DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Mark Mavity, Chief of Medical Readiness for the Air Force Surgeon General. Col. Mavity will discuss the Air Force's deployable medical assets and patient movement capabilities supporting the Haitian relief effort. Read Transcript

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Col. Steve Shea and U.S. Air Force Col. Sid Banks of Air Force Office of Logistics Readiness (AF/A4L). Col. Shea and Col. Banks will discuss the logistics planning and overall big picture of humanitarian operations for the Air Force. Read Trancript

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Col. Bradley Butz, Vice Commander of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Wing, who will discuss global imagery and the use of the RQ-4 Global Hawk in support of the relief efforts in Haiti. Read Transcript

DODLive Bloggers Roundtable with U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brett Nelson, 23 STS Commander and U.S. Air Force Maj. Jason Daniels, director of operations for the 720th Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Maj. Daniels, an Air Force combat controller, is part of the team who is opening Port au Prince airport -- the only airstrip in Haiti -- after their tower collapsed. He is available discuss special tactics capabilities to support Humanitarian ops: Combat Controllers can open the airfield to enable a larger Air Force contingent to prepare for heavier cargo. He can talk about airfield assessment, airdrop assessment, para-rescue ability to assist with confined structure or collapsed structure rescue, and combat weather capability to provide weather forecasts to enable safety of flight. Additionally, he can discuss their training to conduct such operations and the fact this was the beginning of a much larger effort involving interagency partners. Read Transcript

We will interview Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, who will discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan - Better Strategic Communications, how the Afghan people are at center of the effort, how civil-military cooperation has improved, increased allied participation, NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan, momentum shift, provinces shifting to transition. Read Transcript

Hear from this year's Soldier and NCO of the Year, who are on the scene working with the top High-School athletes at this year's All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Also, speak with one of the players, Sione Potoa'e, the son of an Army First Sergeant. Ask questions about the game, this week's training camp and find out who can really run the fastest - a Soldier of the Year or one of the nation's top athletes. Read Transcript

Maj. Musacchia, deputy director of the Rule of Law Directorate for the Iraq Training and Advising Mission, will discuss the Ministry of Interior Internal Security Forces Court System. It is one of the three major legal systems in Iraq that was created only two years ago. The MOI is a very large and complex organization that is responsible for all the police forces in Iraq. The MOI Internal Security Forces Court System handles cases of wrongdoing by members of these forces. The challenges are unique to Iraq and this court system is a vital way to ensuring Iraq abides by Rule of Law concepts and ensures that those accused of crimes have due process. Read Transcript

On Jan. 5, PBS NOVA will air a documentary at 8:00 p.m. EST about the discovery of the remains of a Japanese mini-submarine that participated in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Navy Underwater Archaeologists and Navy researchers identified the mini-sub and have offered their opinions that the sub fired its torpedoes at Battleship Row. We will interview U.S. Navy Capt. John Rodgaard, scientist Peter Hsu, and Dr. Robert Neyland of the Naval History and Heritage Command who all participated in the mini-sub identification. They will be available to discuss their findings the day after the documentary is broadcasted. Read Transcript

Maj. Gen. William B. Garrett, III, commander of U.S. Army Africa, will discuss the Army Service Component Command assigned to U.S. Africa Command and its transformation in 2010 to full operational capability as an ASCC, which will occur concurrently with ongoing operations. U.S. Army Africa will evolve into a regionally focused, globally networked ASCC - reporting directly to Department of the Army, and serving as the Army's single point of contact for U.S. Africa Command. Read Transcript

Col. Darrel Halse, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission - Rule of Law Director, JSS Shield, Baghdad, Iraq, will discuss the Iraqi transition from a dictatorship to a fledgling democracy. There are many new concepts that the U.S. Forces are training and advising the Iraqis on to help in this transition. The Rule of Law directorate of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission helps Iraq by training them on forensics, evidence collection, human rights, inspector general investigations, and the legal system. This is important to ensure that the Iraqi citizens know that they will have due process if they are arrested for a crime. The days of convictions by confessions only are over. Iraq still has a way to go, but has made substantial strides in this endeavor. Read Transcript

U.S. Army Gen. Walter L. "Skip" Sharp, commander of United States Forces Korea, will discuss his priorities for U.S. Forces Korea to include readiness to meet current and future military challenges posed by North Korea, how the transition of wartime operational control from the U.S. to the ROK JCS on April 17, 2012 is strengthening the ROK - U.S. Alliance, and USFK's progress in making assignments to Korea become normal two and three-year accompanied tours for all servicemembers. Read Transcript

Soldiers, veterans and bloggers have continued to ask questions and seek updates on the program, ever since the Army's first roundtable with Maj. Roy Whitley, program manager, Army Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, on November 19. During this follow-up discussion, Whitley will offer details about the Army's progress on improving the claims process, as well as clarify any confusion claimants are still having with the special pay process. Read Transcript

U.S. Navy Capt. Lori A. Laraway, coordinator, Navy’s Operational Stress Control (OSC) Program and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Bonnie R. Chavez, Navy's Behavioral Health Program Manager Navy Suicide Prevention and OSC policies. Operational Stress Control seeks to create an environment where sailors, commands and families can thrive in the midst of stressful operations. Just like world-class athletes gain the winning edge by using every means at their disposal - coaches, trainers, even sports psychologists, our world-class sailors need to employ all means available to stay fit and ready as well as seek assistance for stress reactions early before they become stress problems. The Navy considers asking for assistance and guidance for stress issues is a sign of strength, not weakness. OSC is a line-owned program supported by, but not driven by, Navy Medicine. OSC is about navigating the stress that everyday living and everyday operations throw at us. Read Transcript

Maj. Gen. Garrett, commander of U.S. Army Africa, will discuss the U.S. Army's newest component command and the outcome of Natural Fire '10, its recent globally resourced exercise in Uganda. The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise enhanced partnerships with military personnel from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the United States. The combined effort of Natural Fire '10 military personnel provided medical, dental and engineering support to more than 11,500 Ugandan citizens. Read Transcript

Mr. David S. Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, and Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. Director, Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell, Joint Staff, will answer questions on the U.S. Afghanistan Policy. Read Transcript