DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable

Col. Agoglia, Director Counterinsurgency Training Center will provide an update on the current curriculum and methodologies used in counterinsurgency training in theater.

To recap the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) recent symposium in San Antonio, TX to identify the most important care and transition issues for wounded soldiers and their families. AW2 Director COL Jim Rice and Symposium delegate Melissa Cramblett will provide remarks and answer questions about this year's Symposium and the top five issues.

Pete Geren, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, and Dr. Thomas Insel, and Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli, will provide an update on the groundbreaking five-year study on risk and protective factors related to mental health and suicide in the Army will be provided by the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health. In addition, the Army will provide an update on the Army Campaign for Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention, a Vice Chief of Staff initiative published in April 2009, and an update on the Suicide Prevention Task Force.

Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, will discuss how the Army is moving forward with the new Army Leadership Strategy, developing the next generation of Army leaders.

Hear from current West Point Cadets and the West Point Cadet Field Training Commander: Lt. Col. Steve Michael Cadet Field Training Commander. Cadet Tom Olmstead is 21 years old from Gilbert, Arizona. He is a senior, majoring in Military Art and Science and is the Cadet Field Training Regimental Commander. Cadet Joseph Van Dusen is 20 years old from Bloomfield, Michigan. He is a senior, majoring in Systems Engineering and is the 2nd Company Commander. Cadet Kristen Griest is 20 years old from Orange, Connecticut. She is a junior, majoring in International Relations and is the 3rd Company First Sergeant.

Bob Clark, assistant director of Accession Policy (Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy) and Keith Wilson, director of Education at the Department of Veterans Affairs, will discuss eligibility, benefits and transferability options for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, set to begin Aug. 1, 2009.

Col. Shumake, an Army lawyer and Director of the Office of Legal Policy for the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness, will discuss actions that the DoD has taken to help military renters during the current foreclosure crisis. He will also discuss how military members now enjoy the protections offered by the recently signed Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009. To learn more about this act, you can visit DoDVClips

Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiler, photojournalist; Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary, print journalist; Senior Airman Brian Economides, videographer; and Capt. Phil Ventura, Combat Camera officer in charge all based out of the Combined Air Operations Center, will discuss "From the skies to the ground: Combat Camera Airmen document the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan”.

Spc. Hutchinson discusses the act of the commitment, selfless service, and personal courage that earned him the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The 21-year-old private first class was on his first patrol, manning a Mark-19 grenade launcher in a Humvee’s armored turret of a gun truck, when his convoy was ambushed. Because of this Soldier’s actions, not one American life was lost; 17 men went in, 17 came out.

Col. Schroeder, Inspector General / Assistant Deputy Director Strategy & Plans Division, will discuss his experience advising and assisting Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and Joint Headquarters IGs in the development of a modern, professional IG capability; with noted successes and challenges.

Joseph McMillan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, will discuss the significance of the 30 June milestone in Iraq and overall policy/strategy as it relates to Iraq.

Chaplain Steen is assigned to Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, who discussed how MNSTC-I is helping Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen, maintain a balance through physical, mental, social and emotional well being.

Mr. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) will discuss how the U.S. Army is keeping its Soldiers safe from accidents and injury.

Col. Jaffin, director, Health Policy and Services, Office of the Surgeon General, will discuss how the U.S. Army is addressing cases of H1N1 among Soldiers in the U.S., and how they're working to prevent it.

Col Fantini, commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, will discuss 332 AEW's unique combat airpower capability in Iraq (fighter/cargo/rescue aircraft; manned/unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, etc) from operational/tactical perspective (332 EOG). As the only AF combat wing in Iraq, 332 AEW is at the tip of the spear when it comes to delivering combat airpower for America anytime and anywhere.