Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 people, and navigating the expansive grounds can be difficult for the loved ones of the troops buried there. However, the cemetery unveiled a new mobile app on Monday that provides users with access to an enormous database of all the grave sites, according to The Associated Press.
The final product is the result of two years of work and comes after officials moved to transition from paper to electronic records. The app also comes equipped with an interactive map, which allows users to search by name. Doing so not only provides them with the location of the headstone, but also provides details including the dates of the deceased's birth and death. Even for people who do not have a loved one buried there, the app provides details on some of the more famous graves.
"This is a great day for veterans and our families," Kathryn Condon, executive director of the Army National Military Cemeteries, told The Associated Press.
The development of the app seeks to quell recent criticism over the mishandling of records and unmarked graves that made it difficult for family members to visit relatives, noted NPR.
Cuts to the defense budget have some soldiers concerned about the capabilities of the Armed Forces, but officials say the Army is likely going to have to make slashes to programs aimed at helping out families and veterans, according to Military.com.
Despite the financial challenges, some of the Army's top officials say that retaining the programs and benefits available to families is their priority when they're making cuts. Army Secretary John McHugh has steadfastly maintained there are certain areas that simply can't see significantly reduced funding in the coming years.
"Whether it’s PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) issues or separation issues, we’ve got to make sure they’re adequately funded," McHugh said at a recent press conference, according to the website.
There have been a number of suggestions aimed at helping keep costs low, including having the Army Reserves provide free legal advice to troops so they don't have to pay for lawyers if the need ever arises.
Regardless of what steps are taken, it's clear that cuts are needed. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama announced a $487 billion reduction in military spending over the next 10 years, according to USA Today.
Veterans sometimes face significant financial hurdles when they leave the service, and a couple in Florida is going to extreme lengths to raise awareness of the challenges. William Mosebach and Kristen Creech recently embarked on a 2,500-mile journey from Maine to Florida help draw attention to veteran unemployment rates and other financial struggles, according to the Telegram and Gazette.
The cause is especially important to Mosebach, who knows all too well the difficulty of separating from active duty service. He was in the Army from 2001 through 2005 and served in Iraq, and has witnessed firsthand the challenges associated with military service. The couple is hiking through the organization Active Heroes, and has raised $5,000 so far.
"Everybody that we come into contact with (during the hike) seems to be 100 percent devoted to the cause that we're trying to raise awareness for," Mosebach told the newspaper. "There can always be more awareness and dedication. It's just a constant thing. It's never going to go away as long as we have wars and as long as people experience traumatic events."
Unemployment remains a big issue among the most recent veterans. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 vets is approximately 9.7 percent, a bit higher than the 7.8 percent nationwide average.
Transitioning from the military to civilian life can be difficult, and that is especially true for wounded soldiers. Now, a Virginia woman who has a history of helping those who need it most is turning her attention toward veterans. Betty Tyson, 78, is working on refurbishing a home to help wounded warriors who need a place to heal, according to The Free Lance-Star.
The home, located in Fredericksburg, has been a place of refuge for more than 40 years. Tyson and her family originally opened the home back in 1967 as a place for pregnant or homeless women who had nowhere else to turn. While the original use may not seem to have much in common with veterans, Tyson says that's not the case.
"They're all just people who need love and a home," she told the newspaper. "I have always had a heart for people in our society who are kind of forgotten."
The plans are in their early stages, and Tyson and a group of volunteers are still working on repairing the century-old home. However, her hope is that once vets move in, they can help with the repairs and perform other tasks.
The need for such assistance may become increasingly important in the coming years as many soldiers separate from service. Specifically, about 80,000 troops are expected to be cut from the Army, according to The Associated Press.
Sgt. Andrew Brechko has years of teaching experience under his belt, so when the New York National Guardsmen headed to Afghanistan, it was easy to transition into his new role. Brechko has been hosting seminars aimed at helping Afghan teachers improve their work in the classroom, according to the Army's official website.
So far, the seminars have been a big hit – each time Brechko has held them they have been filled to capacity. He focuses on teaching the educators techniques and strategies they can use in their classrooms and leaves curriculum specifics out of it. Brechko feels he is playing a diplomatic role, however small, between the two countries.
"During the seminars I never make reference to curriculum, nor do I try to place the U.S. education model on the Afghan one," Brechko told the website. "It's actually a good opportunity to establish a bond between Afghanistan and the United States. It kind of takes away the uniform and gives them a commonality between the two."
Schools are not the only place where American troops have been instructing Afghans. U.S. troops have also been training Afghan soldiers to take over security of their country. Recently, Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai said his country's forces may be ready to take the reins sooner than expected, according to The Associated Press.
Several years ago, Congress passed a bill designed to ensure that servicemembers stationed overseas had their votes counted, but government officials have seen a number of states fail to comply with the guidelines outlined in the law. Most recently, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Vermont for missing the deadline to send absentee ballots to troops, according to Stars and Stripes.
According to the DOJ, Vermont state officials missed the September 22 benchmark and did not send out approximately 20 percent of ballots on time. Vermont isn't alone, however, as there have also been investigations into Wisconsin, Mississippi and Michigan over whether they did not meet the standards set by 2009's Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
"Americans owe all of our rights, including the right to vote, to the brave men and women who defend our liberty across the globe," Rep. Dan Lungren wrote in his committee letter to DoD and DOJ, according to Stars and Stripes. "Consequently, we owe it to them to protect fully their right to vote."
The findings are especially troublesome given that researchers have found the number of requests for absentee ballots has dropped since 2008, according to a study from the Military Voter Protection Project.
Earlier this week, General Electric, Alcoa, Boeing and Lockheed Martin announced an initiative to help returning veterans find jobs, and a recent survey found that the servicemembers are certainly on board. The Voice of Veterans survey found that 76 percent of troops getting ready to transition to civilian life are confident in their ability to be successful in their private sector jobs.
The online poll questioned more than 1,000 veterans and active duty soldiers, and found many of them are taking the right steps to nail down a job once they leave the service. For instance, 79 percent of respondents said they want to take advantage of educational opportunities designed to help them find employment in the civilian world. Furthermore, 70 percent said the skills learned in the military could translate into a manufacturing job.
"What stands out in this data is that veterans are motivated to make a difference beyond their military careers," said Mike Haynie, founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. "Given their contributions, we must pay attention to the unique challenges and opportunities they face as they navigate the transition to civilian life."
Young veterans are also looking to make a difference once they leave the service. Approximately 78 percent of respondents said they want to find a job that fills them with a sense of pride.
The Army is looking to reduce its size by about 80,000 troops over the next five years, and a new initiative could offer soldiers a path to early retirement. Known as Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA), the program applies to troops who have served between 15 and 20 years in the Armed Forces, according to Army News Service.
The TERA directive is especially attractive to officers who have been denied a promotion or noncommissioned officers who were not granted continued service. While they'll be leaving earlier than expected, those who take advantage of TERA will still receive the same benefits had they made it past the 20-year mark.
"Soldiers who elect to retire under TERA and are approved will receive full retirement benefits at a slightly reduced annuity," Gerald Purcell, the enlisted personnel policy integrator with Army G-1, told the news source.
TERA could be important given the financial constraints facing the Army. The Pentagon has been ordered to cut its budget by $487 billion over the next decade, according to The Associated Press. In addition to the 80,000 troop reduction, the Army is also expected to cut 13 brigades in the coming years.
Lowering the unemployment rate for veterans has been a priority for Congress and first lady Michelle Obama's Joining Forces initiative, and now some of the country's leading manufacturing companies are getting in on the action. A group of four businesses recently announced a new program aimed at training veterans to help fill hundreds of thousands of open positions, according to The Associated Press.
The program, launched by General Electric, Alcoa Inc., Boeing and Lockheed Martin, helps both veterans and manufacturers because there are currently about 600,000 jobs that are unfilled due to a lack of unqualified applicants. By providing vets with the training necessary, the companies will be helping fill a void while also contributing to lowering the veteran unemployment rate.
Program organizers estimate the initiative could help as many as 15,000 veterans. Though the unemployment rate for all vets is lower than the national average, for those who have separated since 9/11, it's at about 9.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"We have an opportunity to help veterans with extraordinary leadership capabilities better compete for good-paying jobs with a long-term future," Jeff Immelt, General Electric's chairman and chief executive officer, told the AP.
Veterans looking for assistance with the job hunt can visit AFBA's Career Center, which helps pair employers and recruiters with qualified servicemembers.
Jeopardy may be America's favorite quiz show, but it recently took a trip overseas. Alex Trebek and the rest of his crew flew to Wiesbaden, Germany, to pay a visit to American troops while also looking for potential contestants for a special July 4 show dedicated to the troops.
The event was held at the city's Lucius D. Clay Kaserne military complex, where servicemembers were given the opportunity to audition for the summer show after meeting the venerable game show host. Despite being a native of Canada, Trebek has been an ardent supporter of the U.S. troops and frequently makes trips overseas to pay tribute to their service.
"This is my 13th USO trip to various bases around the world. We want to let military families overseas know they are not forgotten," Trebek said. "I've always had a soft spot for the military. They're friendly and have a sense of honor and duty to country. This is just letting the military know we appreciate what they're doing."
The stop was the final leg in a European trip that also brought Trebek to bases in Aviano, Naples, and Ramstein, and provided the Jeopardy crew with a number of contestants who may make their way to the final qualification round.