Saint Louis University recently approved reduced tuition cost for firefighters, police officers and other first responders looking to continue their education. This lowered rate will take effect on Aug. 17, the start of the Fall 2015 term. The cost per credit hour will now be $400 for first responders who enroll in the university's School of Professional Studies. The university made the decision to offer the same lowered rate to veterans and active duty military personnel last school year and decided it was time to extend the program to first responders.
The university's president, Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., told PR Web, "At Saint Louis University, we recognize that first responders continuously go above and beyond in their day-to-day lives, and we are proud to recognize their service to our community as part of the Jesuit mission."
Both current and new students are allowed to apply for this program, giving them access to the many courses offered by SLU. More than 20 of those courses in the School of Professional Studies programs are online and designed with busy lifestyles in mind. This makes it perfect for first responders, who often have hectic schedules.
When people think of the Army, they don't usually think of their favorite food. However, the military is responsible for creating some of America's tastiest treats. Take a look at which foods are products of the U.S. military.
1. Supermarket bread
Out of necessity, the military created bread that lasts much longer than it used to. Regular bread goes stale and grows mold much faster than supermarket bread. This is because the bread you buy at the store is treated with starch-eating bacterial enzymes. These enzymes keep the bread soft and safe to eat longer.
2. Cheetos
During World War II, the military needed a way to reduce the volume and weight of its food shipments without losing the caloric intake of its soldiers. As a result, they created a full-fat dehydrated cheese product. When the war ended, the manufacturers responsible for the production of this food decided to add it to crunchy corn snacks, and the Cheeto was born.
3. TV dinners
While we mostly enjoy these convenient meals in front of the television or computer screen now, they were originally intended to feed bomber crews during World War II. These crews often had to take long overnight flights to get to their mission point, so the military found a way to freeze the basic parts of a meal such as meat, vegetables and starches in a tray for later heating.
4. Energy bars
For centuries, the military struggled with convenient, portable ways to keep its soldiers fed and alert. Luckily, in 1940, the Hershey corporation invented a melt-resistant chocolate bar for World War II soldiers. The Hershey invention was later freeze-dried and sent to space with the first astronauts, but it still had not reached its full potential. Not until Natick Soldier Systems Center took control in the mid-1960s did the modern energy bar take shape. While most energy bars today are dessert flavored, Natick's initial product was hamburger flavored.
5. The McRib
The military cannot really take credit for inventing the McRib, but the sandwich would not exist without military technology. In 1976, the Natick Soldier Systems Center innovated military rations once more. They needed a way to reduce the amount of money spent on meat, so they restructured cheaper cuts to look like tasty expensive ones. A few years later, fast food powerhouse McDonald's borrowed the process to create the seasonal meal we know today.
Maybe you didn't think of the military as an inventor of food before, but maybe now you do. Many of America's favorite foods are the direct result of military supply and demand.
A big part of returning to civilian life after service is deciding what the next steps are. For many, an important aspect of reintegrating is getting a higher education that will lead to a successful career. Choosing which school to attend should not add stress to your return home, so AFBA has compiled a list of the top eight colleges for veterans.
1. Texas A&M University
Located in College Station, Texas, this agriculture and mechanical college is one of the friendliest toward veterans. The university's website even has a special landing page dedicated to assisting veterans with the application and scholarship process. Of the almost 54,000 students that attend Texas A&M every year, 79 percent graduate.
2. University of South Florida
What better place to attend college than sunny Tampa, Florida? Just like Texas A&M, the University of South Florida offers an Office of Veterans Resources to assist returned servicemembers with their education. With a 63 percent graduation rate and over 180 undergraduate programs to choose from, veterans who attend the University of South Florida will not be disappointed.
3. Ohio State University
If you plan to become a Buckeye, you will be among the 1,800 other returned servicemembers who attend this university. Half of all Ohio State University students graduate, and with a 4-star rated academic support system, it is not hard to see why.
4. Rutgers University
This New Jersey-based university is rated among the top in the country for on-campus veterans services. Nearly 70 percent of Rutgers students graduate with a degree. This university has a reputation for accepting GI-Bill students and providing excellent academic guidance.
5. University of Oklahoma
Aside from its reputation for elite athletics, the University of Oklahoma is also known for having a welcoming attitude toward veterans. The university offers an on-campus Veterans Support Alliance and has a number of academic support centers. The University of Oklahoma also has one of the best student to faculty ratios (18:1) of any public university in the country.
6. Texas Tech University
The Red Raiders are notorious for being a veteran-friendly university. Their video, "Texas Tech: We got your 6," shows just how committed the campus is to creating a welcoming environment for former servicemembers to come and learn. Texas Tech is just behind the University of Oklahoma in student to faculty ratio (20:1), but the opportunities on this campus are numerous.
7. University of Missouri
Mizzou has a unique on-campus program that provides veterans with a hotline number they can call at any time and will be connected to another student-veteran. This creates a tight-knit group of former servicemembers committed to one another's academic success. This university also has a graduation rate of 70 percent.
8. San Diego State University
With an acceptance rate of 34 percent, San Diego State University is an achievable challenge for veterans looking to get a higher education. Over 1,000 veterans proudly attend this university and 66 percent of all the students who enroll graduate. SDSU offers small class sizes and plenty of veteran support.
Obtaining an education is an exciting part of life after service. Hopefully, the list above will help you in deciding on which college best suits your needs.
In the 2011 soccer match between the U.S. men's team, the American Outlaws, and Mexico, Mexican supporters outnumbered fans from the U.S. 20 to 1. The American Outlaws fan group hopes to change that this year by sending active duty military, veterans and their families to the game. The group intends to send about 2,500 veterans to the match, which is scheduled to take place Oct. 9 at the Rose Bowl. The match is a qualifier for the Confederations Cup, which will be held in Russia in 2017.
The American Outlaws fan group started a GoFundMe page with the original intent of raising $5,000. When they easily met that goal, they increased their request to $15,000 in an attempt to buy 10 rows of 25 seats for active servicemembers and veterans. The U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, helped them surpass that goal as well with a generous $1,000 donation. The group and its supporters now hope to purchase an entire section of the Rose Bowl for veterans to go and support the U.S. team.
The fan group's thought is that that by sending the active duty personnel and veterans, they can increase the number of American supporters in the stands to help cheer the team on to victory.
Every so often a story comes along that reminds us that police officers and first responders are good guys with service-oriented hearts. Brian McGraw, a 34-year-old Port Authority police officer, is one of those good guys. In the early hours of the morning of Aug. 4, Officer McGraw was going about his patrol in the World Trade Center Port Authority Transit Hub.
At 2:36 a.m., McGraw and his partners were called over to assist a woman, Marwa Abdrabo, who was on her way to the hospital with contractions. McGraw had previously been trained as an emergency medical technician in Jersey City, New Jersey, and knew Abdrabo would not reach the hospital in time for the delivery. McGraw told The New York Times that his partners counted on him to deliver the baby safely due to his medical training.
After several minutes, McGraw assisted Abdrabo in delivering a perfectly healthy 6-pound-14-ounce girl. Abdrabo and her newborn daughter were sent to the hospital shortly after the birth for standard assessments. McGraw said that it was fortunate that this unusual event occurred in the early morning as it would have been much more difficult to deliver the child in a crowded station. The officer stated it was a day he would never forget.
While veterans are done with their time on the battlefield, a group called H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps is training to combat a new enemy. The veterans from across the country who volunteered for this organization will spend three weeks learning how to identify child predators on the Internet. From there they will be taught computer forensics before they enter a year-long internship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once the veterans' training is complete, they will be able to take their education back to their home cities and perhaps pursue careers as police officers.
All of the veterans involved with H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps are wounded warriors. Many of them had their service cut short due to a battlefield injury but are eager to continue serving their country.
Army veteran Jashua Cora told WDBJ 7 News, "If you can save lives it's like a second way to continue your service."
The veterans program is sponsored by the National Association to Protect Children, an organization dedicated to ending crimes against children and protecting children from any type of abuse. The NAPC has trained over 51 veterans to combat online crimes against children and raised nearly $2 million for their efforts.
There is no doubt that firefighting is a tough job. At the end of the day, firefighters want to go home to a safe, comfortable and affordable home. Here are seven cities that are the best for firefighters in terms of median salary, cost of living and quality of life.
1. West Palm Beach, Florida
The median salary for firefighters in West Palm Beach is about $41,000. Not only that, but the cost of living index is 102. With plenty of beaches, restaurants, parks and gyms, this city is the perfect haven for firefighters.
2. Seattle, Washington
This music mecca is also a great place for firefighters to take up residence. The median salary for firefighters is $59,000, which is nearly $10,000 higher than the city's average median income. The only thing keeping Seattle from the No. 1 spot is the slightly higher cost of living.
3. Portland, Oregon
Quiet, safe and hip are all words one could use to describe this bridge port city. High annual rainfall means the city is usually at a relatively low risk for fire. Another bonus is that the median salary for Portland firefighters is $49,000, a good deal higher than the city's average.
4. Austin, Texas
The south Texas city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird" comes in fourth on our best cities for firefighters list. Austin is one of the few cities in the country to see steady job growth in almost every industry in the last decade. Firefighters who live here average $44,000 in annual salary, and the 51 index cost of living is one of the best on the list.
5. Denver, Colorado
Skiing, hiking and sports teams are just a few of the reasons people flock to this central Colorado city. Firefighters especially love this area because of the high income to low cost of living ratio. Compared to the quality of life, the cost of living in Denver is relatively low. The annual median salary for Denver firefighters is just under $50,000.
6. Kansas City, Missouri
For barbecue and blues-loving firefighters, Kansas City is the place to be. This region has remained financially stable for some time, and the cost of living is among the lowest in the country when compared to the quality of life index. Firefighters in this Midwestern metropolis earn a median annual salary of about $44,000.
7. Buffalo, New York
The cost of living is one of the best in the nation in the city where Buffalo wings were invented. Aside from an excellent food scene, Buffalo is home to a historic waterfront district and is in close proximity to beautiful Niagara Falls. Firefighters who live in Buffalo make about $46,000 per year. An added bonus is that the commute time in Buffalo is one of the shortest in the country.
Long hours and dangerous work are all part of being a firefighter, but just because the job is stressful does not mean life outside the station has to be, too. The cities above offer the best pay, lowest cost of living and best quality of life in the country for firefighters.
On average, 5.9 million viewers tune into "American Ninja Warrior" every week, according to Variety. Those viewers got to witness two Chicago firefighters dominate the competition. Brandon Mears and Dan Polizzi, both heavily muscled and well over 6 feet tall, represented the Chicago Fire Department well on the television game show. Participating in challenging events like wall climbing, bar gymnastics and jumping between beams using only their fingertips, Mears and Polizzi advanced to the semifinal rounds.
"I have a lot of people say, 'Oh, I can do that. No problem,'" Polizzi told the Daily Herald, "but then they come in here and try it and realize how hard it is."
Both men train at the Chicago Ninja Academy and are among the five men from that gym selected to participate in the regional competitions for the show. Only 600 of the 50,000 people who submit audition tapes are selected to participate. Out of all those competitors, Mears is one of the few who made it to the final round. Both men, who called themselves the "Tower of Power," stick to a strict diet of lean meats and protein shakes and exercise for two to four hours six days a week. They use their influence to inspire the local kids who come to their gym to live a healthier lifestyle.
On average, military families move once every three years. This can be stressful on the adults in a military family, but it can be even more difficult for military children. Kids need stability, and military life does not always allow for that. There are ways to reduce the stress and difficulties you put your kids through during your next transfer.
Communicate with them
Kids ask a lot of questions, but that is only because they want to understand the world around them. By communicating the possibility of a move as soon as you know there is a chance for one, you reduce the shock factor. You should also have an open dialogue regarding the move. Listening to your kids' questions and complaints about the move may be the last thing you want to do as you prepare, but try to be patient. The more you talk with them about it, the easier it will be on everyone involved.
Prepare them
Military transfer can happen relatively quickly, so you may not have much time to prepare your children for the move. If you have time, give them a taste of where they will be living. Show them pictures of the new base and the new city online and discuss things to do in the area. Try to give them enough time to say goodbye to their friends and make a few last-minute memories in their favorite hangouts. If you are moving to a foreign country, help them learn and practice the language as much as possible beforehand so they do not feel isolated upon arrival.
Support them
Remember that your kids are leaving behind the familiar, and they do not have a choice about it. If they seem angry or rebel against the move, respond with understanding. This can be difficult during a stressful move, but letting your children know that their feelings are valid can help them accept it easier. Military Youth on the Move is a helpful website that offers more advice and activities to help your children come to terms with relocation.
Put them first
You may have the urge to get rid of a lot of items before your move, but if possible, try to avoid getting rid of a bunch of your children's items. This can add to the sense of loss they are experiencing. Additionally, when you get to your new location, set up your kids' rooms before the other nonessential rooms in the house. This way they begin to feel at home in their new environment quicker. If they want to explore the new base, go with them and help them feel out their new setting. Even if you are still tired and stressed from the move, understand that your child has just experienced the same thing. Help them find ways to implement their old routines into their new life.
Moving is difficult for any family, but military families experience these stresses more often than most. Follow the advice above to help make these frequent moves easier on the children in your family.
For many veterans, chronic pain is something they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. The Star Tribune reported that over 60 percent of returned servicemembers list chronic pain as their most common ailment. An organization called Pain Free Patriots acts as a mobile relief center for veterans experiencing chronic pain from injuries sustained in combat. This group assembles in the parking lots of schools, churches and shopping malls with its over $250,000 in medical equipment. Veterans are invited to receive free treatments like spinal balancing and muscle and nerve therapy.
Currently, Pain Free Patriots is operating independently of the local VA office, but the VA seems to be in total support of the charity's work.
Local VA spokesman Ralph Heussner told The Star Tribune, "If there is a grant available to our patients to access free, quality services outside the VA, we would welcome it with open arms."
Doug Huseby, a 72-year-old businessman, started Pain Free Patriots to help veterans get assistance without having to wait on the government. Thus far, Huseby's charity has serviced 450 veterans and looks to continue growing. The History Channel has even contacted Huseby about a program that would follow the progress of the veterans' treatments.