Bloggers Roundtable for tomorrow, Thursday 01 May

Coming up tomorrow on the DoD Bloggers Roundtable we have scheduled Colonel Steven Mains and Mr. Milton Hileman from the U.S. Army Center for Army Lessons Learned, Combined Arms Center, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. The Center for Army Lessons Learned produces a series of handbooks to assist Soldiers, commanders, and staffs prepare for the first 100 days of combat. The first handbook, CALL Soldiers' Handbook No.07-15, The First 100 Days, published in March 2007, focused on Soldier-level skills. It has been CALL's most popular publication with over 200,000 copies printed. The second, CALL Leader's Handbook No. 07-27, followed in July 2007 and provided information to leaders at the company level and below.

Handbook 08-10 The First 100 Days, Commander and Staff published in February 2008 is for brigade and battalion commanders and their staffs. The final handbook will cover military transition teams and the unique issues they face in training and advising Iraqi military units.
COL Mains and Mr. Hileman, the principle author, of these books will discuss the collection and publication of lessons learned and the responses from the Soldiers and leaders who use them.

Following Col. Mains and Mr. Hileman we'll be speaking with Dr. Don Resio, Senior Technologist, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), Vicksburg, MS

Dr Resio will be here to speak on the research he has conducted and the role of the Corps of Engineers in studying climate variability and its potential impacts on coastal areas in the Gulf Region. He can speak to discuss climate variability and potential changes in waves and coastal surges within the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Resio was the leader of the risk analysis team for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Program, and has conducted extensive studies into hurricane behavior and probability, and long-term risk assessment.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Encore presentation of this morning's Iraq Briefing with MG Kevin Bergner, Spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Tahseen al-Sheikhly, Civilian Spokesman for Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, speaking with reporters in Baghdad, providing an overview of the Government of Iraq’s reconstruction plans in East Baghdad and discuss security improvements around Iraq. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentation again at 0000hrs.

1545 - Joint Staff Briefing: LTG Carter Ham, Director for Operations, J-3 and LtGen John Sattler, Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, speak with reporters at the Pentagon. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentations at 1800 & 0600hrs.

Today on the Bloggers Roundtable

Wow, busy day today. Sorry for the late post but we had some technical difficulties this morning which threw the whole day into a bit of chaos.

Today we spoke with Rear Adm. James Stevenson, Commnader U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command about the stand-up of the U.S. Navy 4th Fleet. RDML Stevenson discussed with Galrahn and Greg Grant about the force structure, capabilities, infrastructure and focus of the 4th Fleet.

Also today we spoke with Brig. Gen. Dennis Rogers, Deputy Director of Operations and Facilities, HQ Installation Management Command along with Command Sgt. Major Debra Strickland the Command Sergeant Major for IMCOM about the recently released You Tube footage depicting problems with barracks for returning soldiers to Fort Bragg, NC. A very lively and enlightening discussion with John Donovan, C.J. Grisham, Bryant Jordan, Matt Burden, Brandon Friedman, Bruce McQuain, and Chuck Simmins. The transcripts and audio files will be posted soon.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Iraq Briefing: Sunday's coverage of RADM Patrick Driscoll, Spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, Spokesman for Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, speaking with reporters in Iraq, providing an operational update. (Encore, VoD, Podcast, 50 min)

Today on the Bloggers Roundtable

Today on the Bloggers Roundtable we spoke with Mr. Bill Carr, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy. Mr. Carr addressed questions on military recruiting training waivers with bloggers and online journalists Andrew Lubin, Grim, Bryant Jordan, and Marc Danziger.

PBS TV Series and Premiere of Carrier this Sunday

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be at sea living on a floating city for months at a time? If so, the American public will get that an opportunity to see firsthand what life is like aboard an aircraft carrier starting this Sunday. A 10-part series of "Carrier" will air on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) from April 27 to May 1. Carrier was filmed in 2005 while USS Nimitz was deployed for a six-month deployment in the Pacific and Persian Gulf, in support of the war on terrorism. The documentary will allow people an unfettered look at life for the 5,000+ sailors who called Nimitz their home. The chronicle of life aboard Nimitz will focus on a handful of 15 enlisted men, women and officers.

"I really enjoyed this first episode, and I definitely will recommend it to everyone that wants to know how the real Navy is," said Aerographer's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Katheryn Roe, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, San Diego.

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Alexia M. Riveracorrea, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

Wounded Warriors Get White House Send Off

A group of wounded warriors got a presidential send off at the White House as they launched a three-day bicycle ride to show the world and themselves what they’re still capable of accomplishing. Story Photos

More on Defenselink.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Pentagon Briefing: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Michael Mullen speaks with reporters at the Pentagon. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentations at 1800hrs.

UPDATE: Pentagon Channel Highlights

UPDATE: 1445 - Wounded Warrior Remarks: Commander in Chief George W. Bush, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Michael Mullen, Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speak to members of the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride at the White House. (Live) Encore presentations at 1800, 0000 & 0600hrs.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

UPDATE: 1520 - Wounded Warrior Remarks: Commander in Chief George W. Bush speaks to members of the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride at the White House. (Live) Encore presentations at 1800, 0000 & 0600hrs.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Pentagon Briefing: Wednesday's coverage of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaking with reporters at the Pentagon. (Encore, VoD, Podcast, 25 min)

Petraeus Nominated to Head Central Command

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today that the White House has nominated Army Gen. David H. Petraeus to be the next U.S. Central Command commander. Story

Today on the Bloggers Roundtable

We spoke with Lt. Col. John Velliquette, the Iraqi Automated Fingerprint Information System manager for the Director of Interior Affairs Interior Transition Team (Formerly the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team), Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq of the Multi-National Force - Iraq. Lt. Col. Velliquette spoke about the role of biometrics in security efforts and how the Iraq Ministry of Interior is using and growing their capabilities.

On the call today were:
McQ from QandO.net
and
Doug B. from the Civilian Irregular Information Defense Group

Pentagon Channel Highlights

UPDATE: 1100 - Pentagon Briefing: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks with reporters at the Pentagon. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentations at 1800, 0000 & 0600hrs.

Today's coverage of the Veterans Affairs Hearing will continue in its entirety following the Pentagon Briefing.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Encore Iraq Briefing: LTG Lloyd Austin, Commanding General of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, speaks with reporters, providing an operational update. (VoD, Podcast)


0930 - Veterans Affairs Hearing: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee receives an update on Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense cooperation and collaboration from Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon Mansfield. (Live)

"There are some things we have to pay attention to, to make sure the engine gets cranked a second time." Mr. Mark Wilt

We just concluded our interview with Mr. Mark Wilt, USAID representative to the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team of Multi-National Division - Central on the DoD Bloggers Roundtable. The transcript should be posted soon. Mr. Wilt discussed the develpmental cycles of reconstruction and the economic development in Wasit province and the programs in place and those planned to help cultivate economic growth in the region.



On the call with us today were:

Farook Ahmed from The Institute for the Study of War
Grim from Blackfive
Jarred Fishman from The Air Force Pundit
David Axe from War is Boring
and
CDR Salamander

"This ain't just another survey ... it's essential" - A U.S. Army 1st. Sgt.

We just concluded the first DoD Bloggers Roundtable for today talking with Col. Bruce Reider the Director for the Center for Army Leadership at the Combined Arms Center, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Col. Reider discussed the new Multi-Source Assessment and Feedback program being implemented by the U.S. Army and how it relates to growing agile and adaptive leaders.

On todays call were David Axe from War is Boring and Grim from Blackfive. We'll have the audio files and transcript posted soon at DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable.

Tomorrow on the DoD Bloggers Roundtable

Tomorrow we have scheduled a Bloggers' Roundtable w/Col. Bruce Reider the Director of the Center for Army Leadership to discuss the Multi-Source Assessment and Feedback program, what it is and how it effects Army Leadership, training, and education; and following that we will be speaking with Mark Wilt, MND-C PRT Member about the economic development in Wasit Province, Iraq.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - SecDef Remarks: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks at Air University in Maxwell-Gunter AFB, AL. (Live, VoD) Encore presentation at 0000 & 0600hrs.

1000 - Iraq Briefing: Col Louis Craparotta, Commander of Regimental Combat Team 1, speaks with reporters at the Pentagon via satellite from Camp Fallujah, providing an update on ongoing security operations in western Iraq. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentation at 1800hrs.

1430 - Iraq Briefing: Sunday's coverage of RADM Patrick Driscoll, spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Tahseen Sheikhly, Spokesman for Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, speaking with reporters in Baghdad, discussing projects in the Baghdad area to provide essential services to the Iraqi people and providing an operational update. (Encore, VoD, Podcast, 50 min)

Where’s More DoD New Media? Ask Wikipedia

Interested in knowing about everything DoD has to offer in new media, but can’t find it all in one place? Try our Wikipedia page, where you can read about all of our new media programs and products, and you’ll find links to all of our new media content. Plus, you can read about the new media directorate’s role in DoD public affairs and find out how and why we got started on these efforts.

While you’re surfing Wikipedia, you can also find out how you can contribute to programs that provide support to our troops on the America Supports You Wikipedia page. America Supports You connects you to hundreds of non-profit “homefront” groups sponsoring programs to give back to America’s military servicemembers for their sacrifices. If you are interested in doing something to support the troops, America Supports You is a good starting point!

Pentagon Channel Highlights

0900 - Afghanistan Briefing: MG Robert Cone, Commanding General of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, speaks via satellite from Kabul with reporters at the Pentagon, providing an update of ongoing security and training operations in Afghanistan. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentation at 1800hrs.

1300 - Transition Ceremony: ADM William Fallon concludes his 41-year Navy career in a ceremony aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) at NS Norfolk, VA. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will be the guest speaker for the event. (Live, VoD) Encore presentation at 0000hrs.

Pentagon Channel Highlights

1330 - Pentagon Briefing: Dr. S. Ward Casscells, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and LTG Eric Schoomaker, Surgeon General of the US Army, announce the creation of the new, federally-funded institution, the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. (Live, VoD, Podcast) Encore presentation at 0600hrs.

UPDATE: The House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing is unavailable.

1800 - Iraq Briefing: Today's coverage of BG Robin Swan, Commanding General of Coalition Army Advisory Training Team, and Gen. Babakir, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff, speaking with reporters in Baghdad, providing an update on the operational successes of equipping and training the Iraqi Army through the Foreign Military Sales Program. (Encore, VoD, Podcast, 40 min)

0000 - Pentagon Briefing: Today's coverage of Director of the Defense Center of Excellence for TBI/PTSD COL Loree Sutton; Interim Executive Director for Traumatic Brain Injury COL Robert Labutta; and Defense Veterans Brain Injury Center Director Col Mike Jaffee conducting a media roundtable to address findings and recommendations from the RAND study. (Encore, VoD, Podcast)

Today's Bloggers Roundtables

We had two DoD Bloggers Roundtables today, the first with Mr. Mark Laity, the spokesman for NATO who had some interesting comments on the state of affairs in Afghanistan following the Bucharest Summit. Also check out the International Security Assistance Force Website to keep up with the international efforts in Afghanistan.

Also today we spoke with Col. Shelia Bryant-Tucker, USMC, the Inspector General advistor to the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. Col. Bryant-Tucker told us about the efforts of the MNSTC-I IG mentors to the Government of Iraq in the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior.

Bloggers on the calls were:
Andrew Lubin
Richard Miller
Jarred Fishman
Bryant Jordan
Bruce McQuain
Greg Grant

What's your top Navy story for 2008

I'm Lt. Jennifer Cragg, the newest addition to the New Media team at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Did you know that the most important Navy story reported in 2008, according to Galrahn at Information Dissemination and forwarded on by David Axe at Danger Room, was the recently wrapped Africa Partnership Station. Other topics such as the February satellite shoot-out or the debate over aircraft carriers' vulnerability to submarines weren't as important as the Africa Partnership Station, according to Danger Room.
To read more about the impact Africa Partnership Station had over the last seven months, read the stories listed on Navy.mil -- Lt. Cragg

Coming up on the Bloggers Roundtable the week of 13-19 April

On the schedule for later this week is Mark Laity, the NATO civilian spokesman in Kabul, Afghanistan who will give us the strategic and political overview of NATO's efforts in Afghanistan following the summit in Bucharest.

Then we will be speaking to Col. Shelia Bryant-Tucker, USMC, of the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) sharing her perspecitve on the latest developments of how MNSTC-I Inspector Generals Office is working together with the U.S. State Department to assist the Iraqi government with its anti-corruption strategy, also, how we are assisting the Iraqi Inspector Generals to assist their commanders to insure readiness of the Iraqi Security Forces.

Going LIVE

Welcome to DoD Live. Here we'll be posting information associated with the DoD Bloggers Roundtables and linking to other things we're doing in the Department of Defense. Hopefully you'll find it interesting, leave us a comment and let us know.