Throughout the past decade or so, it has become abundantly clear that the best treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder will be highly specialized in accordance with the specific needs of each veteran. Combating PTSD begins with raising awareness, and is then driven by access to a broad spectrum of options with respect to rehabilitation. Many groups have sprouted up that seek to help veterans through the healing process in new ways. 

Between expanding the medicinal options available and offering alternative treatments, advocacy groups, government agencies and other entities are having a tremendously positive impact on the veteran community. One of the biggest topics of conversation in this arena on the national level has been the use of medicinal marijuana to treat PTSD, and Rhode Island just made a move to further relevant research and treatment options for veterans in the state. 

Legislation passed
Thanks to consistently positive results of studies related to the use of medicinal marijuana for PTSD treatment, regulators have been pushing new reforms to make this once-controversial drug legal and available to veterans. The Providence Journal recently reported that Governor Gina Raimondo will either pass or veto a measure that was passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly to expand the definitions of legal treatments for PTSD in the state to include medicinal marijuana. The legislation has been dubbed the Edward O. Hawking and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act. 

"Medical marijuana is already the law of Rhode Island. We've already established that it works in treating certain conditions," said Senator Stephen Archambault, who introduced the bill into the Assembly, according to the source. "It is unconscionable that we would not add PTSD to the list of medical conditions that would benefit from it. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very real psychological problem, particularly among our veteran community, and it's our responsibility to provide them with treatment options that can alleviate their suffering."

The news provider pointed out that scientific studies have shown medicinal marijuana to be highly effective in treating the depression, anxiety and flashbacks associated with PTSD – a disorder which roughly 30 percent of post-September 11 veterans experience. The Providence Journal noted that the bill was built in such a way that fast tracks the various statutes to ensure, once it is signed into law by Governor Raimondo, the treatment will be logistically accessible to veterans as quickly as possible. 

Getting the necessary assistance
PTSD has had many names throughout the past century, but one could make the argument that it is better-understood by the medical community, government and military than ever before. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wealth of information and services regarding the most effective types of treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, medication and brief psychodynamic psychotherapy. 

Veterans suffering from PTSD should not hesitate to seek out assistance from the local, state and federal entities available to support them through the healing process. 

Since service members began to come home from their duties overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq, there has been a consistent push to help these individuals get jobs right when they arrive. Because the veteran community has struggled to find the right professions upon returning in the past, this has not been an easy task, but more groups are contributing to boost opportunities for military members. One of the more prominent and novel today is working to get veterans involved in entrepreneurship. 

Leadership skills, problem-solving, the ability to thrive under extreme duress and other common characteristics of veterans make them incredibly well-suited to business ownership. Thanks to the efforts of government agencies and advocacy groups, there has been a notable uptick in the number of veteran-owned companies across the country, and it appears as though this trend will continue to intensify as time goes on. 

Construction company success
The New York Times recently reported that one veteran-owned and operated business, Rhumbix, has incorporated lessons and strategies learned in the military into its approach to management on several levels. According to the news provider, Rhumbix is one of many enterprises to be involved in the upswing of veteran-owned businesses, as half of World War II service members ran their own companies upon returning home compared to a fraction of that in 2014. 

Interestingly the source pointed out that Rhumbix has used a tool leveraged during the Arab Spring by the military to monitor service member locations to enhance construction project management – especially in the field. Because construction projects need to be so carefully tracked at every stage, having a tool that can strengthen the transparency of reports related to productivity and workforce hours can be invaluable for a firm operating in the sector. 

Rhumbix's co-founder Zachary Scheel, a retired U.S. Navy civil engineer and junior officer, explained that his experiences in the military have prepared him for the challenges of the private sector. 

"Veterans are comfortable operating in high-pressure environments that are changing rapidly, where they're constantly forced to make decisions with incomplete information," Scheel told The New York Times. 

At the end of the day, veterans will often need access to other types of support and professional development opportunities to make the transition back into civilian life. Luckily, there are many to choose from. 

Professional assistance
Veterans can turn to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a range of their needs when trying to begin their careers as entrepreneurs, including specialized lending programs and educational materials. When looking to get support for re-acclimation purposes in the context of applying for jobs and finding the right career path, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be invaluable to service members. 

Myriad local advocacy groups and special programs are available in most states and cities across the nation as well. Veterans should not hesitate to take advantage of these resources, as such support can pay dividends when launching a new company. 

Congress has been highly active in the pursuit of excellence when it comes to better serving and supporting the veteran community throughout the past several years. Whether it is enacting widespread reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs or launching new programs to help veterans with a range of unique needs, committees and subsets within the House of Representatives and the Senate are striving to regain the trust of service members, both active and retired. 

One of the centerpieces of this movement has been the Veterans First Act, which is currently making its way through the Senate and appears to be close to finalization and approval. This legislation is a big deal for the veteran community and the country at large, as it contains so many different statutes related to the services government agencies and others offer to service members, as well as how those departments operate and how they keep activities transparent. 

Speeding up?
Leo Shane III, writing for Military Times, recently reported that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has been highly focused on the Veterans First Act, and is trying to push the legislation to a vote before the recess beginning in July. Unfortunately, he pointed out that the VFA had hit some roadblocks and fell far behind schedule with respect to a vote, but this latest push seems to have some legs thanks to a questionable decision from the VA.

According to the author, the VA stated that it would not be following the "fast-track firing rules" implemented two years ago, and that this announcement actually added a level of urgency that was seen both within and outside of the Veterans Affairs Committee. Champions of the legislation believe it will be one of the more progressive bills to pass in the context of veterans. 

"Three and a half weeks ago every member of our committee voted unanimously for the Veterans First bill," Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, who is the chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, explained, according to Shane. "Why? Because it first of all hits the heart and strikes the point we all know needs to be struck. Our veterans, who have served us, fought for us, risked their lives for us, deserve the respect, the treatment and benefits they were promised when they signed up for duty."

The author added that debates have been contentious, and that only 12 working days remain before the recess to get the vote completed and legislation into action. 

Still a sign of progress
Many issues involved in the VA and other arms of the government that serve the military community have arisen in the past decades that have hindered the public's opinions toward these agencies, especially the sentiments of veterans. However, so long as this legislation gets passed in the near future, it will be a major win for the service member community, and the bill is believed to cover myriad areas that had led to outrage and dissatisfaction throughout the past several years. 

Treating post-traumatic stress disorder and other afflictions that embattle veterans has become a far more innovative practice in the past few years, with groups and medical professionals branching out from traditional approaches. One of the most popular and widely respected trends in this area has been the increasing use of dogs, horses and other therapy animals to assist veterans in healing and regaining their footing upon returning from overseas. 

In some situations, advocacy groups are even working to help animals and veterans in one fell swoop. One such entity has been working to match former service members with rescue horses.

Co-healing
The Seattle Times recently reported that the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has launched an equine therapy initiative that has already begun to positively impact veterans who get involved. According to the news provider, Army veteran Major Dan Thomas has been healing with the help of the program after being severely injured during his duty in Afghanistan. He plans to expand equine therapy to his home state of Alabama. 

Because there are so many rescue horses in need of care and attention, the group from the medical center has worked with sanctuaries and state officials to coordinate sessions that allow veterans to contribute. Interestingly, the source pointed out that they have been particularly active with Friesian horses, which are known to be extremely smart and timid. Thomas worked with these horses in his therapy sessions. 

"I've been through lots and lots of things. After being blown up, it's quite a traumatic experience for you," Thomas told The Seattle Times. "The horses are what works for me. So I know it's out there and works for other people because I've seen it."

This veteran's sentiments regarding the identification of specific types of therapy that work for him is largely the foundation for treatment centers and groups trying out so many different approaches to helping the service member community. Initiatives that match therapy dogs with veterans have also been immensely effective, though one new story has indicated that the funding needed to make these programs work is lagging behind demand. 

Time to speed up
The Salem News recently reported that the current status of legislation on Capitol Hill has left a lot to be desired with respect to the PAWS Act, which would help veterans living with PTSD adopt service dogs. The news provider affirmed that service dogs are currently offered to veterans with physical ailments, but not mental ones, and that it currently appears as though the extension of the legislation to reach PTSD sufferers will not occur until 2018. This has upset certain members of Congress. 

"Veterans cannot wait until 2018. The problem of veteran suicides is too urgent," Representative Ron DeSantis, who is acting chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, explained, according to the source. 

Hopefully this program and others that have proved effective will go into action a bit quicker in the coming years. 

The Wounded Warrior Project is among the most prolific advocacy and assistance groups for veterans and service members in the United States. Since its inception in 2003, WWP has focused its efforts on assisting service members who were injured – physically or mentally – during time spent serving in the military following September 11, 2001, as well as the families of those veterans. However, there have been some problems of late for the nonprofit organization.

Several executives were fired in recent months following scandals, leaving the WWP in a precarious position and inherently threatening the veterans who the organization serves. Luckily, a new captain will be stepping up to lead the WWP, and many believe is the best-qualified candidate for the job given his experiences and the unique situation the organization finds itself in today.

Reforming the organization
Military.com recently reported that Major General Michael Linnington, the man who was directing the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency for about one year, will be leaving that post to act as WWP's chief executive officer. According to the news provider, the nonprofit group has been under relatively consistent fire for scandals, and Linnington is uniquely qualified to handle this type of situation given his experience at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 

The source pointed out that the latter entity was under fire for its accounting practices, with families of missing veterans not approving the techniques being used to find them. He has, by all accounts, left the agency in a far better position than when he came in, which is something that everyone involved is hoping will repeat at the WWP. 

"I'm very proud of the things we've done at the DPAA over the past year but I was approached by a group that needed some leadership in caring for our wounded warriors," Linnington told Military.com "I'm a 35-year soldier. I brought soldiers to combat and welcomed many of them home that were grievously wounded … If we continue to focus on our families and providing families the fullest possible accounting of their loved ones, based on those values, I think we'll be fine."

The WWP is a very important entity in the veteran community, and Linnington will hopefully bring its performance to levels not yet reached in the organization's history. 

Assisting in rehabilitation, transition
The WWP has long committed to providing support and services to the veterans who need them most, and offers a range of options to fit the unique goals and requirements of each individual service member. The group provides a Combat Stress Recovery Program, peer support, a massive network, long-term support, physical health and wellness options, a Transition Training Academy,Warriors to Work and many other offerings to veterans. 

Veterans who are interested in taking advantage of the WWP should consider checking out the nonprofit organization's website, where they can find more details on the unique types of support available and how to begin. 

Immense progress has been made in veteran services and support, especially when it comes to helping retired service members recover from the physical, emotional and mental toll of combat, in the past decade. One of the reasons why so much improvement and diversification have occurred is the more creative approaches to treatment that have arisen in that time, with more emphasis being placed on customization of regimens and strategies for each veteran. 

One of the umbrella trends in this movement revolves around athletics, with smaller groups working to incorporate engaging physical activities to get veterans on the right track toward recovery. Two such instances of this have been seen in Missouri and Illinois of late. 

Recreational recoveries
The Southern recently reported that the Marion Veterans Affairs Medical Center has developed and launched therapy plans that allow veterans to choose from various recreational activities to improve their overall experiences with treatment. Again, this is not necessarily a one-of-a-kind project, but is certainly one that has begun to grow nicely in St. Louis, Missouri, where that VA medical center is located. 

According to the news provider, the strategy is specifically targeted at veterans who suffered spinal cord injuries during the time they served the military, as this group needs approaches to treatment that will get them moving. The source listed some of the activities, including scuba diving, wheelchair lacrosse and bocce ball, with adaptive sports equipment that can be used by injured veterans made available by certain groups. 

Later, The Southern went on to cite the comments of Paralyzed Veterans of America National Vice President Hack Albertson regarding the importance of being mobile:

"Getting out here is a chance to give them their dignity back," Albertson told the news provider. "If you are in your house and don't get out, you are going to become more unhealthy…and you are depressed. That is what these does – it keeps bad things from happening."

Another activity being offered through this program is fishing, which is the sport that one group in Illinois has narrowed in on in efforts to help veterans recover. 

Angling the treatment
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently reported that two Army veterans, Nicholas Harding and Daniel Kennedy, in Decatur, Illinois, are a part of an organization called #22KILL that seeks to assist veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the source, Harding and Kennedy are skilled anglers – a style of fishing – and work to identify veterans who are struggling with emotional and mental hardships, then helping them to heal through fishing.  

"Volunteer boaters are paired with a veteran, and they take them out to fish for either catfish, bass or crappie," Harding told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's an entire weekend, and the organizers raise all kinds of money to pay for it, and we don't pay a dime for room, board, food or nothing. They really take care of us vets."

The news provider pointed out that this group gave itself this name in recognition of the VA report on veteran suicide and depression rates released several years ago.

These days, millions of Americans use Wi-Fi in their homes, making it easy to use a device to get online from just about anywhere on their property. However, many may not know the potential risks that having an unsecured network can present to them and their families. As such, brushing up on a few of the most basic steps to ensure a network – and by extension, all the devices that connect to it – is as safe as possible may be a critical step for anyone.

The first and most obvious thing a person should do with his or her home Wi-Fi network is to protect it with a password. And in much the same way security experts advise that people should go out of their way to create long, complicated passwords for email accounts, mobile banking, and the like, the same principle applies to creating login details for a network. Passwords here should be long – at least 10 characters – and include a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols.

Moreover, they should be as random as possible to ensure that even if someone is trying to hack in by guessing the password (an admittedly rare occurrence for most people) they're going to find it next to impossible to do so. That means no family birth dates, pet names, or other common personal touchstones, should be included in the password.

Other steps to take
Along similar lines, those who set up their personal home networks will also want to be careful to change factory-default settings, according to a report from CNET. Most wireless routers are going to come with standard information – such as IP address, in addition to passwords and network names – that should be changed as soon as possible. That's because the more a potential hacker knows about the network (and a lot of it can be guessed based upon details like who made the router or what model it is), the more likely they are to be able to gain access to it. That, in turn, makes it very important to change everything about how the router communicates with the wider world and the devices using it, even if it's just by a little bit.

One last thing
In addition, many companies that make routers routinely update the firmware those devices use, and consumers should regularly check for updates on that front, the report said. Often, routers ship to stores with the most up-to-date firmware available, but by the time a person buys it, that might not be the latest version. Likewise, those who have had their routers for a while may not realize that the firmware for their networks may be years old at that point. Consequently, regularly checking to get the latest version can add yet another layer of security for a home network.

The more people do to check for the latest and best ways to keep all their devices secure from hacking, viruses, malware, and other online threats, the better off they're going to be when it comes to protecting critical data on an ongoing basis.

The public and private sectors – along with myriad advocacy groups – have scaled up efforts to support veterans who are looking to start a business throughout the past several years. Thanks to their inherent leadership skills and plenty of other strengths acquired in the military, veterans have been known to make exceptional managers, executives and entrepreneurs. With the economy running strong, now is a great time for veterans to step into business ownership. 

Resources span from specialized loan programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other groups – including private banks – to support and guidance from governmental agencies and advocacy organizations. As one of the more important aspects of succeeding in the enterprise is a sound understanding of business, degree programs are also expanding for the veteran entrepreneur community. 

Unique education
Southern California Public Radio recently reported that the University of Southern California has crafted a business degree program in such a way that specifically seeks to educate veterans, titled the Master of Business for Veterans. According to the news provider, roughly 140 service members have completed the program in the four years since its inception, and many have been especially happy with the lessons related to re-acclimation. 

"We could be sitting around the table in a project group in the civilian world where there's nobody in charge – everybody is of equal status," Army veteran James Bogle told the source. "And you now have to figure out how to get the job done when there's nobody directing. Among the most important factors of your success in the civilian world are whether or not the people you work with like you. And that's simply not a factor in the military."

Interestingly, SCPR noted that about 20 percent of the veterans who have completed the degree went on to launch businesses of their own, showing just how effective the program is in leading service members toward entrepreneurship.

More opportunities
Military Times reported that one nonprofit, Bunker Labs, is touring the nation in efforts to give veterans an opportunity to pitch their small business ideas between this summer and next spring. The tour will be stopping in Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, the District of Columbia, Washington state and California over the next 10 months, while investors will be present to hear the entrepreneurial ideas of veterans in attendance. 

The news provider noted that the chief executive officer of Bunker Labs, Navy veteran Todd Connor, is confident that this tour will have a positive impact on veterans who are looking to launch a business. 

"Entrepreneurship is not a single-player sport," Connor told Military Times. "You need people, you need community, you need friends, you need customers, you need employees. Organizations like Bunker Labs pull together community and give them a place to show up both online and in person."

Veterans should take these opportunities to launch their business careers whenever they get the chance. 

Gun violence has become one of the greatest challenges facing the United States, acting as a stark, polarizing topic of contention and true threat to innocent civilians in every state and community. With the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States taking place earlier this month, more groups are beginning to speak out against the nation's current set of laws and regulations that govern the sale of weapons, most notably assault rifles like the one used in Orlando. 

The Los Angeles Times reported that the attacks in Newtown, Connecticut, and Blacksburg, Virginia, marked the third and second largest mass shootings in history, respectively, taking place within the past 10 years alone. With more public outcry for reforms and a variety of organizations mobilizing to force the issue on Capitol Hill, service members – both active and retired – are also scaling up their efforts to catalyze change in legislation. 

Military steps up
The Christian Science Monitor recently reported that the Veterans Coalition for Common Sense, which was launched just two days before the mass shooting in Orlando, is working to advocate for reforms in the federal government. According to the news provider, the group was formed by some of the more decorated veterans living today, including former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, Admiral Eric Olson, who achieved the first four-star rank for a Navy SEAL, and the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency General David Petraeus. 

The group seeks to encourage common-sense legislation regarding gun sales and relevant background checks in hopes of stifling the current cycle of regular killings, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 33,000 civilians in 2015 alone, the source affirmed. The biggest qualm from the group appears to be against the National Rifle Association.

"Policymakers should know that they're not alone when they stand up to the NRA – they'll have all of us behind them," U.S. Navy veteran and coalition advisory committee member Shawn VanDiver told the Christian Science Monitor. "My name might not carry much weight, but Gen. Petraeus, Gen. McChrystal, they do."

The news provider also cited research from the Global Strategy Group that found 91 percent of veterans support mandatory background checks and nearly 60 percent would approve of a complete ban on assault weapons. 

Veterans are invaluable leaders
This is far from the first time veterans have stepped up to protect civilians far from the battlefield, right here at home. Groups formed by and comprising active and retired service members have been fighting for a range of causes throughout the past several decades. One, Veterans For Peace, took part in a demonstration to support two other organizations and protest New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's June 5 executive order that has been widely received as an attack on First Amendment rights. 

With continued support from the military, advocacy groups will remain active in fighting for the rights of American civilians. 

The National Guard is one of the more vital resources available to states and municipalities when going through some form of disaster, including riots, earthquakes and more. As a result, the National Guard has been more heavily engaged in training exercises that simulate some of the worst case scenarios imaginable, preparing the service members to respond with comfort and experience should devastating events come to pass. 

In Washington State, the National Guard went through some more significant training routines this month, while other states have been conducting their own exercises that target more realistic disasters. 

Cascadia Rising drills
Q13, a Washington-based Fox affiliate, recently reported that the Washington National Guard went through exercises called the "Cascadia Rising drills," which were meant to simulate what would happen should a major fault line slip in the coming years. According to the news provider, the fault runs from Canada to Northern California, and scientists at the Federal Emergency Management Agency have predicted that a slip would translate to a doomsday-like scenario. 

"When the Cascadia Subduction Zone does rupture, it will result in a catastrophe like nothing we have ever seen," Washington National Guard Head Major Gen. Bret Daugherty told Q13. "It's expected to be the worst natural disaster ever in the United States."

With Washington smack dab in the middle of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, it is not surprising that that state has taken its preparedness exercises and training regimens more seriously. The source pointed out that the service members dropped supplies, paratroopers parachuted down, and medical centers were created during the exercises. Although there is no sign to indicate that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is going to become active, preparing for the worst is one of the key responsibilities of National Guard service members. 

To give an idea of the scale this disaster would reach, Q13 cited a report from FEMA that estimated 8,400 deaths, 12,000 injuries, 90,000 hospital patients in need of evacuation and half a million buildings damaged. One can only hope that this rupture never comes to pass but, should it, the National Guard in Washington will be ready to respond. 

North Carolina playing point guard
Carolina Coast Online reported that the National Guard in North Carolina is conducting tests at several port facilities in the state this week to specifically test communication, collaboration and coordination between itself and other entities. Because the National Guard will utilize resources from a range of agencies, including those on the local and federal levels, communication is key in responding to major developments and disasters. 

According to the source, the North Carolina Emergency Management eastern brand, New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, State Crime Lab, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Emergency Management and other departments will be joining the state's National Guard exercises in Morehead City and Wilmington for about eight days. Preparedness is key in the fight to quickly respond to disasters, and the National Guard is ready.