"We bring a knowledge of current operations

in the military," said Master Sgt. Barbara Rubio, current Congressional Fellow working on Capitol Hill. "We keep Congress updated and tell them about our experiences." Joining Rubio was Capt. Mariah Smith, also a Congressional Fellow who joined bloggers and online journalists to discuss their positions. The Army Congressional Fellowship Program educates and trains selected officers, civilians and for the first time, non-commissioned officers, in all aspects of congressional activities. Rubio, as a part of the first class of NCOs participating in the program, discussed how the program assists Congress, as well as advancing the NCO Corps. In the military, officers are the ones issuing the orders, and NCOs implement them, said Rubio. Including NCOs in the Congressional Fellowship Program for the first time provides a new perspective to the program.

"This is great news for the Army family and for our soldiers who have sacrificed for their country and served so well for an

extended period of time," said Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, deputy chief of staff for Personnel. "Limiting stop loss balances our need for unit effectiveness with the impact on individual Soldiers and their families." Joining the Army Bloggers Roundtable discussion about the decision to phase out stop-loss were Maj. Gen. Gina Farrisee, director, Military Personnel Management; and Col. Debbra Head, deputy director of Military Personnel Management.

USNS Comfort: Continuing Promise '09

“Africa Partnership Station responds to (East) African requests for training by providing a delivery vehicle for international, interagency

and non-governmental organization assistance,” said Commander, APS, USS Robert G. Bradley, Navy Capt. Nick Holman said. “The U.S. government and our Navy are committed to helping all African nations and regions achieve stability and economic prosperity and East Africa is looking for help.” Holman participated in a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, March 11, just days after his return from leading the mission to Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania in which he explained the growing initiative and its impact in Africa.

Joining us on the call were Chuck Simmons, North Shore Journal; and David Axe, warisboring.com.

"In the most part, the U.S. has already withdrawn out of a lot of the cities. In fact, since the height of the surge, we have already

reduced our forces by over 20 percent. So, if you took a look at the number of the forces here at the surge, and take a look now, over a fifth of them have already gone home. In that same period, the Iraqi security forces have increased by at least 130,000," Maj. Gen. David Perkins, director of Strategic Effects, CJ-9, Multi-National Force-Iraq discussed with bloggers and online journalists MNF-I's role in the new emerging Iraq, March 5. "I think what's important is not just the numbers, but their capabilities have increased. In addition to the drawdown in U.S. forces, he said that they have also seen a decrease in violent attacks," said Perkins.

Last year they had weeks where they averaged over 190 attacks a day in Iraq, but routinely now they have days where they have less than 10 attacks a day throughout Iraq, Perkins added.

Joining us on the call were Paul McLeary, aviationweek; CJ Grisham, Soldiers Perspective; Spencer Ackerman, washingtonindependent; Bruce McQuain, qando.net; and Greg Grant.

"The culture of the Army is that of a team," said Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Peter Chiarelli. "And anytime one of our own feels so lost

that he or she sees no other option than to take their own life, than we've failed as an organization." Chiarelli joined bloggers during an Army Bloggers Roundtable, March 5, to discuss what the Army is doing to prevent suicide, as well as offer a leader's perspective on the upward trend of suicides in the Army. Chiarelli dedicated much of his time to assuring those participating in the roundtable that the Army understands the severity of the problem, and is doing everything it can to prevent even a single suicide from happening.

"From joy to frustration, I've seen change in our society. I have seen changes in the views of our society on women serving in the military. And,

most definitely, I've seen changes in the military," Sgt. 1st Class Helen Gillespie, 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, joined bloggers and on-line journalists, March 4, for a special blogger's roundtable in honor of Women's History Month and the Year of the NCO. Gillespie joined the Army in 1971 as a part of the Women's Army Corps. "Now, I believe that we are looked on as an integral part of the military machine that defends our geographic country, as well as our policies and our values world-wide," Gillespie added.