"I think the Army certainly has bent over backwards to make great opportunities for

women ... I don't think there could be a more open, transparent and fair process, if you're willing to put in the extra effort," said Col. Margaret Burcham, commander of the Gulf Region North district. Joining Burcham was Joanne Milo, deputy district engineer for the Gulf Region South district who discussed their current positions with the Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq and their almost fifty years of combined experience serving with the U.S. Army. They took questions on topics including what projects are currently underway, and what it has been like to be a woman serving in the Army.

"We've learned a lot about how to train forces to be full spectrum," said Brig. Gen. Robert A. Abrams, Deputy commanding general,

U.S. Combined Arms Center. "This manual captures a lot of the lessons learned as to the how or the what of training units for full-spectrum operations and codified it in doctrine."

Brig. Gen. Abrams participated in an Army Bloggers Roundtable on Dec. 17 to discuss the release of FM 7-0, "Training for Full Spectrum Operations." FM 7-0 will help to train the force in offensive, defensive and stability operations anywhere along the spectrum of conflict.

Joining us on the call were Andrew Lubin, Naval Institute's Proceedings, Beth Wilson, Spencer Ackerman, Greg Grant, and military.com.

Department of Defense Launches Wounded Warrior Diaries

Defense Department officials yesterday launched the “Wounded Warrior Diaries,” a multimedia Web tribute in which American servicemembers wounded in combat share stories of their service, including their hard-won battles on the road to recovery and the ups and downs of life in the wake of injury.

The Wounded Warrior Diaries feature videos of servicemembers relaying their stories in their own words. The videos are accompanied by a written account of their experiences. The site launched with four diaries, and a new diary will be added each month.

“The diaries are intended to be sources of strength, encouragement and reassurance for other wounded troops and their families,” Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, DoD’s director of new media, said. “They illustrate the ultimate triumph over injury – returning to full and active lives through hard work and the support of loved ones, the community and the military family.”

In addition, the process of creating the diaries is meant to be therapeutic for the servicemembers, DeWalt said, noting that in some cases, their spouses and children take part in the interviews. “Finally,” he added, “the diaries are created to honor the service, sacrifice, courage and determination of all who voluntarily serve in harm’s way."

Featured this month, are four servicemembers from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The Wounded Warrior Diaries launch in November is part of DoD’s Warrior Care Month.

"Those elements are not only where we want to be in the future, but what we have to do in this era of persistent conflict," Maj. Gen. David Halverson

Maj. Gen. David Halverson, Director, U.S. Army Force Development, joined us today for an Army Bloggers Roundtable to discuss the release of the 2008 U.S. Army Modernization Strategy.

On the call with us today was Scott Malensek of Flopping Aces, Jason Sigger with the Armchair Generalist, Greg Grant of NextGov, John Donovan from Castle Argghhh! and U.S. Army Major Bryan Carroll, currently attending the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and blogging at A Major's Perspective.