Homegrown for Good, a startup company owned by brothers Tommy and Tim Gibb, is trying to teach veterans how to manufacture products and adapt their military-learned leadership skills to civilian managerial positions. And it is doing all this by making flip-flops. 

Forbes magazine reported that the Gibb brothers, who were raised by a father previously employed by shoe companies Nine West and Marc Fisher, are no strangers to the footwear industry. After spending time working in the field themselves, both became disillusioned with rising production costs and a shift toward outsourcing labor to China. In order to stay competitive while remaining domestic, the brothers decided to create flip-flops. A popular product that can also be manufactured inexpensively, it seemed like the perfect solution to their issues. 

After pooling their savings, establishing investors and taking out loans for the most cutting-edge technology on the market, the Gibbs opened their factory, which Forbes described as being more like an experimental laboratory, in New Rochelle, New York. As they were getting things off the ground, Tommy learned about Heroes in Transition, an organization that helps raise funds for veterans of recent wars. The organization works with those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to help them get necessary home modifications for their disabilities, find local therapy for mental health issues, get paired with service dogs or simply help them support their families. 

Inspired by the group's mission, the brothers decided to start a veteran hiring initiative. Not only are they looking to employ soldiers in their life after service, but they are also looking to implement specific job training programs that would give these servicemembers managerial experience. Forbes explained that the Gibbs will have five vets working at Homegrown for Good by next month. 

When college student and photographer Devin Mitchell started to create a portfolio for graduate school applications, he was immediately drawn to snapping shots of military personnel. These are not traditional battlefield images or formal armed services portraits, however. Mitchell's pieces aim to capture veterans as they see themselves from both a personal and professional perspective in their life after service.  

The Huffington Post reported that the unique pictures feature two images, both shot by Mitchell and then pieced together. One picture features the veteran dressed in civilian clothing, looking in a mirror in his or her home. The picture looking back at him or her from the mirror is the soldier dressed in military garb. Mitchell's portraits are not only stunning because of their unique composition, but because he chose a wide variety of subjects to truly illustrate how diverse the veteran population is. 

The former servicemembers featured in Mitchell's images are supportive of the project, saying that it really gives them the opportunity to display their lives behind their uniform. 

"It's really giving back to us veterans in allowing us a chance to actually speak out and show who we are," Taralyn Goldman, one of the soldiers photographed by Mitchell, told ABC 7 News.

Many soldiers have difficulty returning to civilian life after spending time in the service, finding it hard to strike a balance between their former military life and new personal life. Additionally, a number of soldiers exit the service facing new obstacles, like mental and physical disabilities. Mitchell's photos shed light on all aspects of the veteran experience, featuring people dressed in traditional religious clothing, sporting prosthetic limbs and even showing off a mohawk hairdo. 

After receiving positive feedback from fans of his work and the veteran community, Mitchell has started raising money to compile his pieces into a book. 

Despite a growing number of measles cases being reported throughout the U.S., the armed forces has managed to only have three cases of the illness since 2008. According to Military Times, strict immunization rules implemented by the Defense Department are responsible for maintaining this health standard. 

Current guidelines indicate that both recruits and active-duty soldiers must be vaccinated with any immunizations recommended by the Human Services Department's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Servicemembers must either provide proof of immunization or undergo blood tests before arriving at basic training. Military Times explained that while there are medical exemptions, soldiers must have their reason reviewed by a verified physician in order to qualify for this exception. 

If soldiers would like to argue religious exemption from immunizations, they need to present their case in front of a board comprised of chaplains, medical doctors and armed forces commanders. While every branch has slight discrepancies in their policies, it is typically a difficult process for servicemembers to gain – and keep – exemption. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained that the current outbreak of measles in the U.S. has spread largely due to a growing population of unvaccinated people. The outbreak started at Disneyland in California, and there have been cases reported in Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska. 

A recent survey released by the Orange County Community Foundation revealed some of the financial, housing and health issues encountered by soldiers who call this California region home in their life after service. 

Work and education 
According to the report, servicemembers in this area encounter numerous obstacles as they transition back to civilian life. This is especially true for post-9/11 veterans – 61 percent of this demographic stated that they had difficulty making the switch, as opposed to only 30 percent of pre-9/11 soldiers. Much of this has to do with uncertainty – about 61 percent of these younger vets stated that one of the most challenging components of the transition was figuring out what they wanted to do with their lives. Finding work was a concern for both younger and older veterans. Almost 74 percent of post-9/11 veterans said they did not have a job upon leaving the service, while this statement was true for almost 70 percent of pre-9/11 soldiers. 

The Orange County Register explained that although job hunting was an obstacle faced by nearly all the veterans surveyed, many of them did not anticipate it to be such a large problem. While these vets acquired a number of transferable skills during their time in the military, like leadership, teamwork and organization, a significant portion of them lack the education to achieve full-time or high-paying jobs. Additionally, many of them felt that only being able to apply for jobs online was hurting their chances of securing work.

Health 
Medical care for both physical and mental disabilities has recently come to the forefront of veterans issues as the government looks to improve the quality of care offered through Veterans Affairs. While about 70 percent of veterans surveyed felt they were in good health, nearly 50 percent of them tested positive for some level of post-traumatic stress disorder. The majority of soldiers who took part in the report were without physical disabilities, but those who were cited their arms, legs and joints as bothering them the most. 

Housing 
Most Orange County veterans had somewhere to live upon leaving the service, explained the report, but significant portions of them did not. About 71 percent of pre-9/11 vets had secured housing for after their transition, while almost 65 percent of post-9/11 servicemembers had somewhere to live. The survey noted that many of the veterans who reported having housing were actually moving in to temporary situations with friends or family members as opposed to their own residences. 

Homeless rates for veterans in the area remained fairly low and were higher among pre-9/11 veterans. About 17.5 percent of this older demographic reported being homeless in the past 30 days, as opposed to 10.3 percent of pre-9/11 vets. 

"There were some gripping statistics from the study that echoes what we've seen in our work over the past couple of years," Shelly Hoss, president of the Orange County Community Foundation, told My News LA.

On Friday, Feb. 13, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced its plan to house the homeless veterans of Los Angeles.

Getting LA's veterans off the street 
According to Stars and Stripes, the plan proposed the use of a 387-acre plot of land in West LA, which will be used to create a facility to house former soldiers in their life after service. While this is being constructed, however, other plans are being put into action to get vets into temporary and permanent housing. Over the next 100 days, the VA will be focusing a number of efforts and resources into finding shelter for former servicemembers. The department will be hiring people to find available housing, increase funding and create temporary homes for veterans and their families. The ultimate goal is to provide at least 650 vets with permanent residences by April. 

Additionally, the VA will be reaching out to the Department of Labor and a number of other governmental organizations to create job training and employment opportunities for these individuals in an effort to keep them from returning to the street. Stars and Stripes noted that since permanent housing is the goal for all veterans, a strong focus will be placed on offering them therapy and other support beyond simply handing them keys. 

A history of homelessness 
The New York Times reported that there has been controversy surrounding the West LA land that will be used for veteran housing. While it was originally deeded to the government in 1888 to be used for housing disabled vets, it has not been used for this purpose. Most of the businesses currently leasing the land, which range from a car rental organization to laundry facilities, serve the nearby affluent neighborhood of Brentwood. After a group of veterans filed a lawsuit against the VA for misusing the land, the organization decided to draw up this plan for housing local vets. 

The source explained that the land in question is nearly half the size of Central Park and has the potential to house almost all of LA's homeless veteran population, which is roughly 4,000 people. The facilities will include special resources for female vets, servicemembers with severe disabilities and those who are aging. Overall, the project is expected to cost the VA around $50 million. 

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday night that all U.S. troops would soon be pulled from Ebola zones in Liberia. NBC News reported that about half of the forces originally sent to the region have already been taken out. 

According to The New York Times, only 100 of the 3,000 troops who have been sent to Liberia will still be there come April. The source explained that while the deadly disease remains an issue for the area, its spread has slowed down significantly and the situation is no longer officially considered a crisis. While just a few months ago medical workers were handling upwards of 1,000 cases each week, there have only been 12 cases reported in the past three weeks. Originally, public health experts anticipated a death toll of 1 million by the end of January, but domestic and international aid helped keep this rate down to 9,000 casualties. 

The 100 troops who will stay in Liberia will be in charge of running the special medical centers that were constructed by the U.S. They will continue to be available in the event that the disease starts to spread quickly once again. While officials say this scenario is highly unlikely, the troops will also be in charge of teaching Liberian health workers how to use medical testing equipment donated by the U.S. American forces are also helping local authorities track down people who came in contact with Ebola patients in an effort to completely stop the spread of the virus.

NBC noted that upon returning to the U.S., troops will still be subject to a 21-day quarantine period to ensure that they have not been infected with the disease. 

The U.S. recently sent $25 million worth of weapons and ammunition to Beirut, Lebanon, reported The Associated Press. The supplies are intended to assist Lebanon's armed forces as they continue their fight against Islamic extremists. 

According to the source, the delivery included over 70 M198 howitzers, various types of artillery and over 26 rounds of ammunition. The shipment helped make Lebanon the fifth-largest recipient of military assistance from the U.S. Over the past eight years, the nation has received over $ billion worth of American weapons, with $100 million of supplies donated last year alone. Lebanon is also receiving help from France and Saudi Arabia, explained the source. Shipments from these countries are expected to arrive in early April.

Islamic extremist groups have been targeting Lebanese troops over the past few months, largely due to the country's proximity to Syria. The jihadist organizations have been launching attacks over the Syrian border, even capturing Lebanese soldiers. The Associated Press noted that Lebanon's army is indicative of the country's diversity and includes soldiers that identify as Christian, Druze, Sunni and Shiite. While the force is often praised as a unifying force, it has been struggling to maintain domestic peace in the face of political unrest. 

In a statement issued by the Embassy of the United States, Ambassador David Hale explained that providing support to Lebanese troops is a crucial component in the ongoing international war against terror. 

"We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous. I am confident that, with the right equipment, Lebanon's soldiers can defend Lebanon successfully. And the equipment we are providing is exactly what the army leadership has asked for, and exactly what the army needs," he said. 

Vietnam's Coast Guard is receiving U.S. aid to help bolster its forces and supplies, reported Thanhnien News. 

According to the source, the American government has already given five patrol vessels to Vietnam. The initiative to assist the nation, a former enemy of the U.S., was originally announced two years ago by Secretary of State John Kerry. In addition to the five boats that have already been provided, the country will invest $18 million into assisting Vietnam. 

Voice of America reported that U.S. assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs, Puneet Talwar, recently visited Hanoi, where he helped facilitate a talk concerning issues surrounding this new transaction. The source explained that one of the driving forces behind sending resources to Vietnam is China, which has been steadily increasing its control over areas of the South China Sea. 

Talwar spoke to VOA, telling the source that his visit to the nation was productive and beneficial. 

"It was really about the growing depth of the partnership and relationship between Vietnam and the United States. We covered a wide range of issues, all the way from maritime security, to peacekeeping, to non-proliferation, to humanitarian issues such as the removal of unexploded ordinance and MIA's. Things of that sort, which really show the breadth of our relationship," he stated.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, a bill aiming to improve mental health care for veterans passed in the Senate. According to the Washington Times, the legislation is named the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. It is named for a Marine who, after finding it difficult to access adequate mental care through Veterans Affairs facilities, took his own life. 

Bill calls for change 
The New York Times reported that the act, which passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate, will focus on improving the quality of mental care provided by the VA. Existing programs will undergo regular outside assessments. Those in charge of the evaluations will examine all 800 VA clinics and hospitals around the nation with the hopes of figuring out what practices are efficient and what techniques should be retired. 

If passed by President Obama, the legislation will also prompt the creation of a new website devoted to the mental health of veterans. The page will be interactive and easy to use, noted The New York Times. In addition to providing former soldiers with a number of helpful resources, it will feature information and support for concerned family members, friends and colleagues looking to get their loved ones help. 

Five of the VA's 22 regional networks will also create peer-support programs for returning soldiers. This proposed initiative would match veterans transitioning to civilian life with more experienced peers who will be able to offer them help and support for all of their mental health issues. The bill also addresses the organization's lack of qualified and committed mental health professionals. The legislation would create a medical school loan repayment program in an effort to recruit talented physicians. 

Lastly, the bill calls for an extension on the current period late-stage combat troops returning from either Iraq or Afghanistan have to take advantage of VA health benefits without showing a service-related disability, noted The New York Times. Currently, the window is five years, but if passed the bill will extend this time by 12 months. 

Suicide a prominent issue for veterans
According to CNN, an estimated 22 veterans take their own lives each day in the U.S., which amounts to one death every 65 minutes. While this figure is notable, the source explained that the true number is most likely much higher. About one-fifth of all suicides in America are former soldiers. The New York Times reported that between 2009 and 2011, the suicide rate for male veterans ages 18-24 jumped from 46.1 per 100,000 to 79.1 per 100,000. 

"We may never completely end this terrible epidemic that is plaguing our country, but if we can save one parent from having to bury their child, one son from losing his mother or one sister from losing her brother, it's worth trying with all our might," said Rep. Timothy J. Walz, D- Minn., the lawmaker responsible for introducing the bill into the House, upon the act's passing in the Senate. 

Transitioning from the military to civilian life is no easy task, especially when it comes to choosing a new career path. A recent study, conducted by CareerCast.com and published in Forbes magazine, revealed that while many exiting soldiers feel lost and underqualified in their job search during life after service, the skills acquired by people in the military can actually transfer nicely to a number of high-paying jobs. Though some might require additional training, there are many positions out there that are great potential fits for people with armed forces experience. For the report, CareerCast.com used over 100 veteran-friendly criteria to figure out which jobs were best for people leaving the military. 

1. Administrative services manager 
This position, which typically pays upward of $80,000 annually, is a wonderful option for veterans who excelled in leadership positions during their time as soldiers. Good time management and excellent organizational skills are also crucial qualifications for this job, noted the report. 

2. Electrician
According to CareerCast.com, this trade is a union position, so it involves a lot of the camaraderie and teamwork present in military life. For soldiers who enjoyed this aspect of the service, this job, which has a median salary of around $50,000, could be a great fit. Additionally, vets can take advantage of the GI Bill to fund their post-military electrician training. 

3. Software engineer 
Tech companies are taking off as the world moves toward an increasingly digital lifestyle. Not only are these companies helping to reshape the world and improve the way people are staying connected, but they are also some of the most veteran-friendly employers on today's job market. CareerCast.com noted that for soldiers who were not able to gain tech experience during their time in the military, many companies, like Microsoft, have implemented on-the-job training initiatives. The median salary for this position is just over $85,000 per year. 

4. Emergency medical technician 
Legislation that passed in February 2013 made it possible for former servicemembers with relevant medical experience gained during their time in the military to apply this training toward becoming an EMT. For veterans that completed applicable programs while in the service, this position, with a median salary of just over $30,000, can be a good transition job. Additionally, for those looking to pursue careers in the medical field, being an EMT is an excellent way to gain experience in the industry. 

5. Construction program manager 
This position comes highly recommended by CareerCast.com for a number of reasons. In 2014, many construction companies across the U.S. joined an initiative to hire 100,000 veterans by 2020. These jobs are great for veterans because they involve leadership, organization and teamwork skills – all characteristics taught by serving in the armed forces. With a median salary of over $80,000, being a construction program manager is also relatively high-paying. 

Forbes noted that many of the positions ranked by CareerCast.com have "manager" in the title, largely because of the inherent leadership skills it takes to be a soldier. Servicemembers should highlight these qualifications in their resumes to give them an edge when it comes to applying for managerial positions. Additionally, the source explained that soldiers who have experience in a legal setting should consider applying for positions like paralegals, which they could thrive in. 

CareerCast.com noted that former servicemembers should also investigate positions in the finance industry. Though they may not have gained in-depth industry knowledge during their time as soldiers, many financial organizations have veteran-friendly internship programs that can set former soldiers on the path to a fulfilling career.