot in 1944. She was the last remaining aircraft carrier that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bill’s bombing run nearly cost him his life but he and his men sunk her, and, militarily, the closure for Pearl Harbor was now complete.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Alicia Sanchez, games czar, Defense Acquisition University. She will discuss the first ever Department of Defense casual games site, which allows acquisition professionals to play games related to acquisition topics. The site launched Dec. 1 and features 13 mini games designed specifically to enhance acquisition workforce education.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Marine Col. Randy Newman, regimental commanding officer, 7th Marines. Col. Newman recently returned from a year-long deployment as commander of Regimental Combat Team 7 in Afghanistan. He will discuss his leadership experience in Afghanistan and combat and civil operations there. He will also discuss the work his Marines did and the challenges that remain.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Rear Admiral Kevin Scott, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG 2). Scott will be the Navy's embarked Commander Amphibious Task Force for Exercise Bold Alligator 2011, which is a U.S. naval amphibious exercise that will focus on conducting major amphibious operations simultaneously with a non-combatant evacuation. This is the most significant and robust exercise within the USN-USMC amphibious community in almost 10 years. Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG 2), and Commander, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2nd MEB) in coordination with ships assigned to the U.S. Second Fleet will conduct a joint large-scale fleet synthetic training amphibious exercise, which will concentrate on the fundamental roles as "fighters from the sea." Its focus is based on the joint goal of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) to revitalize and return to the fundamental amphibious roles as "fighters from the sea".
The exercise will focus improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Christopher S. Owens, commanding general, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the Marine component of Exercise BOLD ALLIGATOR 2011, which has been designed to reacquaint brigades and group level commands with their amphibious doctrine, tactical skill sets and logistical requirements in accordance with the Commandant's intent for Marines to get back to their "amphibious roots." After more than ten years of fighting in land-locked warfare throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, the Navy/Marine Corps team is working hard to revitalize its amphibious capability and reassert its role as "fighters from the sea" beginning early this December with Exercise BOLD ALLIGATOR 2011.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with members of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s communications-electronics center (CERDEC). David Jimenez, Associate Director of Systems Engineering and Jason Sypniewski, chief for CERDEC’s C4ISR & Network Modernization Integrated Event Design and Analysis Branch will discuss the Army’s efforts to integrate C4ISR capabilities (such as sensors, transport, application and data fusion systems) during the early stages of R&D. CERDEC is the Army's main developer, supplier, and integrator of C4ISR into Army Systems and Platforms. Additionally, Jimenez and Sypniewski will discuss evaluating interoperability, spectrum constraints, security, power draw, cognitive impact and other human, environmental and technical factors associated with the SoS approach. The Army network of the future will be a system-of-systems, so it is paramount that capabilities and systems be integrated and assessed in a relevant environment early in their development process in order to see how they will perform together.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Alexander Kott, chief, Network Science Division, Army Research Laboratory and Dr. Robert Cole, deputy manager, Network Science - Collaborative Technology Alliance U.S. Army CERDEC. Kott and Cole will discuss the latest innovations in Network Science, which is a new and emerging scientific discipline that examines the interactions, interdependencies and common underlying science among social, information and communications networks.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Capt. Lori Laraway, coordinator, Navy Operational Stress Control Program. She will discuss the Navy’s Operational Stress Control (OSC) program and it's success in increasing awareness of operational stress and the need to build psychological resilience. Feedback from the Behavioral Health Quick poll, NPC poll, surveys, focus groups and training assessments, indicate a growing awareness of the stress continuum and the importance of recognizing stress at work and at home. While awareness of stress issues is improving, this year’s Behavioral Health Quick Poll respondents indicate longer deployments and manning issues contribute to increasing levels of operational stress. To address these needs OSC continues an aggressive education, training and communication. OSC is about helping Sailors, families and commands to become more resilient by increasing their ability to prepare for, recover from and adjust to life in the face of stress, adversity, trauma or tragedy.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Tony Fiuza of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's communications-electronics center (RDECOM CERDEC). Fiuza will be calling in from the Army Science Conference to discuss ongoing efforts within the C4ISR community to provide smart phone technology to the warfighter in the tactical environment, enabling the power of information technology beyond voice.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. John "Buck" Surdu, military deputy for the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's communications-electronics center (RDECOM CERDEC). He will discuss the role that research and development plays in the Army science and technology chain, transforming conceptual science into feasible capabilities that meet soldiers needs. He will also discuss three CERDEC-developed technologies that were chosen by soldiers for recognition at the Army Greatest Inventions Ceremony.
Army Bloggers Roundtable with Staff Sgt. Brett M. Perry, Staff Sgt. Michael Burns and Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo, team members of Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. They will discuss the moments during the battle that led to Staff Sgt. Giunta being awarded the Medal of Honor.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Retired U.S. Army Maj. Ed Pulido and Capt. Josh Mantz, Real Warriors Campaign, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. They will be joined by Ken MacGarrigle from the VA's Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom Program Office. They will discuss the importance of early intervention and care for invisible wounds of war such as post-traumatic stress disorder, major depression and traumatic brain injury. They will also discuss the tools and resources available to veterans seeking treatment.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV, commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command. Lt. Gen. Caldwell will discuss the training and development of the Afghan National Security Force over the past year.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Michael J. Basla, vice commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Maj. Gen. Basla discussed the Air Force’s cyberspace mission, cyber security, and cyber training & education.
We have scheduled a DoDlive Bloggers Roundtable with Capt. Thomas Negus, commodore, Continuing Promise 2010. He will discuss how U.S. Southern Command assets and the USS Iwo Jima in conjunction with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and USAID are providing humanitarian assistance/foreign disaster relief operations in support of the Government of Haiti following Tropical Storm/Hurricane Tomas. The U.S. military's "unique capability" is to provide rapid response assistance until able to transition tasks to other organizations.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, director, Strategic Effects, United States Forces-Iraq (USF-I). He will discuss the USF-I role in on-going stability operations in Iraq. He will also discuss the three missions under Operation New Dawn, to advise, train, assist and equip the Iraqi Security Forces; to support U.S. Embassy, UN, and other Non Governmental Organization civilians; and to conduct partnered, counter-terrorism operations with Iraqi Security Forces.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Air Force Lt. Col. Edward "Hertz" Vaughan, commander, 13th Expeditionary Support Squadron and deputy commander, 13th Air Expeditionary Group Joint Task Force - Support Forces Antarctica McMurdo Station, Antarctica. He will discuss the support the Department of Defense provides to the National Science Foundation's research and exploration in Antarctica. The support JTF-SFA provides to the National Science Foundation's research and exploration in Antarctica is known as Operation Deep Freeze. ODF is unlike any other U.S. military operation. It is possibly the military's most difficult peacetime mission due to the harsh Antarctic environment. The U.S. military is uniquely equipped and trained to operate in such an austere environment and has provided support to the U.S. Antarctic Program since 1955.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols, commander, Pohantoon-e-Hawaee (Afghan Air Force Air School). Lt. Col Nichols will discuss Pohantoon-e-Hawaee, a specialized training facility in Afghanistan, Air Force where Afghans teach Afghans and Americans serve as advisors. The school is based on three basic tenets: professions, leadership and education. Once Afghan Air Force Airmen graduate from their basic training, they attend the school to learn their military specialty - as a firefighter, military police officer, or the myriad of other jobs in the AAF.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Walter Givhan, commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). He will be joined by Dr. Richard Raines, director, AFIT Center for Cyberspace Research and Col. Harold Arata, deputy director, AFIT Center for Cyberspace Research. They will discuss the new graduating class of more than 100 cyberspace professionals from AFIT. These students participated in classes designed to prepare warfighters to adapt and operate in the dynamic cyber arena. Operated by the Center for Cyberspace Research, the first-ever classes for the Air Force show students how to design and acquire cyberspace systems and explores cyber asset capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities and associated application and employment in Joint military operations.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Rear Adm. Philip Cullom, director, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division. Rear Adm. Cullom will discuss the Navy's full-power demonstration of a Riverine Command Boat (experimental) powered by alternative fuel at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. Alternative fuel represents one of several Navy Task Force Energy initiatives designed to increase energy security by reducing the demand for non-renewable fossil fuels.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Chadwick W. Clark, director, COIN Training Center Afghanistan, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Col. Clark will discuss the Counterinsurgency Training Center - Afghanistan and how it enhances coalition forces, the Afghan National Security Force and other Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan agencies' capabilities to reduce insurgent influence. Counterinsurgency Training Center - Afghanistan is the only school training Afghan National Security Force coalition forces and civilians in the same class. There are also residential courses as well as mobile training teams. Through these courses students learn about counterinsurgency operations and stability operations/stability assistance.
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Army Bloggers Roundtable with Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Kenneth Preston. Preston will announce the 2010 NCO/Soldier of the year today at the AUSA 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition. Be one of the first to speak with the winner of this award and Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Kenneth Preston.
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We have scheduled an Army Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Gregory Gonzalez, program manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Tim Owings, deputy program manager, UAS and Viva Austin, Airspace Integration Product director, UAS for Monday, Oct. 25 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. They will discuss the advances in UAS and how they are used in military operations. They will also discuss recent strides in FAA approval for unmanned aircraft flights within the national airspace and the new "hybrid" manned-unmanned combat aviation operations.
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We have scheduled a DODLive Bloggers Roundtable with Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph R. Beam, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan for Thursday Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Beam will discuss how Non-commissioned officers (NCO) are the "backbone" of any strong military force and how Afghans along with NATO trainers and advisors are playing a crucial role in the development of NCO's. Because of the rapid growth of the Afghan National Army (ANA) it takes dedicated, high-quality NCOs to lead these troops. Training such as the ANA sergeants major academy, first sergeants course and Team Leader courses are critical in the development of NCO's and transitioning Afghanistan to its own security forces.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with the Honorable Sharon Burke, director, Department of Defense Operational Energy Plans and Programs. Burke will discuss operational security throughout the Department of Defense. She will also discuss energy security and DoD's operational energy needs, as a part of Energy Awareness Month.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with David Clifton, senior advisor, Ministry of Interior, Kabul, Afghanistan. Clifton will discuss Afghan National Police development strategy and Afghan ministerial development plans. Clifton leads a team of advisors that coach Afghan leaders on ministerial and leadership development, and building a standalone Afghan National Police force. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for Afghanistan’s police forces, other internal security forces and Afghanistan's counter-narcotics force.
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Army Bloggers Roundtable with Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and the environment. Hammack will discuss Army energy security as well as policy and oversight of sustainability initiatives and resource management including design, military construction, operations and maintenance. The Army is working to ensure it has the energy it needs to accomplish its mission with minimal impact to the environment -surety, supply, sufficiency, survivability and sustainability.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Col. Mike Wehr, director, Combined Joint Engineer Office, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Wehr will discuss the Afghan National Security Force Infrastructure and how planning and executing construction within the COIN environment is turbulent.
Wehr will also discuss how seeking simple, sustainable, and cost saving solutions provides the necessary guidance to keep pace with this dynamic environment.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Stuart Beare, Deputy Commander – Police, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A). As the Afghan National Police (ANP) has grown quickly in number of police officers, the organization lacks experienced officers to take on leadership roles. Beare will address the current leaders of the ANP and how DCOM-P plans to increase leader development into the future through increased courses of instruction and mentoring programs.
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DODLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. David Allvin, commanding general, NATO Air Training Command, NTM-A/CSTC-A. Brig. Gen Allvin will discuss how the operational capability of the Afghan Air Force has grown in strength and missions.The Afghan Air Force is taking on Aero Medical Evacuations, humanitarian and disaster relief rescues, as well as accomplishing many other important firsts reflective of their abilities.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). Carey will discuss the Department of Defense's efforts with FVAP to encourage military personnel and their family members to exercise their right to vote. Absentee Voting Week is held from Sept. 27 – Oct. 4, 2010. During Absentee Voting Week, voter assistance officers will encourage voters to complete and mail their absentee ballots so that they are received by local election offices in time to be counted for the Nov. general election. In addition, voters may use the new electronic absentee ballot form if they didn’t receive one from their state.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Navy Capt. Russell McLachlan, program manager, The United States Forces-Afghanistan. Capt. McLachlan will discuss the Afghan Hands program and discuss some of the missions that Hands are performing. He will also provide updates on what is happening in Afghanistan. The Afghan Hands program is vital to the success of the overall counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan. The mission is to build long-lasting, positive partnerships with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , Afghan entities, and civilians, in order to demonstrate the long-term commitment of the International Security Assistance Force to build capacity and capability within Afghanistan and deny support among the Afghan people to insurgents. Afghan Hands receive sixteen weeks of intensive language training prior to deploying to Afghanistan and are committed to the program for two to five years. Like other military forces, Afghan Hands have other important job-related skills, but the language skills allow them to make inroads where others cannot.Read Transcript
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Wayman Cheatham, special assistant for medical research to The Navy Surgeon General and Director, Navy Medicine Research and Development Center, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Cheatham will discuss how U.S. Navy biomedical research and development role is supporting today's warfighter. The Navy's many U.S. and overseas-based research laboratories are having a direct impact on the treatment the military is able to provide, from the battlefield to the bedside. Many wounded warriors are walking, talking and leading productive lives today because of the research and medical advancements in wound management, wound repair and reconstruction, as well as extremity and internal hemorrhage control and phantom limb pain in amputees. Research also focuses on undersea and submarine medicine and toxicology, as well as health issues associated with non-conventional weapons, including directed energy, blast injuries, biological agents, and radiation exposure. Read Transcript
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Capt. Janis Lullen and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Kristin J. Norton, 95th Training Division, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. They will discuss the first graduating class of the female officer candidate course for the Afghan National Army (ANA) and their efforts training these future ANA officers. The 20-week inaugural female officer candidate course began May 2 and is scheduled to graduate Sept. 23. The first weeks of the five month course were designed to successfully transition officer candidates into a military environment. In this course the innate leadership abilities of these women are developed as they learn how to function as effective officers within the Afghan National Army. Following the first eight weeks, the female officer candidates transitioned to specialty training in Logistics and Finance before being commissioned as second lieutenants in the ANA.Read Transcript
Army Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Col. Mark Elfendahl, chief, Joint and Army Concepts Division and Dr. Robert Toguchi, senior concept developer, Army Requirements Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. They will discuss the recently released Army Operating Concept (AOC), 2016-2028, and how the Army will apply available resources to overcome adaptive enemies and accomplish challenging missions for the current fight and future uncertainty. The newly published and revised U.S. Army Operating Concept is a key document that details how future Army forces will conduct operations as part of the joint force to deter conflict, prevail in war, and succeed in a wide range of contingencies in the future operational environment. The AOC describes broadly how Army headquarters organize and direct their forces, outlines major categories of Army operations, and identifies capabilities required of future Army forces to guide and prioritize force development. Read Transcript
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander of U.S. Army Africa and Col. Gilbert Kabanda, surgeon general, Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and command surgeon, U.S. Army Africa. They will discuss the results from MEDFLAG 10, the ongoing humanitarian assistance exercise in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The exercise helps to improve the readiness of both countries’ medical personnel and includes classroom instruction, a mass casualty exercise and civic assistance activities in specific areas in Kinshasa.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy. Chief Master Sgt. Roy will discuss being ready for the joint and coalition fight, deliberate development of Airmen and building resiliency among Airmen and their families. As the service’s highest noncommissioned officer, Chief Roy provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, deputy chief of staff, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Lt. Gen Newton will discuss successes from the Year of the Air Force Family and leadership’s continuing commitment to Airmen and their families. He will also discuss changes to the Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program which include the addition of care coordinators and provide an update on force development initiatives.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Werner J.A. Dahm, chief scientist, U.S. Air Force. Dahm will discuss key findings and summarize major elements contained in the recently-completed Air Force "Technology Horizons" effort. The "Technology Horizons" effort is a decadal assessment of the areas where Air Force science and technology efforts should be focused over the next 20 years to enable capabilities that can provide the greatest Air Force and Joint force effectiveness in 2030 and beyond. It examines not only the "art of the possible" but also considers the strategic environment, technology environment and budget environment during this period to determine new capabilities that meet the greatest challenges facing the Air Force. It also considers potential adversary uses of these technologies and the counter-capabilities that would be needed to offset them.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, Commander, Naval Safety Center. Rear Adm. Johnson will discuss the Navy's most recent safety campaign, which marked record reductions in overall off-duty fatalities. He will also discuss overall numbers and initiatives associated with motorcycle, pedestrian, and off-duty recreation safety to include alcohol related fatalities.
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Retired U.S. Army Maj. Ed Pulido, U.S. Army Maj. Jeff Hall and Dr. Ramya Sundararaman, public health physician, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) for Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. They will discuss successful suicide prevention tools, practices and resources within the Department of Defense, the services and DCoE. Pulido and Hall will also discuss their experiences with suicidal ideations and Dr. Sundararaman will discuss her experience as a public health physician with 11 years of experience in behavioral health services.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Bev Godwin, director, Center for New Media and Citizen Engagement, U.S. General Services Administration and Brandon Kessler, founder and CEO of ChallengePost. They will be joined by Tami Griffith, science and technology manager, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Simulation & Training Technology Center. They will discuss the launch of Challenge.gov, the federal government's new challenges and prizes platform that will allow agencies to post challenges and allow the public to find them in one convenient place. Griffith will be heading up the Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge, which asks the public to submit ideas for innovative and interactive training and analysis solutions in virtual worlds.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Patton will discuss improving professionalization across the Afghan National Army. The Afghan Ministry of Defense is working with NATO coalition forces from Deputy Command – Army (DCOM-A) to achieve the goal of developing a highly professionalized Afghan National Army. These issues are being addressed through leadership schools, instructor development courses and branch specific schools such as infantry and future plans for logistics, cook, transportation, engineer and maintenance schools. DCOM-A is responsible for training Afghan recruits, teaching them how to become their country’s future soldiers and leadership. This mission is the way forward so that Afghans can defend their own country, leading to coalition forces heading home.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Jack Harrison, National Guard Bureau director of communications. Harrison will discuss the latest developments in the deployment of 1,200 National Guard members to the nation's southwest border.
National Guard troops are now arriving to begin their mission to support Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement while those agencies hire additional officers.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Col. Schuyler K. Geller, command surgeon and commander, Medical Training Advisory Group at Camp Eggers, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Col. Geller will discuss the medical mentor manual training for incoming Afghan advisors. He will also talk about how “Advising vs. Doing” is a transition in itself and how the Medical Training Advisory Group is using advising as the path to transition.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Chadwick W. Clark, deputy commander, Combined Training Advisory Group – Police (CTAG-P), NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Col. Clark will provide an update on the progress of Afghan National Police (ANP) training and the efforts being made in developing leaders. He will also discuss the quality and quantity of the training being offered and the challenges ahead for training the ANP.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Michael P. Anthony, chief, Advanced Applications Branch, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). Anthony will discuss CERDEC's work in developing, assessing and adapting hand-held solutions and commercial applications for the battlefield. Additionally, he will discuss the importance of edge-enabling technologies and CERDEC's role in supporting initiatives such as Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications.
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Army Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. William T. (Tim) Crosby, Deputy Program Executive Officer, Aviation. He will be joined by Col. Gregory Gonzalez, Project Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Mr. Tim Owings, Deputy Project Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Program Executive Office Aviation. They will discuss the U.S. Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems and its value in military operations.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Carmelo Burgio, Commanding General, Combined Training Advisory Group – Police, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan , NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan. Brig. Gen Burgio will provide an update on the progress of the Afghan National Police training and recent quality training initiatives including a focus on leadership training. He will also discuss the challenges ahead for training the Afghan National Police public affairs officer.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV Commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and CG, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. Caldwell will provide an update from Afghanistan on the progress of the Afghan National Security Forces – including where they were and where they are going. Additionally, he will talk about the increase in quantity and quality of Afghan National Security Forces, transition, and challenges ahead.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with members of the U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) Detachment 2 who are supporting the Government of Pakistan by flying relief missions from the Ghazi Air Force Base in Pakistan. HM-15 pilots, who fly the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” will discuss their participation in the relief effort. The United States has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan’s call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29. To date, the U.S. has pledged to provide approximately $76 million in assistance to flood-affected populations in Pakistan. There currently are 22 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan in support of flood relief operations. U.S. helicopters have evacuated more than 4600 people and delivered more than 500,000 pounds of relief supplies. In addition, U.S. military cargo aircraft based in Afghanistan have transported more than 194,000 pounds of international aid from the Pakistan Air Force’s Central Flood Relief Cell in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to required locations throughout the country in support of Government of Pakistan airlift support requests.
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Army Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Lorne Blackborne, commander of U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research (USAISR) and Dr. Pat Kochanek, University of Pittsburg. Col. Blackborne will discuss advances in pre-hospital combat care and the major advances made in saving lives after casualties arrive at surgical care (Forward Surgical Teams or Combat Support Hospitals). He will also discuss how medics are receiving much better training in pre-hospital trauma life support and the need to develop better products to help them save more lives, particularly from hemorrhage. Dr. Kochanek will discuss his current research in diagnosing and treating Traumatic Brain Injury.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Mike Wehr, Combined Joint Engineer director and Lt. Col. Steven LaCasse, Infrastructure Training Advisory Group (ITAG) director, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Col. Wehr and Lt. Col. LaCasse will discuss the majority of enduring facilities for the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police to date are scheduled for construction over the next three to four years, equating to $5.3 billion dollars budgeted in fiscal year 2010 and 2011. This reflects the accelerated growth up to 171,600 army troops and 134,000 police. As the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, engineer team incorporates more Afghan solutions to accomplish the construction, the team is also setting conditions for the transition of facilities and infrastructure to the Afghans.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, deputy commander, Office of the Defense Representative, Pakistan. Brig. Gen. Nagata will discuss the operational aspects of the ongoing U.S. military relief operations in Pakistan at the request of the Government of Pakistan. Additionally, he will discuss assets available on the ground and operational details of the relief efforts.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera, Commanding General, Combined Air Power Transition Force, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, and Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Boera will discuss building the education and training institutions of the Afghan Air Force. As commander of CAPTF, the organization charged with developing military and police air power for Afghanistan, they have partnered with the Afghan Air Force and national military institutions, and keeps focus on the quality of trained airmen to enhance the flying force. Brig. Gen. Boera will also discuss the current status and future education and training goals of the Afghan flying forces.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Howard Schlossberg, Air Force Office of Scientific Research program manager. Schlossberg will recount the events from "AFOSR LaserFest" held on August 6 in Arlington, Va. This event highlighted AFOSR's numerous contributions to laser science and applications and is one of many in a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the laser. LaserFest is a collaboration of major organizations, the American Physical Society, the Optical Society, SPIE and IEEE Photonics Society, with many other contributing partners.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. Jeff Sorenson, the Army Chief Information Officer/G-6, will discuss the A4A challenge. Launched on March 1, A4A is the Army’s first internal application development challenge. In 75 days, 141 Soldiers and Army civilians registered in teams or as individuals to participate in the A4A challenge. By the May 15th deadline, 53 web and mobile applications were developed and submitted.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Alex Baird is the chief of Family Programs, National Guard Bureau. Baird will discuss issues related to families associated with the military. As families experience multiple deployments, their needs change and new challenges emerge. Only by knowing what those challenges are can we work together to address them. Additionally, Mr. Baird's participation in the roundtable will provide an opportunity for families to provide feedback on how they are doing and also to share what their needs are and how the National Guard Bureau can better serve them. Baird is looking to know what families' biggest concerns are and what support they would like to see from their family programs. Read Transcript
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Steven Andersen, Staff Judge Advocate, Anti-Corruption Office, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/ Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. One of NTM-A/CSTC-A's top priorities is to team with and assist the Government of Afghanistan to develop and grow their leaders for today and tomorrow and to generate a professional, competent, tactically self-sufficient Afghan National Security Force. Read Transcript
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lernes J. Hebert, Acting Director, Officer & Enlisted Personnel Management for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Personnel and Readiness. He will be joined by U.S. Army Maj. Roy Whitley, who is the Army’s Project Manager for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. Mr. Hebert will be providing an update on Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act established Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP), providing $500 for each month/partial month served in stop loss status. Servicemembers, veterans, and beneficiaries of servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009 are eligible for RSLSP. There are servicemembers and veterans who are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay but have not yet submitted a claim. Those eligible must submit a claim by Oct. 21, 2010. Read the
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Jack Kem, the deputy to the commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Dr. Kem will talk about Afghan National Police Professional Education from basic literacy to senior level police educational opportunities. The creation of this Afghan National Police Professional Education system was a deliberate decision by the Afghans to assist in professionalizing the National Police Force through a career of continuous education.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Army Capt. A. Heather Coyne, NGO and International Organization liaison officer for the NATO Training Mission (NTM-A). NTM-A created the NGO/IO liaison officer position to reach out to Afghan and international NGOs and international organizations. Their goal is to ensure that civil society organizations can play a role in shaping the training and reform of the security forces.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Michael Logan. Sgt. Maj. Logan will discuss the solid results in the growth of the Afghan National Army the last seven months. Along with growth objectives being met or exceeded, they have seen a growth in the quality of the Afghan army soldier. Conversely, the Afghan National Army is focusing on the key component of any Army, the growth and development of its non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps, the Afghan Army's backbone, and the backbone of any Army. The Afghan Army training and professionalization has improved drastically. For example, two courses have been added to the Afghan National Army NCO education system to bridge the NCO gap: the four-week Team Leader Course and the 12-week "1U" Direct Entry Course. Additionally, battlefield promotions (to NCO rank) for deserving soldiers is another initiative.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Boera, commander of the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF). CAPTF is the organization charged with developing military and police air power for Afghanistan. CAPTF continues to request additional mentors from NATO partners and other nations using the Combined Joint Statement of Requirements (CJSOR) process. These partners increase the NATO footprint in Afghanistan and for CAPTF in Mi-17, Mi-35, and C-27 aircrew mentorship and in the Pohantoon-e-Hawayee (Big Air School). Several countries’ advisors, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, help bridge the training gap from an old school to new school of thought. Brig. Gen. Boera will discuss the aid being offered by NATO partners and the development of air power in Afghanistan.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Mike Faughnan, chief of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Education Division. NTM-A/CSTC-A established the current literacy program in September 2008. The curriculum they teach was developed by the Afghan Ministry of Education. Dr. Faughnan will discuss their objective, which is to provide all illiterate members of the ANSF with a basic primary education in literacy and numeracy. They currently teach to the third grade level, and are developing a curriculum to expand their instruction to the sixth grade. They are working with the training components of NTM-A to develop skill training specific to military and police specialties, e.g. medical, signal, and field artillery. Approximately 25,000 ANSF personnel are currently enrolled in the literacy program. NTM-A/CSTC-A intend to grow the ANSF student population to 50,000 by December 2010 and 100,000 by July 2011. Their contractors currently employ more than 700 Afghans as instructors and we teach in more than 200 locations around the country. To date, nearly 4,300 ANSF personnel have completed the program to the third grade level.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Michael Borrel, the task force commander of the New Horizons-Haiti 2010 exercise. Col. Borrel will be discussing the incredible humanitarian efforts of his 500 soldiers, sailors and airmen during their past month in Haiti. Joining him in the discussion will be a member of the task force's engineering team as well as a member of the medical staff, who has provided basic medical and dental care to over 20,000 Haitians. All three subject matter experts are looking forward to telling you about the great things happening in Haiti and answering any questions you may have.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. John Ferrari, deputy commander for programs, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, Combined Security Transitions Command-Afghanistan. Col. Ferrari has direct oversight of the $11.6 billion budget to grow and sustain the Afghan National Security Forces. He is personally responsible for dedicating resources to the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army to fight the counter-insurgency while building the Afghan economy. Some of these resources include developing training and housing areas and supply systems such as weapons, ammunition, vehicles, fuel and food.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Army Lt. Col. James Baker, executive officer for the Deputy to the Commander, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan; Dr. Jack Kem. A key element to building successful Afghan National Security Forces capable of providing security and stability for the nation and people of Afghanistan is leader development. Lt. Col. Baker will discuss two of the three key components of the leader development program for the Afghan National Security Forces.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A). Brig. Gen. Patton will provide a current update on the status of the growing Afghan National Army. The Afghan National Army has grown in quality and quantity, with distinct progress in the past few months. Though challenges exist - attrition and retention being a focus - meeting current and future goals is achievable. Key focus areas are professionalization and leader development.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Thomas S. James, chief of staff for the Third Infantry Division and Task Force Marne. July 1 marks the one-year anniversary of U.S. forces leaving cities in Iraq. Col. James will discuss the growing capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces, downward trends in violence across the country and operations in Northern Iraq. Col. James will also discuss how the country has changed during his numerous deployments.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Chadwick W. Clark, deputy commander for Combined Training Advisory Group Police (CTAG-P). CTAG-P trains, advises, coaches, and mentors the Afghan National Police Training establishment in order to create a doctrine, education, and training system capable of supporting the development and sustainment of a professional Afghan National Police Force. The way we do this is by advising at the training centers, and partnering and advising at the Ministry and subordinate command level.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Kris Strance, DoD lead for Internet Protocol Policy. Strance will discuss circulating reports about an upcoming “Internet Crunch,” a phenomenon web experts expect will occur when internet protocol version four (IPv4) runs out of space for IP addresses – the identification numbers assigned to computers and other devices connected to a network.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Col. Schuyler K. Geller, command surgeon and commander, Medical Training Advisory Group at Camp Eggers, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Col. Geller will discuss the Afghanistan National Security Forces health care capability development and the formation of formal military medical and allied health care training programs.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Dave Titley, Oceanographer of the Navy and director of the Navy's Task Force Climate Change. The topic for the roundtable will be “Should Navy be making investments related to climate change in a fiscally-constrained environment?” Titley will also discuss this complex issue and the way ahead for the Navy.
We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Mike Borrel, Commander, Task Force Kout Men (Helping Hands). Borrel will discuss the recent "New Horizons-Haiti 2010" dedication ceremony and the New Horizons mission of Task Force Kout Men, the construction projects they will be working on and their ongoing Medical Readiness Exercises.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Col. Mike Wehr, Director, Combined Joint Engineer Office, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. NTM-A / CSTC-A Combined Joint Engineer Office, in coordination with key stakeholders, ensures adequate facilities to generate Afghan National Security Forces, develops engineer leadership at the ministerial level and builds sustainable capacity and capability in order enhance GIRoA's ability to hold and build stability and security in Afghanistan. They are actively working through some key challenges that include projecting enduring facility requirements two years ahead of current operations, building temporary facilities in the Hold/Build of COIN, fostering ministerial development and engineering leadership/knowledge that has not been used in generations, educating U.S. and sponsor country leadership on the balancing of efficient and effective execution.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Jack Kem, the Deputy to the Commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Kem will talk about a key enabler to a successful and self-sustaining Afghan National Security Force-Professional Military Education at the Afghan Defense University. The physical site for the Afghan Defense University is approximately 20 percent complete, but many of the institutions and programs that will migrate to ADU upon its completion already exist, including the National Military Academy of Afghanistan and a comprehensive literacy program. Kem will share how ADU will unite the professional military education opportunities for the ANSF in one premiere location, which will include a Literacy Village, National Military Academy of Afghanistan, and Senior Service College. ADU represents not only NATO's enduring partnership with Afghanistan, but NTM-A's commitment to leader development and education for ANSF now and in the future.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera, commander of the Combined Air Power Transition Force, the organization charged with developing military and police air power for Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Boera has recently returned from a trip to the United States with General Mohammad Dawran, the commander of the Afghan National Army Air Corps. While traveling together, Generals Boera and Dawran visited groups of students and military leaders, presenting the message about recent advances in their effort to build a professional, independent, and capable "air force" able to meet Afghanistan's security needs for today and in the future. Brig. Gen. Boera is available to discuss the outcomes of this trip and other questions related to the development of air power in Afghanistan.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, United States Forces-Iraq Spokesman. Maj. Gen. Lanza will discuss significant progress made by the Iraqi Security Forces, and how their contributions have improved the overall security environment in Iraq paving the way for the seating of the Iraqi government and setting the stage for a long-term strategic partnership between the sovereign nation of Iraq and the United States of America. On June 1, two important milestones - both symbolic and substantive - occurred in Iraq. First, the United States formally transitioned the last nine checkpoints it jointly staffed in the International Zone, or Green Zone, to Iraqi Security Forces. Second, the Iraqi Supreme Court announced the certification of the March 7 election results, a critical step in the process of peacefully forming the new government. The overall improved security situation today and the ever-increasing capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces are directly responsible for these two accomplishments.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Col. Curt A. Rauhut, Director, NATO Financial Controller/Deputy Director, CJ8 for Wednesday, June 9 at 1030 EDT. Col. Rauhut serves as financial controller of the NATO Common Fund in support of Crisis Establishment (CE) billets within the command. He provides financial oversight and management of donor nation contributions into the NATO Trust and Sustainment Fund in support of the Afghanistan National Army, and works closely with SHAPE HQ's and ISAF HQ's in determining funding policies. As CJ8 deputy director, Col. Rauhut helps manage a joint multinational 60 person staff, and asists in the management and execution of the Afghanistan Security Force Fund. Additionaly, he provides resource management advice to the commander and staff, and assists in the supervision of resource management operations to include contract requirements, budget formulation and execution.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. John Ferrari, who served as the deputy of programs for NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan. Col. Ferrari will discuss how NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and coalition forces, for the past six months, have conducted numerous missions to build and sustain the Afghan National Security Forces while creating an "Afghan First" initiative through a multi-billion funded program.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Mike Ward, deputy commander-Police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Ward will discuss the progress of the Afghan National Police since the stand-up of NTM-A. He will also discuss where they started six months ago, the challenges the ANP have encountered and what the future holds for ANP development.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Montgomery, Navy Strategy Branch Head, and U.S. Navy Capt. John McLain of the Navy Strategy and Policy Division. Capt. Montgomery and Capt. McLain will discuss Naval Operations Concept 2010, a tri-service document developed and signed by the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard that guides implementation of the Maritime Strategy.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the X-51A Waverider, a hypersonic flight test demonstrator built for the Air Force Research Laboratory . The X-51A will make its first hypersonic flight attempt Tuesday, May 25, from Edwards Air Force Base , Calif. If successful, it will be the longest-ever hypersonic flight powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet engine. Creators and flight test experts from the Air Force, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will participate in a Roundtable to discuss the X-51 test.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable on Tuesday, June 1 at 1100 EDT to discuss NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan Deputy Commander - Army Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, will discuss the 180-Day Assessment of NTM-A. Specifically he will talk about the progress of the Afghan National Army since the stand-up of NTM-A; where they started six months ago, the challenges the ANA have encountered and what the future holds for ANA development.
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U.S. Army Col. Ronald L. Green, CJ-4 for the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, will discuss the overall problem and the challenges NTM-A has faced to get rid of ammunition stockpiles and the dangers surrounding them. Over the past three years, 6,325 metric tons of unsafe and surplus ammunition has been identified by NTM-A/CSTC-A. All of this ammunition is categorized as unsafe and surplus to current requirements and requires inspection, segregation, and destruction. The removal and destruction of the ammunition requires a Presidential Decree as highlighted to NTM-A/CSTC-A by Minister Wardak.
The Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) Program Manager, Col. Keith Moore will join a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the testing process the vehicles will undergo later this year. He will also provide an update on the recent rollout of its newest prototype and discuss the upcoming reliability growth testing.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Rick Rousseau, with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA), NATO Training Mission Afghanistan & Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A) to discuss their role in providing relevant, accurate, and proactive legal advice on all issues affecting NTM-A/CSTC-A commanders and staff.
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Maj. Gen. A.C. Blalock, Adjutant General of Alabama National Guard will discuss the ongoing response of the Alabama National Guard to the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command in Alabama. Currently the Alabama National Guard has more than 300 soldiers working to protect the coast line of Alabama and minimize the impact on the environment and the local economy.
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David M. Wennergren, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, who was recently named "TechAmerica Foundation Government Executive of the Year" will discuss Net Generation guide, a 128-page report by the Federal Chief Information Officers (CIO) Council that focuses on preparing for change in the Federal Information Technology (IT) workforce http://www.cio.gov/Documents/NetGen.pdf
The report identifies the challenges agencies currently face to back fill IT positions with the shrinking workforce, as 957,000 federal workers will become eligible to retire in the next few years. It also discusses how to attract workers between 17 and 31 years old, known as the Net Generation. The Net Generation is a cohort that has grown up with the Internet and expects to work with cutting-edge technologies. For more information, read the following news release:
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The Chief of the General Staff, the ranking officer in uniform within the ANA, supervises the ANA General Staff as well as commands the operational Army. In essence, he fulfills the role of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army along with the role of a U.S. Combatant Commander, employing the forces in combat. The role of the advisor to the Chief of the General staff is to develop the capacity of this key official to grow, improve, and sustain his organization during this complex and challenging time. He serves as a strategic advisor on issues of concern to the coalition as well as the ANA, acts as a liaison officer between the CoGS and the various major commands of ISAF, and assists the CoGS in performing his duties by providing feedback and insights into challenges within ANA systems and policies.
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DODLive Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the signs, symptoms and treatment of psychological health concerns, such as PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. Joining the call will be Staff Sgt. Meg Krause, Retired Cmdr. René A. Campos, and Lt. Col. Christopher Robinson, who will discuss the signs, symptoms and treatment of psychological health concerns, such as PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.
From the Military Officers Association of America's perspective, the organization can discuss what officers can do to promote the processes of building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning service members, veterans and their families.
Lt. Col. Mike Marti, G2 and top intelligence officer for Task Force Marine and the Third Infantry Division will participate in an Army Bloggers Roundtable to discuss recent successful intelligence operations in Iraq, specifically three missions which took place in mid/late April 2010 and were designated Operation Chelan I, II and III, epitomizing the evolving relationship of Iraqi, Kurdish and USF.
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Richard Lehner, spokesman for the Department of Defense missile defense agency, will be available to address and correct inaccurate information previously reported in the New York Times article published yesterday titled "Review Cites Flaws in U.S. Antimissile Program". Lehner also wrote a response blog to correct the record which he will expand on during today's discussion.
To read the transcript, click here.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, Federal On-Scene Coordinator for Unified Area Command, Deepwater Horizon Response. The admiral will discuss the on-going response efforts of Unified Area Command and provide an operational update on the status of work to secure the well, fight the spill offshore, protect the coast and minimize impacts on the environment and local economy. She will also talk about the make-up of Unified Area Command and its work with federal, state, and local agencies as well as industry.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Col. Thomas J. Umberg, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, Chief of Anti-Corruption. One of NTM-A/CSTC-A’s top priorities is to team with and assist the Government of Afghanistan to develop and grow their leaders for today and tomorrow and to generate a professional, competent, tactically self-sufficient Afghan National Security Force (ANSF). One challenge to this mission is the corruption that exists in Afghanistan and within the ANSF. NTM-A is partnering with the ANSF to develop systems and processes to confront this challenge and reduce opportunities for corruption through advising, training, mentoring and resource support. These processes include paying the soldiers and patrolmen electronically, inventorying the equipment and personnel within the ANSF, increasing fuel, ammunition and weapon accountability, as well as identifying those who engage in corruption. NTM-A is also working with the international community and the US Embassy to meet this challenge.
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U.S. Army Accessions Commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley will participate in an Army Bloggers Roundtable to discuss how the U.S. Army is using social media to reach out to future soldiers. Lt. Gen. Freakley will also iscuss the social media outreach Accessions Command uses in its recruiting and ROTC missions. One of those programs, Armystrongstories.com, debuted their website last week. Now anyone with an Army story can blog at the site. U.S. Army Accessions Command SM is engaging on a variety of platforms, from its goarmy.com site to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube channel, Yahoo! Instant Messaging, and the Straight From Iraq series.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas, commanding general, Joint Task Force-Haiti. As JTF-Haiti service members continue to redeploy to their home stations, the time is nearing for JTF-Haiti to stand down and transition its mission to a more traditional U.S. Southern Command Theatre Security Cooperation. As such, this Bloggers Roundtable will represent a final opportunity to interact with JTF-Haiti leadership. Maj. Gen. Simeon Trombitas, commanding general, JTF-Haiti, will discuss the operations and contributions of JTF-Haiti over the past four months but will focus primarily on the way ahead, as elements of Louisiana National Guard will begin arriving in Haiti within the next 30 days to oversee various Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Preparedness Programs, Medical Readiness Training Exercises and Humanitarian and Civic Assistance projects taking place throughout the summer."
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable for Thursday, May 6 at 10:30 EDT with Robert E. Moore Jr., chief, Strategic Communication Division, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command (MCWT-STR).
Moore will discuss the Army's use of adaptive sports activities in the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. Moore will also discuss the upcoming Warrior Games 2010 to be held May 10-14 at the U.S. Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Warrior Games brings together 200 injured servicemembers to compete in paralympic style events with individual athletes and teams vying for gold, silver, and bronze medals in their particular events, and/or participating in a pentathlon style competition for the title of Ultimate Warrior.
We are hosting an Army Bloggers Roundtable with students from the Command and General Staff College. They include seven Army Majors with conventional logistics force experience and a Navy Lieutenant Commander with Special Operations Forces logistics experience.
They will discuss logistical challenges and their effect on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Topics include the role of logistics in both theaters of operations, the current challenges faced and the impact of those challenges on operations.
We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Kirsten Woodward, director of Family Programs Division, Bureau of Navy Medicine and Surgery (BUMED).
Ms. Woodward will discuss how Navy Medicine is helping families cope with the stress associated with multiple deployments. Post traumatic stress, other mental health conditions, and physical injuries in a military parent are likely to disrupt family roles, sources of care, and instrumental support.
We have scheduled a U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, The Army Surgeon General and Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek, Commander, Warrior Transition Command.
Lt. Gen. Schoomaker and Brig. Gen. Cheek will update bloggers and internet media on the status of Army Warrior Transition care in the Army and at Fort Carson.
Army Bloggers roundtable on Earth Day with Mr. Tad Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health to discuss the Army's "Go Green" initiatives. Earth Day provides the Army with the opportunity to reassert its commitment to environmental sustainability and energy security critical to protecting the earth, protecting lives and supporting its mission requirements -- at home and overseas.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with the Mr. James A. Hursch, director, Defense Technology Security Administration. Hursch will provide details on DoD's position on export controls.
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Capt. James Wink, JTF-Haiti J7 (chief engineer).
Capt. Wink will discuss engineering efforts conducted by Joint Task Force-Haiti, past and present, and what is in store for the future as the JTF continues to transition based on conditions on the ground in Haiti.
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We have scheduled a U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable with Students from the Command and General Staff College.
Students will discuss Army military training and how it prepares soldiers for combat.
Adapting to battlefield experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, Initial Military Training is revamping its basic training regimen. Students from the Command and General Staff College will provide their take on military training and how it prepares soldiers for combat engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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We have scheduled a Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Mike Ward, deputy commander-Police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A).
Despite recent Afghan National Civil Order Police (Gendarmerie) successes in hold operations in Marja and gains in popularity among civilians, over-employment and attrition continue to plague the force.
During the past four months, NTM-A has implemented strategies to reduce attrition, improve training, and improve leadership and operations effectiveness.
By employing measures such as Operational Deployment Cycles, Personal Asset Inventory, pay parity, and literacy training, as well as fulfilling partnership commitments with coalition forces, NTM-A expects to be able to stabilize, reinforce, and enable the force.
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert T. Moeller, U.S. Africa Command Deputy to the Commander for Military Operations. Vice Adm. Moeller will discuss U.S. Africa Command, its military-to-military activities with African militaries, and the command’s efforts to assist African partner nations continue to increase the development of their military and security programs. U.S. Africa Command is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for U.S. military relations with 53 African countries, including the Islands of Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Indian Ocean islands of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Bradley H. Roberts, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense and Admiral John E. Roberti, Deputy Director for Strategy and Policy, J-5, The Joint Staff.
Mr. Roberts and Adm. Roberti will discuss the Nuclear Posture Review and answer questions.
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Join experts from the Harassment/Sexual Assault Prevention Summit as they discuss the outcomes and the way ahead in the U.S. Army’s sexual prevention strategy.
Carolyn Collins, Chief, SHARP division, and Charles Cosgrove, general attorney in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Criminal Law division, will provide conference updates and take your questions.
The summit focuses on the Army’s four-phase sexual assault prevention strategy, as well as the Army’s partnerships with national counterparts. A focus of the Army’s SHARP strategy is influencing soldier behavior through daily leadership of senior non-commissioned officers. This is Phase II of the program and puts a focus on educating first-term soldiers; accountability; NCO action and leadership; and raising the level of authority to dispose of founded cases.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert H. McMahon, director of Central Command Deployment and Distribution Center (CENTCOM DDOC). Maj. Gen. McMahon will discuss how CENTCOM DDOC is moving the surge of U.S. forces and equipment into Afghanistan, prioritizing the movement of high priority cargo such as mine resistant vehicles (MRAP’s), and simultaneously monitoring the responsible draw down of equipment and personnel in Iraq.
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We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Ralph O. Baker, United States Division - Center Deputy Commanding General East. Baker will offer perspective on the U.S. role in Iraq as U.S. Forces transition into an advise and assist role to the Iraqi Security Forces. With the ISF successfully securing their own country U.S. Forces have continued the process of drawing down troops with the set goal of 50,000 Soldiers on Sept. 1.
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We will interview U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael R. Boera, Commanding General, Combined Air Power Transition Force, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, and Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Boera will discuss how the NATO organization has been charged with helping the government of Afghanistan expand and refine its air power capabilities in the Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF). During the roundtable, he will also provide an overview of CAPTF's current and planned efforts to grow the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) and the other air power organizations that contribute to Afghanistan's internal security.
The NATO strategy for stabilizing Afghanistan centers on increasing the size and capabilities of Afghanistan's army and national police. Air power provides capabilities that enable all of Afghanistan's security forces to operate with greater efficiency. For this reason, the ANAAC will see a commensurate increase in size, and the capabilities of all nations will be called upon to help facilitate this growth.
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We have scheduled a DODLive Bloggers Roundtable for Wednesday, March 24 at 1000 EDT with U.S. Army Col. Tim McAteer, Infantry, Commander 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.
He will discuss lessons learned and provide a "2nd BCT Commander's perspective" since assuming command in Haiti on 9 February 2010.
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We will interview Tina Hager, photographer, Task Force For Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO), U.S. Department of Defense.
Hager will discuss her experiences documenting Iraq since the start of the war in 2003. A former White House photographer, Hager accompanied former President George W. Bush on his surprise visit to Baghdad in 2003. Since then she has participated in several embeds with the U.S. military and currently serves as the TFBSO photographer documenting economic revitalization throughout the country. Hager will also discuss her experiences meeting and photographing everyday Iraqis during this period of transition in their country.
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We will interview Army Wounded Warrior Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister, recently named by National Geographic as one of their "Adventurers of the Year." Hoffmeister will discuss his journey from being severely injured in Iraq to successfully climbing Mount McKinley (also known as Denali) as part of Operation Denali. Hoffmeister was the team leader of a group of wounded warriors who set out to climb the 20,320 ft. summit in order to symbolize their strength and perseverance over adversity. On June 16, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. local time, Hoffmeister and two other soldiers successfully reached the summit.
In April 2007, Lt. Col. Hoffmeister was severely injured while serving in Iraq when an IED outside of Al Hillah blew up his Humvee. Hoffmeister was evacuated to Germany and then back to the U.S. where he had eight surgeries on his arm and endured months of painful rehabilitation.
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We will interview Air Force Colonel Byron Mathewson, commander of U.S. military forces deployed to Chile in support of earthquake relief operations. Colonel Mathewson will provide an update on USSOUTHCOM’s support to relief operations in Chile, to include a summary of USAF C-130 relief support, Navy Assessment Team, and USAF Expeditionary Medical Support operations.
At the request of the Chilean government, the U.S. military is providing support to the ongoing relief efforts in Chile following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation Feb. 27. About 150 U.S. military personnel have been working with local and international responders to provide relief to hard-hit areas. All military operations are in support of USAID, which is orchestrating U.S. government contributions to the relief mission.
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We will interview U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. David M. Edgington, Chief of Staff, U.S. Joint Forces Command Maj. Gen. Edgington will discuss U.S. Joint Forces Command Joint Operating Environment 2010 (JOE 2010), a strategic framework that depicts the future operational environment and its implications on the structure and function of the joint force. Participating media will receive a short brief on JOE 2010 and be able to speak with the USJFCOM Chief of Staff..
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We will interview Maj. Gen. David Hogg, deputy commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, who will discuss the Professional Military Education (PME) within the Afghan National Army. The Afghan Army, in conjunction with NTM-A partnered nations, is currently executing PME from non-commissioned officer to field grade officer level. Schools focusing on PME are the NCO Academy, branch schools for officers, the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (modeled after West Point), and OCS (reflecting a British Sandhurst model).
Recent, and current examples, include the Command and General Staff College graduation of 78 Field Grade officers, and a significant upcoming event, the 18 March graduation of 212 cadets from the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. This event was preceded by a publicized assignment lottery, where cadets drew unit and location assignment obligations.
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We will interview Kathy Helmick, Interim Senior Executive Director, Traumatic Brain Injury / Director, TBI Clinical Standards of Care Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Ms. Helmick will discuss the new clinical practice guidelines for treatment of mild TBI (concussion) among servicemembers in-theater. Additionally, Ms. Helmick will discuss new research about exposure of cumulative blasts through collaboration with the NFL and the concussions sustained by servicemembers versus concussions sustained in athletics such as with football players.
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U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael L. Oates, Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), will discuss JIEDDO’s current efforts to rapidly provide comprehensive counter-IED support to deployed warfighters and its direct support of the surge in Afghanistan.
Topics will include JIEDDO’s coordination with the Pentagon’s senior integrators; its unique role as a risk-tolerant organization; its whole-of-government approach and its work with international partners; its approach to counter-IED training methodology and integration; its development of detection technologies, airborne sensors; its application of information fusion to disrupt threat networks employing the IED; and current challenges across its mission areas.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, United States Division - Center commander. Maj. Gen. Wolff will provide a post-election update and will discuss U.S. support to the elections, the ongoing advise and assist mission with the ISF, and perspectives on the responsible drawdown. With the ISF taking the lead for security in Iraq, U.S. Forces have begun the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and have shifted their mission to an advise and assist role.
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We will interview Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, Deputy Commanding General (Programs), Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Pattonwill discuss how the ANSF are moving forward and how U.S. and NATO forces are supporting the ANSF in becoming self-sufficient.
Brig. Gen. Gary Patton has direct oversight of Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) programs and is responsible for generating and sustaining the ANSF by aligning resources to requirements in order to enable Afghan-led security. Brig Gen Patton integrates infrastructure construction, equipment procurement, training contracts, and sustainment activities. Additionally, he oversees a multi-billion program of local procurement that is designed to stimulate the development of manufacturing in Afghanistan in such sectors as construction and clothing. Brig Gen Patton oversees the NTM-A process to ensure we commit our resources in an efficient and responsible manner to build an enduring COIN-capable ANSF.
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An upcoming Army Bloggers Roundtable will feature students from the Command and General Staff College. All of the guest participants have been deployed, some with multiple rotations, and they will discuss the current Iraq draw-down and Afghanistan surge as it impacts the force. They will provide candid comments about their military experiences that span combat arms, combat support and combat service support. They will also address current stressors on the American military including multiple rotations and limited dwell time.
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During an Army Bloggers Roundtable on March 3, Lt. Gen. Jeff Sorenson, Army Chief information officer/G-6, discussed the launch of Software Application Development Challenge "Apps for the Army" (A4A), which is open to the first 100 soldiers and Department of the Army civilians. A4A offers Army personnel the opportunity to demonstrate their software development skills and creativity while improving the current technological capabilities of the Army.
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We will interview Col. Jennifer Menetrez, the Joint Task Force-Haiti Surgeon, who will be discussing JTF-H medical operations and the increasing medical capacity of the GoH and NGOs in Haiti.
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DODLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mr. Price Floyd, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. The Deputy Secretary of Defense recently signed a new policy regarding the use of internet based capabilities -- including social media. Mr. Price Floyd, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, will discuss what the new policy means for the DoD community.
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We will interview with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, Training and Doctrine Command Deputy Commanding General - Initial Military Training, live from the Initial Military Training Conference. Congress approved the standup of IMT this fall. DCG-IMT will standardize, reinvigorate and evolve training for initial entry Soldiers and recently commissioned junior officers in order to support a more efficient and effective Army Forces Generation, while providing Soldiers and leaders who can immediately contribute to their first unit of assignment. Training is evolving to meet the demands Soldiers face and incorporate new methodologies and training techniques.
Lt. Gen. Hertling will specifically discuss the outcomes and objectives of the conference taking place this week, as well as lessons from combat and the operational force including:
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How the U.S. Army reviewed and revised Basic Combat Training plan of instruction and Warrior Task and Battle Drill, with input from the field.
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Standards and training across Initial Military Training.
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Brigadier Simon Levey, British Army, Commander, Combined Training Advisory Group-Afghanistan (CTAG-A) is scheduled to discuss the coalition of trainers involved within his mission; training venues at all levels (Basic Warrior Training, Noncommissioned Officer schools, National Military Academy of Afghanistan, etc.; and Afghan Army institutional foundations and progress towards ANA self-sufficiency.
Combined Training Advisory Group-Afghanistan is a coalition of trainers/mentors made up of many countries, for example, the US, France, Germany, Turkey, Romania, Mongolia, Canada, Estonia, and the UK. Combined Training Advisory Group-Afghanistan's mission is to train, coach, advise, and monitor Afghan National Army Training Command (ANATC) in order to establish a doctrine and training system capable of supporting the development of a professional ANA.
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On DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, we interviewed Maj. Gen. David Hogg, deputy commander-Army, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Hogg discussed the Afghan Army current status, future builds, and challenges. In addition, he discussed the generation, development, and growth of a competent and capable Afghan Security Force, which will enhance the Government of the Islamic Republic's goal of achieving stability and security in Afghanistan.
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U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Thad Allen, is scheduled to outline the service's goals and priorities for 2010 in his fourth and final State of the Coast Guard address Friday, Feb. 12, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In this annual address, Adm. Allen will discuss fiscal year 2011 anticipated budget impacts; the need to recapitalize the service's aging ships, aircraft and shore facilities; and the Coast Guard's recent response efforts in Haiti. Listen live to the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable on Feb. 16 when Adm. Allen will continue his discussion on the State of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Dr. Adel Hanson, linguist/medical advisor, USF-I Health Affairs, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission (ITAM), Col. Bernard DeKoning, ITAM and medical advisor, and Col. Andrew Kosmowski, CJTF-76 Surgery Cell, will discuss medical advancements in Iraq. Iraq has been severely void of medical talent. Those wounded after insurgent explosions are lucky to survive their wounds, even minor ones. However, Iraqi MEDEVAC teams have made great advancements in their procedures. Iraqi medical professionals are making advancements in training and ultimately in saving lives.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the recently released Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and Ballistic Missile Defense Review (BMDR) with Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs Dr. Michael Nacht and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. The QDR examines Department of Defense strategies and priorities and the BMDR articulates the ballistic missile threat to the United States and its allies and evaluates U.S. ballistic missile defense policy. The Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will issue the final reports of these defense reviews along with President Obama's FY11 defense budget request on Feb. 1.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer Robert Hale.
Mr. Hale will provide a summary of the Department of Defense's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. He will highlight budgetary support for programs and initiatives within the Department and make comparisons to budgets from previous fiscal years.
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Army Bloggers Roundtable with the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg Soldiers to discuss Haiti relief and humanitarian assistance.
Col. Dick Kuehl is the G-1 who was responsible for aiding SOUTHCOM with filling critical personnel needs in addition to the Global Response Force that were specially requested by the Joint Task Force commander on the ground for the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Col. Ken Dyer is the acting G-4.
The logistics piece, like the personnel piece, is a delicate balance of identifying where the equipment and supplies that the JTF commander needs on the ground are against what we have here and/or across the Army or if we have to resort to purchase over the counter.
He can also speak about the process to determine how and when supplies and equipment could be delivered. As the logistics/personnel components helping to get the right personnel and equipment on the ground, they can answer a variety of questions about what it took to get personnel in place and how they've worked with the Joint Task Force in providing relief and assistance.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Mike Perron, program manager Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination for the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Tony Crego, Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy directorate (J-5) in the Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Division. Mr. Perron and Cmdr. Crego will discuss Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 held in Abu Dhabi, held on Jan. 25-28. LEADING EDGE is a USCENTCOM-hosted and USG Interagency (IA)-supported multinational PSI exercise designed to develop WMD interdiction capabilities with partner nations to deter and disrupt illicit transfers of WMD-related material, technology, expertise and equipment, to include addressing the challenges of suspect material inspection, seizure, and disposition.
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U.S. Army Bloggers Roundtable on Jan. 28, Drs. Leonard Wong and Stephen Gerras from the U.S. Army War College discussed their findings from a recently completed study focusing on the impact of multiple deployments on Army adolescents.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy. Capt. Cynthia Thebaud, commander, Destroyer Squadron 60. Since coming on station Jan. 18, USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), with her embarked international staff from Africa Partnership Station (APS) West, have been working to improve conditions at the Killick Haitian Coast Guard base. The ship was originally scheduled to head for Africa to work with West and Central African nations to improve their maritime security and cooperation, but this mission in support of Operation Unified Response changed that and became a lesson all its own.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander, Carrier Strike Group One aboard USS Carl Vinson who will discuss the overall naval effort to Operation Unified Response-Haiti.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, commander of Joint Task (JTF) Force 435 located in Kabul, Afghanistan. JTF 435 was established by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on September 18 to assume responsibility for detainee operations in Afghanistan. The Task Force provides oversight of detainee review processes, programs for the peaceful reintegration of detainees into society, and coordination with other agencies and partners for the promotion of the rule of law in Afghanistan.
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Lt. Col. Hilbrecht is currently deployed to the Dominican Republic in support of Operation Unified Response, the humanitarian relief mission for Haiti. The Kentucky Air National Guard currently has about 50 members deployed in support of Operation Unified Response, including the 123rd Contingency Response Group in the Dominican Republic and members of the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron in Haiti.
Since last Friday, the 123STS airmen have processed in excess of 200 tons of supplies, to include an emergency shipment of plasma that was delivered by air into Haiti. Special Tactics airmen have also assisted in emergency supply air deliveries into Haiti with U.S. Air Force C-17s. Combat controllers are used to working in locations devoid of functioning air traffic control. Armed and trained to set up and help secure new airfield operations, these airmen have made aerial resupply missions to Port-au-Prince International Airport possible. The 123CRG is teaming up with other nations to form a joint command post (airbase) in the Dominican Republic to help expedite additional aid for Haiti. CRG operations include air base assessment, initial airfield operations and force protection and Alaskan shelter construction.
For more information on what the National Guard is doing to support "Operation Unified Response" go to: http://www.ng.mil/features/haiti/default.aspx
And, watch an interview with Lt. Col. Hilbrecht by visiting their blog: http://kentuckyguard.wordpress.com/
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The Houn Dawgs have a proud history whose mission in Afghanistan is route clearance. As one of the most dangerous and important missions assigned to the United States Military, the Houn Dawgs’ influence can be felt all across the region. Safety for those that travel the roads in Afghanistan is paramount, but is more than a mission for this battalion. “Our resolution is stronger than the enemy’s, our equipment and training better than theirs, and we will not stop the taking the fight to them.” With this sort of confidence it is little wonder that the 203rd is already making a positive impact in its area of operations.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Navy Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey, commanding officer, USS Carl Vinson. Capt. Lindsey will discuss the aircraft carrier's pivotal role for operations in support of Operation Unified Response (Haiti).
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with the Commanding Officer, Capt. Sam Howard of the USS Bataan to discuss the humanitarian relief mission. Bataan is part of the Bataan Amphibious Relief Mission to participate in Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Lt. Gen. Charles E Stenner, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of the Air Force Reserve Command. Lt. Gen. Stenner will discuss the Air Force Reserve command operations in support of Operation Unified Response (Haiti).
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Mark Mavity, Chief of Medical Readiness for the Air Force Surgeon General. Col. Mavity will discuss the Air Force's deployable medical assets and patient movement capabilities supporting the Haitian relief effort.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Col. Steve Shea and U.S. Air Force Col. Sid Banks of Air Force Office of Logistics Readiness (AF/A4L). Col. Shea and Col. Banks will discuss the logistics planning and overall big picture of humanitarian operations for the Air Force.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Bradley Butz, Vice Commander of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Wing, who will discuss global imagery and the use of the RQ-4 Global Hawk in support of the relief efforts in Haiti.
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DODLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brett Nelson, 23 STS Commander and U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Daniels, director of operations for the 720th Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Maj. Daniels, an Air Force combat controller, is part of the team who is opening Port au Prince airport -- the only airstrip in Haiti -- after their tower collapsed. He is available discuss special tactics capabilities to support Humanitarian ops: Combat Controllers can open the airfield to enable a larger Air Force contingent to prepare for heavier cargo. He can talk about airfield assessment, airdrop assessment, para-rescue ability to assist with confined structure or collapsed structure rescue, and combat weather capability to provide weather forecasts to enable safety of flight. Additionally, he can discuss their training to conduct such operations and the fact this was the beginning of a much larger effort involving interagency partners.
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We will interview Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, who will discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan - Better Strategic Communications, how the Afghan people are at center of the effort, how civil-military cooperation has improved, increased allied participation, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, momentum shift, provinces shifting to transition.
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Hear from this year's Soldier and NCO of the Year, who are on the scene working with the top High-School athletes at this year's All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Also, speak with one of the players, Sione Potoa'e, the son of an Army First Sergeant. Ask questions about the game, this week's training camp and find out who can really run the fastest - a Soldier of the Year or one of the nation's top athletes.
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Maj. Musacchia, deputy director of the Rule of Law Directorate for the Iraq Training and Advising Mission, will discuss the Ministry of Interior Internal Security Forces Court System. It is one of the three major legal systems in Iraq that was created only two years ago. The MOI is a very large and complex organization that is responsible for all the police forces in Iraq. The MOI Internal Security Forces Court System handles cases of wrongdoing by members of these forces. The challenges are unique to Iraq and this court system is a vital way to ensuring Iraq abides by Rule of Law concepts and ensures that those accused of crimes have due process.
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On Jan. 5, PBS NOVA will air a documentary at 8:00 p.m. EST about the discovery of the remains of a Japanese mini-submarine that participated in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Navy Underwater Archaeologists and Navy researchers identified the mini-sub and have offered their opinions that the sub fired its torpedoes at Battleship Row. We will interview U.S. Navy Capt. John Rodgaard, scientist Peter Hsu, and Dr. Robert Neyland of the Naval History and Heritage Command who all participated in the mini-sub identification. They will be available to discuss their findings the day after the documentary is broadcasted.
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Maj. Gen. William B. Garrett, III, commander of U.S. Army Africa, will discuss the Army Service Component Command assigned to U.S. Africa Command and its transformation in 2010 to full operational capability as an ASCC, which will occur concurrently with ongoing operations. U.S. Army Africa will evolve into a regionally focused, globally networked ASCC - reporting directly to Department of the Army, and serving as the Army's single point of contact for U.S. Africa Command.
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Col. Darrel Halse, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission - Rule of Law Director, JSS Shield, Baghdad, Iraq, will discuss the Iraqi transition from a dictatorship to a fledgling democracy. There are many new concepts that the U.S. Forces are training and advising the Iraqis on to help in this transition. The Rule of Law directorate of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission helps Iraq by training them on forensics, evidence collection, human rights, inspector general investigations, and the legal system. This is important to ensure that the Iraqi citizens know that they will have due process if they are arrested for a crime. The days of convictions by confessions only are over. Iraq still has a way to go, but has made substantial strides in this endeavor.
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U.S. Army Gen. Walter L. "Skip" Sharp, commander of United States Forces Korea, will discuss his priorities for U.S. Forces Korea to include readiness to meet current and future military challenges posed by North Korea, how the transition of wartime operational control from the U.S. to the ROK JCS on April 17, 2012 is strengthening the ROK - U.S. Alliance, and USFK's progress in making assignments to Korea become normal two and three-year accompanied tours for all servicemembers.
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Soldiers, veterans and bloggers have continued to ask questions and seek updates on the program, ever since the Army's first roundtable with Maj. Roy Whitley, program manager, Army Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, on November 19. During this follow-up discussion, Whitley will offer details about the Army's progress on improving the claims process, as well as clarify any confusion claimants are still having with the special pay process.
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U.S. Navy Capt. Lori A. Laraway, coordinator, Navy’s Operational Stress Control (OSC) Program and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie R. Chavez, Navy's Behavioral Health Program Manager Navy Suicide Prevention and OSC policies.
Operational Stress Control seeks to create an environment where sailors, commands and families can thrive in the midst of stressful operations. Just like world-class athletes gain the winning edge by using every means at their disposal - coaches, trainers, even sports psychologists, our world-class sailors need to employ all means available to stay fit and ready as well as seek assistance for stress reactions early before they become stress problems. The Navy considers asking for assistance and guidance for stress issues is a sign of strength, not weakness. OSC is a line-owned program supported by, but not driven by, Navy Medicine. OSC is about navigating the stress that everyday living and everyday operations throw at us.
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Maj. Gen. Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa, will discuss the U.S. Army's newest component command and the outcome of Natural Fire '10, its recent globally resourced exercise in Uganda. The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise enhanced partnerships with military personnel from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the United States. The combined effort of Natural Fire '10 military personnel provided medical, dental and engineering support to more than 11,500 Ugandan citizens.
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Mr. David S. Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, and Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. Director, Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell, Joint Staff, will answer questions on the U.S. Afghanistan Policy.
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U.S. Army Maj. Elba D’asaro, Multi-National Forces–Iraq, Chief of Women's Initiatives Programs will discuss the remarkable social progress of women in Iraq. Women in Iraq are still striving to be fully empowered and respected here and they are making their voices heard.
U.S. Army Maj. Roy Whitley, the Army's Project Manager for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, will provide a status update on the Army's first month of processing claims for this new benefit. The Department of Defense introduced Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay last month when it announced that service members, veterans and survivors are eligible to receive $500 for every month they served under Stop Loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2008. Maj. Whitley will explain the Army's system for processing the estimated 120,000 eligible claims, as well as answer questions about receiving the pay.
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Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, director of the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, will discuss how the Army is training its soldiers mentally as well as physically. CSF is the Army's effort to increase its ability to prevent problems before they occur. The intent of the program is to ensure that a Soldier’s mental and emotional health is addressed equally to his or her physical health. The Army’s goal is to improve Soldier performance and readiness. CSF exists to ensure all Soldiers have the skills necessary to grow personally, succeed in their job, thrive in their community, and grow within their family.
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The Army knows it needs to do more to focus on the holistic health and strength of its Soldiers. That's what Comprehensive Soldier Fitness is designed to do, and it's not like any other Army training program. Soldiers are attending classes from Nov. 9 thru 19 to learn how to lead others, train resilience and teach life skills to others. At the end of the course these Soldiers will be certified Master Resilience Trainers.
The Army got to this point through collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania - customizing its positive psychology program for use within the Army. Participants learn real-time resilience and problem solving, as well as how to identify strengths in self and others, and assertive communication. Classes are taught in different learning environments such as large groups, breakouts and role-play that help participants learn how to apply their knowledge to train others. This new training course emphasizes that the Army is focused on a true prevention model, aimed at the entire force, not just people in the throes of crisis.
The Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Police is responsible for a wide variety of training courses that are taught to the Iraqi Security Forces. In addition to the training of the ISF, ITAM- Police is also advising, manning, training and equipping the Iraqi Police forces to better assist them in providing for the internal security of Iraq and the protection of the Iraqi people. The U.S.-Iraq partnership is made stronger by the training that is being conducted. Everything from Internal affairs, rule of law, police recruit training, forensics, DNA, K-9, EOD and others have enabled Iraq to be better prepared for this important security responsibility.
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Col. Knight, commander of the 10th Medical Group, and Lt. Col. Witkop, a Preventive Medicine physician from the 10th MDG helped investigate H1N1 cases at the Air Force Academy earlier this year, and will discuss what they learned about the H1N1 virus among the cadets, what the Academy did to mitigate the spread of H1N1 among cadets, and what other institutions may be able to do to manage the spread of the disease.
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Mr. Retherford, Director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, will discuss the retroactive pay policy and its implementation. The Defense Department recently announced the services' implementation plans to provide retroactive stop loss special pay. Active, reserve and former servicemembers who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to stop loss are eligible for this special pay, if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. Service members began submitting their claim for retroactive stop loss special pay on Oct. 21, 2009. In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010. Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that a member was retained on active duty due to stop loss.
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Cmdr. Shiau, division chief, Force Health Protection, Bureau of Navy Medicine & Surgery, will provide an update on seasonal flu and H1N1 preparedness efforts.
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Rear Adm. Richard Landolt discussed the U.S. Navy's humanitarian relief and disaster response operations in Sumatra, Indonesia following the September 30th earthquakes. Landolt led a humanitarian assistance survey team in Padang, Indonesia and coordinated the Navy's efforts in providing a variety of assistance and relief to those affected by a devastating earthquake Sept. 30. Working closely with the Indonesian Government, the U.S. Embassy and international relief organizations. The U.S. military delivered relief supplies to stricken areas by air and ground utilizing helicopters from USS Denver and USS McCampbell; provided limited medical care via a U.S. Air Force Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team field hospital, and provided communications support for relief efforts.
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Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Cowie was preparing for her upcoming deployment to Iraq in the spring of 2007 when an Army-mandated mammogram revealed a tumor. That tumor was found to be cancerous; Cowie was diagnosed with breast cancer. With a year-long deployment right around the corner, Cowie opted for an aggressive treatment plan. It included a lumpectomy followed by a surgery a week later along with a five-day targeted radiation treatment -- a plan that would allow her to deploy to Iraq with the rest of her unit that summer. For Cowie, a 42 year old mother of two, staying behind was not an option.
Cowie, now back from her Iraq deployment, will talk about how she is doing today, why she chose the treatment option she did, and why it was so important for her to deploy with her unit.
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U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Finn, commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, will discuss Camp Lemonnier, which is now a Navy base, falling under the administrative chain of Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia and Commander, Navy Installations Command. Camp Lemonnier currently provides base operations and facilities services to support over 20 tenant commands, including Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. There are a number of projects underway today or being planned to continue improving the level of support for those who use Camp Lemonnier, including taxiway, apron and hangar upgrades. In addition, there are many quality of life improvement projects, such as a new galley and chapel, which are designed to improve the living conditions for service members deployed to the camp.
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The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College is the heart of Fort Leavenworth and the Combined Arms Center. At CGSC mid-career field grade officers learn about operational art, leadership, history and a myriad of other subjects. This experience helps develop them into competent, capable staff officers who are poised to become tomorrow's senior Army leaders.
Staff group 19 Alpha is making themselves available as a group to answer any questions you might have about any topic pertaining to the military. Virtually all of them are OIF or OEF veterans, with more than half counting more than two combat tours. Their experiences are diverse, representing all branches of the Army. The staff group consists of an Air Force and Marine Corps element with a Danish officer who has supported both OIF and ISAF. Feel free to pose questions about Gen. McChrystal's assessment, the COIN struggle in Afghanistan, the differences in the operational environment between Iraq and Afghanistan or any other topic you are interested in. These field grade officers provide ground truth about the large issues in today's military.
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Staff Sgt. Robles and Airman 1st Class Woodward will be on the line to discuss Improvised Explosive Devices and other threats in Afghanistan. Airmen on the ground in Explosive Ordnance Disposal units are scattered across Afghanistan in teams searching for and dismantling explosive devices before they hit our men and women, or the Afghan civilians the Coalition is trying to protect. These Airmen use unique tools, from multi-million dollar robots and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to water and plastic bottles -- anything that can be used is being used to defeat these threats. The Airmen are Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
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Rose Marie Tinker, Career Coordinator with the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Program and Col. Jim Rice, Director of AW2, will discuss what the Army is doing to help transition disabled Veterans to civilian jobs in the private and public sector. The nation recognizes Disability Employment Awareness Month annually to acknowledge all workers with disabilities. This year's theme "Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation" is intended to showcase the talents of workers with disabilities and a vision of a world in which people with disabilities have unlimited employment opportunities.
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Cmdr. Bauby will be discussing the Legare's role in Africa Partnership Station while working with African coastal nations in real-time law enforcement missions under the direction of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/ Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet. During the mission, the Legare visited four countries and supported improving regional maritime safety and security and strengthening maritime partnerships through the Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Program.
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Rear Adm. O'Bryan, director of U.S. Navy's Maritime Domain Awareness. Rear Adm. O’Bryan will discuss the U.S. Navy's role in the U.S. government's MDA efforts, including Maritime Domain Awareness in practice and the benefits of open maritime data sharing and regional and global networks.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Brig. Gen. Ed Cardon, Deputy Commandant U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Dr. Ralph Doughty, Interagency Chair, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Brig. Gen. Cardon and Dr. Doughty will discuss how military and interagency cooperation in training and education becomes more vital as future deployments involve stability operations. Read Transcript
Cmdr. Ovios, commanding officer of the USS Ingraham who will discuss the USS Ingraham’s support to American Samoa to assist with rescue and humanitarian relief there following a massive earthquake and tsunami.
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The roundtable discussion is being held for the winners of the Army-wide Best Warrior competition, often referred to as the “Super Bowl” of Army competitions. Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston will announce this year’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during the Association of the United States Army annual meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, in Washington, D.C.
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DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Joseph Sikes, director for Housing and Competitive Sourcing in the office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment. Sikes will discuss the Department of Defense recent announcement, Sept. 30, for the temporary expansion of the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). Using $555 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this program is designed to partially reimburse eligible military personnel, surviving spouses, and federal civilian employees whose service to the nation has required them to relocate and sell their primary residence at a loss.
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Army Blogger's Roundtable with Staff Sgt. John Rosado of the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command who serves as the Mortuary Affairs non-commissioned officer in charge for the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan. The roundtable discussion is in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long observance, to celebrate the culture and traditions of the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Heritage observation began as just a week in 1968, but was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 into a 30-day period. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 - October 15.
Staff Sgt. John Rosado of the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, currently in Afghanistan, will speak about what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him as a Hispanic in the Army, what the Army has done for him, any challenges he has faced and any cultural barriers he has had to overcome. Rosado serves at the Mortuary Affairs Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge for the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan. He is in the Army Reserves and has served in the Army for 16 years. Read Transcript
Maj. Gen. Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa, will discuss the U.S. Army's newest component command and its upcoming exercise in Uganda. Natural Fire '10 is a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise that seeks to build partnerships with military personnel from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States. Read Transcript
We have a scheduled Bloggers Roundtable at 1000 EDT, with Col. Roper, director, U.S. Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, will discuss the U.S. Army approach toward preparing for counterinsurgency challenges in current operational theaters. He will address efforts to prepare leaders and units to conduct stability operations and efforts to enable Iraqi and Afghan security forces to generate, employ, and sustain security forces that are capable of dealing with their operational challenges. He also will address ongoing initiatives with respect to Irregular Challenges and threats. Additionally, he will provide insights obtained from recent engagements with multi-national partners including UK, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Germany, Canada, India, and Australia as well as upcoming events with Italy, UK, Egypt, France, and Germany. Read Transcript
Brig. Gen. Walsh, commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, will be discussing what a day is like in the life of a combat wing commander at Kandahar Airfield. Brig. Gen. Walsh comes to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing in Afghanistan from the 175th Air National Guard in Baltimore, Maryland and is one of the first wing commanders to lead an expeditionary wing in a combat zone from the Air National Guard.
Rear Adm. Sanders, Vice Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, and Capt. Blount, chief of staff of Combined Task Force 151, will be discussing current Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) and the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC) as well as international cooperation and teamwork required to provide safe navigation through the GOA for commercial shipping.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Donald Alston, Assistant Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Maj. Gen. Alston will discuss the U.S. Air Force's look forward at modernization, sustainment, and stewardship of the Air Force's Nuclear Enterprise and its role in strategic deterrence.
Lt. Col. Morris is currently serving as the Division Chaplin for Multi-National Division-South in Basra, Iraq. He has previously served on active duty from 1994-1997 and 2003-present. He will discuss Soldier spirituality and morale during deployment; engaging diverse religious groups in Southern Iraq; US Army suicide prevention programs and the reintegration of Soldiers after deployment.
MND-S is comprised of over 13,000 US Soldiers and is made up of the southernmost nine of Iraq's 18 provinces.
Adm. Allen will discuss how the increasingly accessible and active Arctic region has significant security, environmental, scientific, and economic impacts with broad implications for the nation. Several White House and federal agency officials participating in the new Ocean Policy Task Force (OPTF) traveled throughout Alaska and the Arctic from Aug. 17 to 21, to observe ongoing activities in the region and meet with local and indigenous leaders and industry representatives.
Master Sgt. Harrison, Assistant Chief of Operations assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Fire Protection Flight, Ali Base, Iraq, and Tech. Sgt. Glosson, Assistant Chief of Operations, will describe life being deployed to Ali Base Iraq. The team of 40 provides fire response for airfield operations and all coalition forces assigned to the base, which amounts to roughly 13,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. The team also trains Iraqis in basic firefighting and lifesaving skills.
Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, tandem team leader of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team, recently joined former President George H.W. Bush when he took his celebratory 85th birthday jump in June, will speak with us about the history of the Golden Knights and the more than 8,000 freefall parachute and 2,000 tandem jumps he’s completed as an airborne infantryman. The Golden Knights are the U.S. Army’s official parachute demonstration team. This year they celebrate a half-century of serving the country as Army ambassadors.
Formed half a century ago as a Strategic Army Corps Sport Parachute Team, the Golden Knights’ initial purpose was to compete in the then communist-dominated sport of free-fall parachuting. Since then, the Golden Knights have awed audiences across the country and the globe at air shows and competitions. Year after year, the Golden Knights continuously bring home honors and are the most successful U.S. Department of Defense sports team.
Lt. Col. Thomas N. Williams, Jr. Ph.D., P.E., Chief of Planning, Engineering Directorate, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, will discuss how MNSTC-I’s green initiatives are protecting the environment, saving money and at the same time supporting the security of Iraq.
Command Sgt. Maj. Maria Martinez, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and 2nd Lt. Michelle LaForest, a member of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell and the only woman to compete in the finals of a recent combatives tournament join the Roundtable. They will discuss the achievements of women in the Army today and reflect on those who paved their way, to mark Women’s Equality Day and the signing of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution on August 26, 1920 which gave women the right to vote.
Price Floyd, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, will discuss the launch recently of the Department of Defense’s new home page, http://www.Defense.gov designed to invite participation from the public and make military news and information more accessible. The new Web site provides quick access to those pages and services that are most sought by Web site visitors, including DoD social media sites, the Pentagon Channel and DoD news stories. Prominent on the new home page is a new “We Want to Hear From You” feature that will give users the opportunity to ask questions of Defense Department leaders, vote on policy issues they want explained, and explore frequently asked questions and answers. The new site, http://www.Defense.gov, replaces http://www.DefenseLink.mil as the department’s main Internet entry portal.
Dr. Michael Crawford will share the history behind pirates, privateers and the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Gunnery Sergeant, drill instructor, Vietnam veteran, actor and more R. Lee Ermey who will discuss his career in the military.
As Chief Election Task Force, Brig. Gen. Cantwell serves as the primary point of contact with all external agencies involved in the conduct and planning of this month's 2009 Afghan Presidential and Provincial Council Elections and will discuss ISAF’s roll in the upcoming election. He provides advice and information to Headquarters ISAF and external agencies and coordinates all ISAF support to election-related activities. Brig. Gen. Tremblay is the ISAF Spokesman.
Col. Forrester will discuss the recently published CALL Publication 09-37, Small Unit Operations in Afghanistan. Developed collaboratively with the Infantry School and Maneuver Center of Excellence, the Army Physical Fitness Research Institute, CJTF-101, and other recently redeployed OEF units, this handbook specifically addresses the unique geographic, cultural, and operational challenges platoons and companies can expect to encounter in the Afghan theater of operations.
Earlier this week on the Pentagon Channel, we highlighted a graduation ceremony for a handful of soldiers who successfully completed a program designed to give PTSD patients better coping skills. We also posted part I of a blog, "DoD Feature: One Face From Normal" about this program, which is offered by the Deployment Health Clinical Center, and uses a combination of counseling, physical therapy, acupuncture and even yoga, to teach servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan how to handle stress. Listen as one soldier, who did not want to be identified on camera, talks about what brought him to the program.
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Peter W. Chiarelli took the helm of the Army's suicide prevention efforts in January, and has been working hard to reduce the stigma of seeking help. In that vein, two new initiatives were launched Aug. 1 by Department of Defense Health Affairs and the Defense Center of Excellence. The first program provides Web-Based Behavioral Health Care Services through the TRICARE Assistance Program. This program offers unlimited short-term, problem solving counseling 24/7 with a licensed counselor from home or any location. The second program will build a network of locations and online providers for telemental health services, using medically supervised, secure audio-visual conferencing to link those seeking help with offsite providers.
Brig. Gen. Stephen W. Wilson will discuss the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing's mission of providing combat airpower and support for today’s Fight in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is one of the largest, most diverse expeditionary wings in the Air Force. The wing and its associate units operate more than 100 aircraft, making the base a large hub for humanitarian airlift activity while providing mission-essential combat power, aeromedical evacuation and intelligence support for multiple theaters of operations.
U.S. Army roundtable with Col. Peter Newell, brigade commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team 1AD, who will discuss the role of the brigade completing the Advise and Assist Brigade mission.
Col. Bernard DeKoning, commander, Senior Medical Advisor to the Ministries of Defense and Interior, will discuss the training and partnering with Iraqi military medical staff.
Col. Zazworsky, commander of the Heavy Airlift Wing, Pápa, Hungary, will discuss the new heavy airlift wing in Hungary, which will support activities of 12 member nations, including flying missions into Afghanistan in support of ISAF. For the first time in history, 12 nations have come together, independent of NATO's organization, to jointly acquire and fly three C-17s to meet the national, NATO, EU and UN strategic airlift requirements/obligations of the participating nations by employing/deploying/redeploying forces and equipment and providing humanitarian relief with multinational aircrews. No matter which country's airlift requirements are being met at a specific point in time, all nations' members are contributing to the mission -- building partnership capacity.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Basilica, Commanding General Task Force - 51, Consequence Management Response Forces (CCMRF) and U.S. Navy Capt. Michael A. Collins, United States Navy and Chief of Staff of Joint Task Force Civil Support, will discuss issues ranging from Consequence Management Response Forces 10.1 and 10.2, reserve component manning, defense support of civil authorities, and posse comitatus.
Dr. Kevin Geiss, Program Director, energy security, will discuss the Army's innovative Energy Security Program, including Low Speed Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles. The U.S. Army is improving its energy security posture and assuring access to critical power to a full spectrum of Army missions.
Col. Agoglia, Director Counterinsurgency Training Center will provide an update on the current curriculum and methodologies used in counterinsurgency training in theater.
To recap the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) recent symposium in San Antonio, TX to identify the most important care and transition issues for wounded soldiers and their families. AW2 Director COL Jim Rice and Symposium delegate Melissa Cramblett will provide remarks and answer questions about this year's Symposium and the top five issues.
Pete Geren, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, and Dr. Thomas Insel, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli, will provide an update on the groundbreaking five-year study on risk and protective factors related to mental health and suicide in the Army will be provided by the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health. In addition, the Army will provide an update on the Army Campaign for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention, a Vice Chief of Staff initiative published in April 2009, and an update on the Suicide Prevention Task Force.
Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, will discuss how the Army is moving forward with the new Army Leadership Strategy, developing the next generation of Army leaders.
Hear from current West Point Cadets and the West Point Cadet Field Training Commander: Lt. Col. Steve Michael Cadet Field Training Commander. Cadet Tom Olmstead is 21 years old from Gilbert, Arizona. He is a senior, majoring in Military Art and Science and is the Cadet Field Training Regimental Commander. Cadet Joseph Van Dusen is 20 years old from Bloomfield, Michigan. He is a senior, majoring in Systems Engineering and is the 2nd Company Commander. Cadet Kristen Griest is 20 years old from Orange, Connecticut. She is a junior, majoring in International Relations and is the 3rd Company First Sergeant.
Bob Clark, assistant director of Accession Policy (Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy) and Keith Wilson, director of Education at the Department of Veterans Affairs, will discuss eligibility, benefits and transferability options for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, set to begin Aug. 1, 2009.
Col. Shumake, an Army lawyer and Director of the Office of Legal Policy for the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness, will discuss actions that the DoD has taken to help military renters during the current foreclosure crisis. He will also discuss how military members now enjoy the protections offered by the recently signed Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009. To learn more about this act, you can visit DoDVClips
Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiler, photojournalist; Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary, print journalist; Senior Airman Brian Economides, videographer; and Capt. Phil Ventura, Combat Camera officer in charge all based out of the Combined Air Operations Center, will discuss "From the skies to the ground: Combat Camera Airmen document the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan”.
Spc. Hutchinson discusses the act of the commitment, selfless service, and personal courage that earned him the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The 21-year-old private first class was on his first patrol, manning a Mark-19 grenade launcher in a Humvee’s armored turret of a gun truck, when his convoy was ambushed. Because of this Soldier’s actions, not one American life was lost; 17 men went in, 17 came out.
Col. Schroeder, Inspector General / Assistant Deputy Director Strategy & Plans Division, will discuss his experience advising and assisting Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and Joint Headquarters IGs in the development of a modern, professional IG capability; with noted successes and challenges.
Joseph McMillan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, will discuss the significance of the 30 June milestone in Iraq and overall policy/strategy as it relates to Iraq.
Chaplain Steen is assigned to Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, who discussed how MNSTC-I is helping Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen, maintain a balance through physical, mental, social and emotional well being.
Mr. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) will discuss how the U.S. Army is keeping its Soldiers safe from accidents and injury.
Col. Jaffin, director, Health Policy and Services, Office of the Surgeon General, will discuss how the U.S. Army is addressing cases of H1N1 among Soldiers in the U.S., and how they're working to prevent it.
Col Fantini, commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, will discuss 332 AEW's unique combat airpower capability in Iraq (fighter/cargo/rescue aircraft; manned/unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, etc) from operational/tactical perspective (332 EOG). As the only AF combat wing in Iraq, 332 AEW is at the tip of the spear when it comes to delivering combat airpower for America anytime and anywhere.
Maritime forces from 12 countries will participate in the largest multinational naval exercise this year in the Baltic Sea June 8-19. Annually hosted by the United States Navy, Exercise BALTOPS 2009 aims to improve maritime security in the Baltic Sea through increased interoperability and cooperation among regional allies. During this exercise, Sailors will work side by side with other personnel from partner nations while they are underway and will become familiar with the other militaries' operating procedures and practices
Commodore Andrew Cully, the mission commander calling in from Guam, will discuss planned mission activities and our partnerships with the host nations, partner nations and non-governmental organizations.
Public safety is the number one priority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' levee safety program. Eric Halpin, P.E., who leads the Corps' dam and levee safety programs, will discuss the Corps' Levee Safety Program and the relationship of proper operation and maintenance to levee reliability and public safety.
Ms. Dory will discuss what the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review entails, what it doesn’t and why it matters to our troops on the ground.
As part of the Army’s 234th Birthday, June 14, we are highlighting musically talented service members with deployment experience who have competed on nationally televised talent shows.
As a tribute to the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, Mr. Cressman will highlight the significance of this event in naval history. Regarded as the turning point in the Pacific during World War II, the Battle of Midway took place June 4-7, 1942. During the battle, an American carrier striking force, augmented by shore-based patrol bombers, decisively defeated an Imperial Japanese navy carrier task force. These actions prevented Japanese forces from capturing Midway Island. An important marker in the naval heritage of our nation, the Battle of Midway changed the course of the war in the Pacific within just a few short days.
The Army's new paternity leave policy gives fathers additional time to be with their families when a new child is born. The policy, which was signed into law under President George W. Bush on Oct. 14, grants Soldiers up to 10 consecutive days of non-chargeable administrative leave after the birth of a child. Paternity leave must be taken within 45 days of the child's birth; deployed Soldiers must take the leave within 60 days after returning from deployment. Leave not taken within the established time frame will be lost, so we're encouraging Soldiers to learn about this program, and take advantage.
Brig. Gen. Huber, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII, will be discussing the "Training and mentoring Afghan National Security Forces - Ultimate exit strategy in Afghanistan for U.S. forces." In addition, he will address the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix mission of training and mentoring Afghan National Security Forces comprised of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police to help them build sustainable security capacity/capability to protect the Afghan populace.
Col. Harris, headquartered in Kandahar, Afghanistan, is responsible for mentoring and advising Afghan National Police in southern Afghanistan. He will discuss Afghan National Police Mission Essential Tasks.
Sgt. Heyz Seeker has completed five tours of duty in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, most recently returning from a deployment in the fall of 2008. Throughout his 11 years of service, but particularly during this most recent segment of his Army career, Sgt. Seeker has honed his leadership skills. As a Filipino and NCO, he feels that his responsibly is to mold younger Soldiers and mentor them to the best of his ability so that one day they too can lead other troops. Sgt. Seeker is a winner of the Best Warrior Competition, and was honored as the Department of the Army's Soldier of the Year in 2007.
NCO Net is a virtual community where Non Commissioned Officers are engaged in professional conversations and the sharing of knowledge which becomes embedded in their professional life. NCO Net is an Army-wide NCO Network designed to support the flow of knowledge throughout the Noncommissioned Officers Corps. Through NCO Net, peers have an unclassified/FOUO forum to share thoughts, ideas, lessons learned, and experiences with other NCOs. NCO Net also provides a place where they can seek assistance from Subject Matter Experts, peers and search for information in the Warrior Knowledge Base. Think of NCO Net as a virtual NCO-DP, or even a virtual "bull" session where you can seek help from your peers or senior mentors or simply discuss issues and concerns of the day with people who have a common ground as NCO's. Learn more about this program and how Soldiers are using it to communicate.
Brig. Gen. Givhan, commanding general, Combined Air Power Transition Force (CAPTF) and 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Commander, will discuss how his unit works alongside Afghan pilots and ground support Airmen to build a capable and sustainable Air Corps for Afghanistan. The CAPTF mission is to set the conditions for a fully independent and operationally capable Afghan National Army Air Corps to meet the security requirements of Afghanistan.
Last week the Gulf Region Division completed operational and assurance testing and turned over the $176 million al-Qudas Power Plant expansion project to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity. The onsite project manager, Navy CDR John Szatkowski worked side by side with Iraqi engineer Hussein Ali Aiyah, one of the Gulf Region Division's Iraqi Associates. Both will be on the line to discuss this collaborative effort between the Army Corps of Engineers and local Iraqi construction companies. The U.S. team helped develop the Iraqis' abilities to design and construct their own power plant as the project was Iraqi designed and Iraqi constructed by a joint venture of two Iraqi companies.
Col. Metzler, commander, 586th Air Expeditionary Group, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Southwest Asia, will discuss how the detainee visitation mission at Camp Bucca's Theater Internment Facility (the "TIF") builds trusting relationships with Iraqi families and achieves operational goals. He will also explain his units' wide array of counter-insurgency mission contributions, and he will talk about the Air Force's presence on the ground in Iraq as Airmen perform line-haul combat convoy missions.
Mr. Robert Hale, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss President Obama's DoD fiscal 2010 budget submission to the Congress. Mr. Hale will provide details of FY10 budget submission on the heels of Secretary of Defense Gates' testimony to the SASC (Thursday May 14) and HASC (Wednesday May 13).
Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden announced the Defense Department's plan to temporarily expand its Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), with $555 million in Recovery Act funds dedicated to helping military families and DoD civilians who recently sold their homes at a loss.
Capt. Lineberry, mission commander for Continuing Promise 2009, will discuss the scope and accomplishments of CP 09 to date, and the strategic importance of U.S. Southern Command's humanitarian mission. He'll also discuss what makes this mission stand apart from previous deployments of its kind.
Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., will discuss visit to Iraq and Afghanistan where he met with deployed Air Force Reservists. The USAF already recognizes the benefits of using all of its resources from the Reserve, Guard and Regular components and increasingly relies on Reservists to support operational missions throughout the world. Approximately 5,000 Reservists provide global support every day to the operational missions of the Air Force.
The Pentagon Channel's PO1 Liz Murray sits down to discuss military family issues with First Lady Michelle Obama in an exclusive one-on-one interview.
Through the Army Vocational/Technical (AVOTEC) Soldier Program, all active duty Soldiers, National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers on extended active duty, as well as Wounded Warriors, are eligible for up to $4,500 in "free money" to be applied to training in high demand technical and trade career fields. There is no obligation for additional service, you don't have to pay the money back and you can leave the Army before the program is finished. However, a Soldier must enroll prior to leaving active duty. The Army pays the tuition directly to the learning institution. No paying up front and waiting for reimbursement. Soldiers can select a program from the approved schools and programs found on the AVOTEC website.
Col. John P. Maietta, Director of Strategic Operations, Directorate of Interior Affairs, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. Col. Maietta, a career public affairs specialist -- both civilian and military -- will be providing a unique perspective on his year-long volunteer assignment to advise and assist the Interior Ministry's Public Relations Directorate. The directorate has, for the most part, a dedicated and technically competent staff. They also benefit from the generally positive perceptions of the police which the Iraqi public holds. However, their effectiveness is constrained by Iraq's ongoing budget crisis (which limits hiring, training, and the purchase of equipment and media space), as well as by a poor understanding of how to focus and coordinate message delivery throughout their half-million-member organization.
Chelle Brewer, 2008 Military Spouse of the Year, will be available to discuss her year in review; her perspective; and to offer advice to the 2009 winner. As a wife of an injured soldier, 2nd Lieut. Steven Brewer, and mother of a child with special needs, Brewer has triumphed over adversity, while continuing to find time to volunteer for the USO, American Red Cross, American Heart Association and March of Dimes.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Air Force Reservist Lt. Col. David Condit, the 302nd Airlift Wing Chief of Safety at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., who manages the aerial firefighting program for the Air Force Reserve; and U.S. Air Force Reserve Capt. Bo Shelton, maintenance Officer, 302nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
Lt. Gen. George J. Trautman, III, the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, will discuss the three combat deployments of the MV-22s in Iraq and the way ahead for this revolutionary aircraft. If time permits he will also take questions on "Harvest Hawk." Harvest Hawk is a new program designed to add intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as some weapons, to Marine Corps KC-130J aircraft bound for Afghanistan.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Gen. Karl-Heinz Lather, the Chief of Staff for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). This year, NATO celebrates its 60th anniversary. Gen. Lather, will discuss NATO's continued relevance in a world challenged by new and legacy security concerns.
Col. Peter Newell, Brigade Commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team 1AD, will discuss the role of the brigade completing the Advise and Assist Brigade (AAB) mission.
Col. Johnson, Art of Design Course Author and School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) Advanced Military Studies Program Seminar Leader at Fort Leavenworth, KS, will discuss an approach to critical and creative thinking that enables a commander to understand unique situations, to visualize and describe how to shape positive change across the operational environment.
Lt. Col. Jefferson, and three other Tuskegee Airmen will be accompanied by U.S. Air Force Maj. Andra Higgs, to Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait to visit with U.S. forces, joint and coalition forces to thank them for their service. One of the units that Lt. Col. Jefferson and the other airmen will be meeting with is the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The 332nd Air Wing shares a piece of history with the Tuskegee Airmen; they fight under the same designator that the airmen used in World War II.
Col. Holdaway, AFCENT/AFFOR Director of Intelligence, will discuss "Getting inside the enemy's head through Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance." He will also discuss new information-gathering capabilities being use to monitor, track, and target the enemy. These capabilities are also used in reducing non-combatant casualties.
Col. Dianna Cleven, chief operating officer, Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative will discuss the benefits of this ground-breaking enterprise offered by the Army Reserve
Mr. Thomas Granito, Coast Guard Office of Environmental Management, will discuss the Coast Guard's "Green" initiatives. The projects include the Coast Guard's first "Green" Small Boat Station, the Coast Guard Academy's award-winning recycling program and Electronic Systems Detachment Southwest Harbor's wind and solar energy system.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Bailey, Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and co-director of Balikatan ‘09, will discuss the joint bilaterial exercise Balikatan, which officially started April 16 and runs through April 30. This year is the 25th in the Balikatan series and it has been tasked to the third Marine Expeditionary Force.
David King, SES, MNSTC-I Ministry of Defense Advisor Team (MOD-AT) director, will discuss the mission of MOD-AT, which is to provide professional advice and assistance to members of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, and to develop the Iraqi institutional capability needed for good governance and to generate and sustain Iraqi Security Forces.
Maj. Joseph A. Musacchia, , chief of Security Forces/Commander of the 81st Security Forces Squadron, will be discussing the development of effective methods in detecting and eradicating corruption within the Iraqi Police and other levels of Iraqi Government.
Col. James Rice, AW2 program director, will discuss how AW2 has changed over its five year history and remark on some of the program's milestones. Over 4,000 severely wounded Soldiers from GWOT and their families rely on the support of AW2 Advocates.
Maj. Gen. Nelson Cannon, director general, Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, will discuss the "Police Primacy and Rule of Law" and the professionalization of the Iraqi Police (training/equipping). The police will begin to assume the primary role of internal security as the Iraqi military begin to assume a traditional military role with external and border protection activities. Training of a viable Police Force is also consistent with the US and Iraq Security Agreement, article 12.
Maj. Gen. John Basilica Jr., commander, Operational Command Post 1, U.S. Army North and retired Col. Albert (Albie) Lewis, Federal Coordinating Officer, Region 1, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Representatives from U.S. Army North, the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be available Thursday to discuss how these agencies prepare for disaster response.
Mr. Guy Surian, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and Ms. Carolyn Collins, Chief Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention office will discuss the events and announcements from the Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Summit.
Capt. Melissa Kaime, Director of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and retired Col. Dr. Melissa Forsythe, Deputy Director, CDMRP will discuss the Gulf War Illness Research Program. The GWIRP was established in 1994 to study the health effects on service members deployed in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
Lt. Col. Evan Jay Trinkle, director of the Iraqi Center for Lessons Learned, will be discussing the center and the lessons learned in Iraq.
Maj. Gen. David Perkins, director of Strategic Effects, CJ-9, MNF-I, will discuss the current situation in Iraq, to include the Strategic Framework/Security Agreement Implementation, responsible drawdown, and credible and legitimate elections.
Dr. Randy Hill, the Executive Director of the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, will discuss how the ICT partners with industry to give the Army cutting-edge technologies for Soldiers, and provide examples of the ICT leading technologies that have helped the Army.
Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, assistant commandant for Acquisition, will provide an update on the Coast Guard's acquisition programs, including the National Security Cutter project, Response Boat Medium, HC-144 Ocean Sentry and upgrades to the existing aviation fleet.
Maj. Gen. David Spryncznatyk, Adjutant General, North Dakota National Guard will discuss current Army National Guard operations in support of North Dakota flood victims.
Lt. Gen. Gary North, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central, will discuss the shift to and role of air power in Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. Robert Milstead, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command, will discuss the current state of Marine Corps enlisted and officer recruiting for Fiscal Year 2009.
Col. Sue Ann Sandusky, commandant, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center will discuss the mission of the DLI Foreign Language Center and its importance to military affairs.
Col. Roy Gray, director, Finance and Contracting Directorate, Ministry of Interior Transitional Team will share his perspective on MNSTC-I's ongoing efforts to assist the Ministry of Interior in developing and maintaining financial systems and processes.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with the three American contractors, Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes, and Keith Stansell, who were held in captivity by the FARC, but later rescued. The former FARC hostages are also authors of "Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle" they will speak about their experience and receiving the Medal of Freedom, the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart, on March 12.
Col. Keith Moore, USMC, Program manager for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program, will discuss the background, restructuring, and current status of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program and its importance to the U.S. Marine Corps.
Capt. Hine, MNSTC-I Director Coalition Naval Advisor and Training Team, will speak to MNSTC-I’s overall mission in helping the Government of Iraq prepare for the future with a professional, capable naval force.
Lt. Col. Pam McArthur, Afghan Regional Security Integration Command-South Command Judge Advocate, will discuss the Rule of Law and mentoring the Afghan Army Legal Team.
MSG Barbara Rubio and CPT Mariah Smith, both current Congressional Fellows working in the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, will discuss their role interfacing with Congress on Capitol Hill. Both work in Congressional Offices, providing insight on the Army at the offices in which they work, but primarily learning first-hand about the legislative process.
COL Margaret Burcham, commander of the Gulf Region North district and Joanne Milo, deputy district engineer for the Gulf Region South district will discuss their careers with the Corps of Engineers, the reconstruction mission in Iraq and the projects and programs they’re proud to support. Both can discuss their multiple deployments and varied experiences from over 20 years working for the U.S. Army.
The Army will conduct a roundtable announcing changes in military personnel policies today at 4 p.m. Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G1); Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, Director, Military Personnel Management; and Col. Debbra Head, Deputy Director of Military Personnel Management, will discuss the new policies and be available for questions.
CSM Caffie will discuss plans for celebrating Army non-commissioned officers in the year ahead, and he’ll tell tales of Army Reserve NCOs who, every day, perform acts that demonstrate commitment, selfless service, and personal courage. Whether on the battlefield, on the job, with their Families or in their communities, CSM Caffie’s Warrior-Citizens are great American heroes.
As the senior advisor for MoI Internal Affairs, Cmdr. Muth will share his unique perspective on the progress of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption efforts at the Ministry of Interior.
DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Col. Lawrence Avery, Jr., deputy director, Security Assistance Office, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq in Baghdad. Col. Avery is responsible for the Foreign Military Sales program for the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense. He will explain how the FMS program works and how it is creating a long-term relationship between the Government of Iraq and the United States.
Master Sgt. Donald Murrah put his Army training to use in June when he thwarted a bank robber from car-jacking a woman and her two-children. While on a routine errand at the Wells Fargo Bank in Fort Worth, Texas, Master Sgt. Murrah, a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Haltom High School in Haltom City, Texas, Murrah noticed suspicious behavior from a man entering and exiting the bank. When he began approaching cars at the drive-up ATM, Murrah knew it was time to step in. Despite the robber’s 32 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Murrah was able to drop him to the ground as he attempted to climb into the woman’s sports utility vehicle, and hold him until police arrived. On Feb. 18, Murrah received the Soldiers Medal at a ceremony at the high school where he works.