Ian Michael returned from his service in the Marine Corps in 2003. Life after service was difficult at first. The 34-year-old veteran experienced post-traumatic stress disorder periodically ever since the end of his service, but Michael recently discovered a path to recovery. In January, when the veteran's PTSD was at its worst, Michael found an online article about the positive psychological effects of a hug. He made the decision to travel across the country with nothing but his dog and a "Free Hugs" sign.

Along his journey, he ran into a former service member friend and together the two started the Human Hug Project. Michael, his friend Gino Greganti and Greganti's wife visit different VA centers across the country and offer hugs to the veterans. The Human Hug Project has visited 15 VA centers so far, but their goal is to travel to at least 150 more. Michael told People magazine that hugs eliminate the feeling of isolation veterans often experience when they return from combat. He hopes the Human Hug Project will help others avoid the period of extended loneliness he went through after service. 

Combat veterans returning home from active duty will have a slightly easier transition back to civilian life thanks to a new bill signed into law by Illinois' governor.

This month, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed state legislation that will waive license plate fees for combat vets in Illinois who are returning from active duty, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The waiver will be applicable for up to 12 months after the veteran's return from service.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Neil Anderson, a Republican from Rock Island.

According to the Post-Dispatch, returning combat soldiers will have to prove that they received hostile fire or imminent danger pay in the last 12 months by providing documentation to the Secretary of State. 

The Cyber Drive Illinois website listed that random-number U.S. Army veteran license plates typically have a $195 fee for newly acquired vehicles.

The law is set to go into effect in January 2017. 

Two days prior to France's Bastille Day, three U.S. veterans received the country's highest honors. On Sunday, July 12, the French Consulate of Boston presented Charles Abdinoor, Mathias Leupold and Edward Soboll, all three of whom fought in World War II and are from the New England area, with the Legion of Honor. FrenchCulture.org stated that this award was introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte and is given to non-French citizens for outstanding service to the country. France considers the "Légion d'Honneur" very prestigious, and it is usually only given to veterans of WWII. However, other American honorees include Barbara Streisand and Elie Wiesel. 

Abdinoor, Leupold and Soboll were part of the campaigns that helped liberate France during the war, and the Consulate said that after 70 years it was time to show gratitude for their service and for their assistance in the liberation of France. In the Wharf Room of the Boston Harbor Hotel where the ceremony took place, the veterans shook hands, took photos and shared stories of their war experiences  and their life after service with the crowd. The Consul General of France in Boston, Fabien Fieschi, said that it was important for France and the U.S. to remember and honor our shared values of independence, freedom and democracy.

Many combat veterans struggle with their return to civilian life after service. In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs stated that around 11 to 20 percent of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder. However, former U.S. Marine Tank Commander Sean Gobin may have found a solution. Gobin's own combat experience was difficult, and upon his departure from the military in 2012, he found it hard to process everything he had gone through. In hopes of clearing his head, Gobin and another military friend decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and raise money for disabled veterans along the way.

The pair hiked the 2,168-mile trail for eight hours a day, and Gobin said the challenging experience gave him time to work through his military experience. He decided to share this healing process with other combat veterans when he founded Warrior Hike. The nonprofit supplies returned military personnel with the supplies and equipment needed for hikes ranging from two to six months all across the country. Gobin told CNN that "hiking is like a reset button. It helps you become a civilian again." Thus far, Gobin and his nonprofit have helped over 70 veterans, and it is their hope that these numbers continue to grow.

Earlier this month, Angers, France, hosted the first-ever Conseil International du Sport Militaire Women's Basketball Tournament. The U.S. team was comprised of players selected from the 2014 Armed Forces Women's Basketball Championship. Coached by Army Lt. Col. William Johnson and Tonya Strobridge of the Navy, the U.S. team left with a 3-1 record and a bronze medal.

The team's only loss came in the semifinals of the tournament. The game remained close throughout regulation play, but China advanced to the championship with a 79-74 victory over the U.S. The women came back strong, however, and played an impressive game against the host team.

The center for the team, 6-foot-4 Army Spc. Danielle Salley, led the U.S. to a 74-41 victory over France with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tiffanie Guthrie also put up impressive numbers with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The team is currently preparing for the CISM World Military Games, which will take place in South Korea from Oct. 2-11 this year. The U.S. is set to host the 2016 CISM Women's Basketball Tournament at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.

On June 30, 2013, America saw its biggest loss of first responder lives since the 9/11 attacks. The wildfires that had been scorching across the Yarnell Hill area in Arizona took a vicious turn and claimed the lives of 19 members of the Prescott Fire Department's Granite Mountain Hotshots.

Two years later, the sacrifice of those elite first responders has been honored in the Gulf Coast town of Naples, Florida. Eagle Scout Max Goin and Troop 2001 unveiled a memorial outside North Collier Fire and Rescue Station 45, which also serves as the troop's headquarters. Encased in the red brick square are 19 shovels to symbolize the lives of each firefighter lost in Arizona. The inscription on each shovel reads, "In memory of Granite Mountain Hotshots," and has the date of the tragedy.

Goin and Troop 2001 were at a scout camp in New Mexico the day the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed. Part of their camp was closed because of brush fires, and the devastation of the wildfires stuck with them. In addition to honoring the memory of the fallen Arizona firefighters, they want their project to remind people to appreciate the service of first responders. Goin wants people to recognize the bravery, commitment and sacrifice of these individuals everywhere.

One of the best ways for military families to bond is on a family vacation. Whether it be while on leave or during life after service, spending quality time together may be exactly what you and your family need to relax and catch up with one another. The greatest aspect of vacationing as a military servicemember or veteran is the ability to take advantage of discounts provided by some major airlines and popular travel destinations. 

There are plenty of frequented kid-friendly hotspots that offer military discounts as well. With so many options to choose from, where should you and your loved ones escape to? Here are a few ideas for families looking to save money on a trip and enjoy some much-needed time with their relatives.

1. Kid-friendly destinations
Walt Disney World currently offers military servicemembers a generous discount on four-day passes to the park. In fact, the pass is not limited to one of the parks located throughout Disney World, but allows families admittance to all four of the parks. Spouses of servicemembers are also able to participate while they are deployed. This is the ideal trip for military parents with children.

"Walt Disney World Resort is saluting U.S. military personnel by offering Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets," said officials from the Walt Disney World blog. "The Park Hopper Option is included, so you can come and go as you please through all 4 theme parks each day of your ticket!"

Sea World and Six Flags America are two additional destinations that offer military members discounts or even a free pass. Although these trips primarily cater to younger members of the family, there are also opportunities to spend quality time together as a couple. For example, the Walt Disney Resort offers parents babysitting options and kids' nights out while you and your spouse enjoy the spa or a massage. 

2. The zoo
The zoo is an attraction that usually appeals to people of all ages. According to Care.com, the San Diego Zoo gives military members a one-day pass, free of charge. There are even discount packages available for the entire family. The passes and discounts usually include a tour of the land, where 3,700 rare and endangered animals roam.

The best part about being in Southern California is that after spending a day or two at the zoo, families can also check out the local beaches to relax under the famous SoCal sun. 

3. A beachside paradise
Popular beachside resorts like Beaches in Jamaica offer a relaxing getaway for military families. If the kids are in tow, parents will have plenty of time to catch up, whether it be while lounging at the beach or being pampered at the hotel spa. Introduce your kids to a fun bonding experience by riding jet skis or engaging in other exciting beachside activities.

4. Camping
Camping is usually a viable option for military families that lack the funding to take off to a tropical destination or families who simply love nature. With the right camping gear, families can turn sleeping in the wilderness into a bonding experience. 

"One of the bonuses of camping, though, is the price tag," Amy Bushatz told Spouse Buss on Military.com. "At about $20 a day, a hotel will never beat the price of a campsite. If our initial gear investment is our estimated $400 – about the cost of four nights at an economic hotel – it will only take a handful of uses on trips where we camp instead of lodge for us to break even."

The serenity of nature could also help veterans and active duty servicemembers who are experiencing conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder relax.

In an emergency situation, communication is critical. In the occurrence of a national emergency, communication between components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is especially important. 

On July 7, President Obama signed the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. According to the Committee on Homeland Security, the act requires the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that interoperable communications are maintained within components of the department. 

According to Homeland Security Today magazine, Homeland Security must also write and submit a plan to Congress that details how the group will achieve department-wide interoperable communications.

The act was introduced by Democratic Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey on March 24, 2014, as an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Payne is a ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications.

"This is a great victory for New Jersey and for our entire nation," Payne said in a statement. "The law sets up the Department of Homeland Security to finally achieve department-wide interoperable communications, a necessity for ensuring the safety of DHS personnel and the communities they serve. I thank President Obama for swiftly signing the DHS Interoperable Communications Act into law."

According to Payne's official website, the bill was proposed in response to Homeland Security's lack of a robust and comprehensive strategy for communication. A 2015 follow-up to a 2012 audit found that plans for corrective actions had not been finalized and there was no timetable for finalization to occur, leaving the department unprepared for emergencies.  

Job interviews can be challenging for anyone. But that difficulty is often multiplied when an individual has post-traumatic stress disorder or a mental illness. It is a hurdle that many veterans face in life after service when they attempt to start a new career outside of the military. 

While it may seem daunting, veterans who live with these conditions are not without hope. Researchers at Northwestern University found that study participants with PTSD or severe mental illnesses who trained with a virtual program were nine times as likely to get job offers in the next six months compared to those who did not use the system, the university reported. 

Training for success
According to the Chicago Tribune, the study looked at the virtual program "Job Interview Training with Molly Porter," a computer program that features an actress who reads questions and responses common in interviews.

The program, which was released for general use last summer, was created by SIMmersion, a Baltimore-based startup. According to the program's website, "Molly" is equipped to ask hundreds of common interview questions.

Northwestern University reported that participants were repeatedly asked questions by the virtual character, who acts as a human resources employee. Their responses were recorded with voice recognition software and a job coach in the program gave immediate feedback on the screen regarding their answers. As the interviews progressed, the questions became increasingly harder. 

Confidence through experience
Of the vets with PTSD and individuals with severe mental illnesses who participated in the study, the ones who did more training sessions tended to have a greater likelihood of getting a job offer and within a shorter period of time, the university reported. 

"Veterans with PTSD and people with mental illness such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia are prone to anxiety, which can escalate during stressful social encounters such as the job interview," Matthew Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in an article by the university. "The training was a big confidence builder for them."

Individuals can purchase full access to the training program online for $89.95, but The Huffington Post said that it may also be found at some job resource centers. 

Every year many servicemembers return home from deployment bearing the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder. Fierce Government reported that in 2013 alone, more than half a million veterans with primary or secondary PTSD were treated at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' clinics and medical centers. 

Despite the large number of veterans living with PTSD, knowledge and treatments related to the condition are limited. But a consortium led by the VA's National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder wants to change that through a collection of neurological tissues. 

A closer look at PTSD
On July 2, the VA announced the creation of the first-ever nationwide brain tissue biorepository. The "brain bank," as it is more commonly referred to, will help research that looks at PTSD in veterans, the VA reported.

According to a press release issued by the VA, the bank will follow participants during their lifetime and then study the brain and other tissues donated after death. The information gathered both before and after death will help researchers to learn more about the causes and progression of PTSD and hopefully identify possible treatments. 

"Although we have learned a great deal about abnormalities in brain structure and function from brain imaging research, there is no substitute for looking at the neurons themselves," national brain bank founder Dr. Matthew Friedman said in a statement. "Understanding the cellular and circuit contributions to abnormal brain activity in PTSD is critical in the search for potential biomarkers of susceptibility, illness and treatment response and for developing new treatments targeting the conditions at the cellular level."

A call for participants
The VA's Office of Research and Development reported that the study is open to any veteran with PTSD living in the U.S. Participants will be required to fill out surveys by mail, on the phone or online, and complete a brief test of memory and concentration. Donated neurological tissues will be collected after death. 

According to the Office of Research and Development, veterans who wish to participate will need to sign consent documents, as will their next-of-kin who will have to confirm the decision to donate after death. Even after signing, former servicemembers can withdraw from the study at any time. 

Veterans without PTSD can also participate in the study. The VA reported that researchers need to be able to study unaffected tissue as well to determine the impact of PTSD on the brain.