"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.

“We want to create a safe and prosperous environment where the people will willingly accept the newly trained and respectable Afghan National Police,”

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard Hall, Commander, 2-7 Marines, said today on the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable. Lt. Col. Richard Hall provided an operational update from Afghanistan on the 1st Marine Division’s 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s mission to train and mentor Afghan police forces.

On the call with us today: Andrew Lubin of Get the Gouge, Bruce McQuain of QandO, Christian Lowe with Military.com, and Claire Russo of the Institute for the Study of War.

"Today I was told by an Afghan general that if Kandahar becomes secure, all of Afghanistan will become secure." Col. John Cuddy

Col. John Cuddy, Commander, Regional Police Advisory Command - South spoke to us today from Kandahar, Afghanistan on the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable. Four months into his assignment, Col. Cuddy reported to us the progress he has seen in the training of the Afghan National Police; the Focused District Development program in the provinces of Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, and Helmand; and the ability to train a cohort of 500 Afghan National Police recruits for the first time. A cohort which, also for the first time, included four female recruits. The Regional Police Advisory Command - South is tasked with the responsibility to train the Afghan National Police as part of the Afghan Regional Security Command - South of Task Force Phoenix VII.

With us on the call was, Grim of Blackfive, Christopher Radin of the Long War Journal, and Troy from Bouhammer.

"... the Afghan people are looking for security ...they want the Taliban to go away ..." - Col. McGrath

U.S. Army Col. Thomas J. McGrath, Commander, Afghanistan Regional Security Integration Command - South, joined us for the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable this morning. Col. McGrath spoke with Troy Steward of Bouhammer and Boston Maggie about the progress in training the Afghan National Army and Police, the 2-7 Marines as embedded trainers, the building of the Ministry of Defense hospital for the ANA 205th Hero Corps, and the economic development as the market price of wheat now exceeds the price of poppy. Hey, the also have a brand new blog linked above.

"I do believe that in the final analysis we're going to get an awful lot done ..." Col. Brian Balfe

Col. Brian Balfe, Commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the New York National Guard spoke with us today on the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable about his role and the 27th BCT's mission as the command element of Task Force Phoenix VII. Task Force Phoenix is charged with training and mentoring the Afghan National Security Forces.

On the call with us today was Troy Stewart, Andrew Lubin of the Military Observer, Scott Kesterson, and Christopher Radin of the Long War Journal.

"Hopefully I've painted an optimistic picture, because it is; but it's certainly not easy." Col. Michael McMahon

Col. Michael J. McMahon, Director of Force Integration and Training (CJ7) for the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan joined us for the second DoD Bloggers Roundtable of the day. Col. McMahon spoke to us about building the Afghan National Army and Police, Force District Development, the Afghan National Civil Order Police, and the successes and challenges of helping Afghanistan stand on its own.

On the call with us today was Andrew Lubin of the Military Observer, Bruce McQuain of QandO and Jarred Fishman of the Air Force Pundit.

"Change takes time ... but I see a lot of progress." Col. Thomas J. McGrath

We just concluded a DoD Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Army Col. Thomas J. McGrath who gave us an operational update on the operations of the Afghan Regional Security Integration Command South. ARSIC South is part of the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.

Col. McGrath's main focus was the development of the Afghan uniform police corps and it's growing capabilities and professionalism throughout his region but covered other topics as well during this all too short 30 minute interview. On the call with us was Christopher Radin of The Long War Journal, Andrew Lubin of The Military Observer, Megan Ortegus of Freedoms Watch, David Axe of War is Boring, Grim from Blackfive, Greg Grant from Next Gov, and Dave Dilegge of the Small Wars Journal. Topics included the deployment of the 2-7 Marines and their role in training the Afghan police; Focus District Development; an overview of the current coalition forces in the area; and COIN doctrine and how it is working in Afghanistan.