DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable

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. Read Transcrcipt

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. Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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. Read Bio Read Transcript

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. Read U.S. Army Col. Dyer bio Read U.S. Army Col. Kuehl bio Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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/ Read Transcript

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. Read Sergeant Major Steven Stuenkel's Bio Read Lieutenant Colonel Tony Adrian's Bio Read Transcript

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). Read Transcript

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. Read Transcript

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). Read Transcript