Kid Rock has long been an ardent supporter of the troops, and the rapper-turned-country singer recently went above and beyond for one injured vet. The "Cowboy" singer partnered with Operation Finally Home and the Pulte Group to provide a new house to an injured Afghanistan veteran, The Detroit News reports.
The Macomb Township, Michigan, home was given to Army Sgt. Davin Dumar and his wife Dana, who were shocked to see Kid Rock waiting inside when they first stepped inside a model home, where he informed them they'd be receiving a specially-made residence. Given Dumar's sacrifice, he felt like it was the least he could do.
"We are all grateful for your service to our country," Kid Rock said, according to the newspaper.
Dumar, who lost a leg and injured his arm in Afghanistan, is one of 50 people who have received a house from Operation Finally Home, a Texas-based nonprofit that has built homes in 11 different states.
Affordable housing for veterans and military families is one of the chief concerns for Armed Forces advocates. Many organizations have made building houses for wounded vets a priority, including Habitat for Humanities, which earned recognition earlier this year for its VetCorps program.
When the don't ask, don't tell policy officially ended last year, it marked a significant step forward for gay troops, and earlier this month they made even more progress. Brig. Gen. Tammy S. Smith recently became the first openly-gay general in military history when she was promoted at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, The New York Times reports.
Smith chose to mark the occasion in a very appropriate – and traditional – manner. She had her wife, Tracey Hepner, pin the star to her uniform. Hepner has been one of the leading advocates for gay rights in the Armed Forces, and founded the Military Partners and Family Coalition, a resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military partners.
Fellow advocates say that while the promotion is an important milestone, perhaps most significant is that Smith is open about her sexual orientation. Sue Fulton, the spokesperson for the organization OutServe, said there's still work that needs to be done.
"I would say that it's important to recognize 'the first,' because then the next person doesn't have to be first," Fulton told the Times. "Once we get over each 'first,' each hurdle of 'Well, that's never been done before,' it makes it a nonissue going forward."
The promotion is just the latest milestone for gay troops. Earlier this summer. the U.S. allowed active duty soldiers to wear their uniforms in gay pride parades, Reuters reports.
As thousands of troops prepare to head home from Afghanistan, many of them will face the sometimes-arduous task of transitioning to civilian life. While the emotional challenges often attract a lot of attention, a recent survey from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) found employment is the chief concern for vets.
The Veterans Employment Challenges study polled 1,845 veterans of the recent wars and revealed that about 69 percent cited finding a job as the most difficult part of the transition process. Researchers also found that 64 percent of respondents reported they had a difficult transition as a whole.
In addition to highlighting their biggest challenges, the study also revealed why veterans often find difficulty landing a job after returning home. Around 60 percent of respondents said it was hard for them to discuss how their military skills translate to the job market and 46 percent said it was difficult to compete with people who have been in the workforce longer. Furthermore, 43 percent said they lacked education for certain jobs.
"Veterans are loyal, disciplined and resilient leaders given the challenges they've faced at war and now at home," said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA founder and executive director. "These qualities uniquely define the New Greatest Generation – and they are values that any employer would want in a new employee. As thousands transition home, what these men and women need most are opportunities to deploy their proven skills and leadership in the civilian workforce on the home front."
Despite concerns about finding a job, the United States has made significant strides in lowering the unemployment rate among veterans as of late. In July, the figure stood at about 6.9 percent, which is not only lower than the general population but is the lowest rate for veterans in more than three years, notes The Huffington Post.
The improvement may be due in large part to the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law late last year. In addition to expanding job training programs, the bill also provides tax credits to businesses that hire veterans, according to CNN.
Along with the legislative push, earlier this summer Obama announced that the Transition Assistance Program was going to be revamped with a focus on employment training and career building.
AFBA has launched a career center for both job seekers and employers. As part of AFBA's commitment to supporting our members through important life events, the job board is ideal for servicemembers transitioning out of the service. Creating an account is free and we offer help critiquing or creating a resume, as well. Click here to get started.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been thrust into the spotlight thanks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now military researchers say they are slowly coming to better understand the mysterious condition. A number of recent studies have uncovered some of the most significant side effects of TBIs, Stars and Stripes reports.
Among the most important studies was one that showed TBI patients may be at risk for a higher building up of a protein known as tau, which is often associated with the conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. There is also a study underway meant to look for biomarkers of certain diseases in patients with TBI.
Such studies aim to bring the challenges many TBI patients face to the forefront. Some of the side effects of the injury can go unnoticed because there are no physical symptoms, but researchers hope their findings will raise awareness.
"You can't see it," Ann McKee, a doctor from the New England VA Medical Center, told the publication. "Even if you were to look at the brain in your hands, there would be no obvious injury."
Any progress will certainly aid a large number of soldiers. According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, between 10 and 20 percent of vets of those wars suffered a TBI.
Though the Summer Olympics came to a close last weekend, another group of athletes are getting ready to head to London for their shot at glory. The 2012 Paralympics are set to kick off on August 29, and many of the athletes on the United States squad are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, NBC News reports.
There are 20 members of the team who have served in military, and they are competing in everything from cycling to soccer. Among them is retired Marine Rob Jones, who had both his legs amputated at the knee as the result of an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Afghanistan. For Jones, a rower, the games aren't just about winning a medal.
"I wanted to compete, you know, do something," he told NBC. "If you have a goal then you can develop a plan. If you have a plan then you can actually be going toward something, as opposed to just going."
Jones' ambition is why the Paralympic Games were founded in the first place. The idea came from a neurologist treating British fliers injured in World War II who developed the concept to help his patients regain their independence. This year, the games feature more than 20 events and run through September 9.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects about 20 percent of veterans according to some estimates, and the condition poses one of the biggest challenges for military families. However, new research suggests combining PTSD treatment with couples therapy may not only treat the condition better, but also strengthen relationships, reports WebMD.com.
The study looked at a method known as cognitive-based conjoint therapy (CBCT), a certain type of couples therapy. The sessions not only discuss the couple's relationship but also educates patients on PTSD and offers ways to cope with it. Though there are treatments available for individuals, experts believe having a spouse or significant other there can help.
"PTSD patients don't do as well in individualized therapy," researcher Dr. Candice Monson told WebMD. "Social support emerges as the most robust factor that encourages recovery."
The findings are just the latest potential change to the way the community addresses PTSD. Earlier this year, some in the medical community advocated renaming the condition as an injury rather than a disorder, according to Time magazine.
The change has been recommended by some in the military community as well, who feel classifying it as an injury rather than a disorder may change public perception of the condition.
Despite living half a world away, a group of youngsters from the United States will get a chance to play America's favorite pastime on home soil. The Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) All-Stars are headed from their current home at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Stars and Stripes reports.
Comprised of players from the local middle school, the team will be representing the European region after defeating Poland 8-0 to complete an undefeated season. Among those on the team is Kyle Glenn, who has longed to take the field in Williamsport for years, and now he's finally getting his chance.
"I watch it every year," he told Stars and Stripes. "It's been a dream of mine ever since I started watching it."
This year marks the fourth time a team from KMC has made the trip to the Little League World Series, the other three being in 1999, 2009 and 2010. In their other appearances, they have not fared very well, going a combined 1-8.
The fact that an international team is represented by American players is a common thread in the Little League World Series. In years past, there have been some American players on the Saudi Arabian team, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Advancements in technology have made cars safer than ever, and while that's good news for passengers, it has made life a bit more difficult for first responders. Emergency responders today face a host of issues those of years past may not have encountered and it could make performing their job more of a challenge, USA Today reports.
There are many unknowns associated with today's newest cars. For instance, firefighters may have to contend with electrical wires in hybird cars or power through newer, stronger steel. As a result, first responders may not be able to extract accident victims as quickly as they once before had.
"The vehicles of today are much more difficult to extricate (people from) than the vehicles of yesterday," David Kang, a firefighter and paramedic for the Orange County Fire Authority, told the publication. "We have to get more surgical."
Still, firefighters are not without their resources, and many responders have been given the newest vehicles so they can be better prepared to meet the unforeseen challenges. However, one car that has proven to be especially difficult is the Chevrolet Volt.
The Volt is an all-electric car, and earlier this year the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration investigated whether there was an increased fire risk when it was involved in a serious accident.
There is a great deal of uncertainty in the future of the military. With the threat of across-the-board budget cuts, known as sequestration, looming, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been tasked with preparing a number of different plans depending on what the outcome of the next several months will be, Military Times reports.
To be ready for any scenario, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has detailed four potential outcomes. The first, and least desirable, is that Congress fails to act and sequestration happens, resulting in $500 billion in cuts. The second is that Congress manages to pass a last-second pieces of legislation to avoid the cuts. Third involves lawmakers finding the $1.2 trillion in budget reductions, and the final scenario involves delaying sequestration for a year or two.
"The department's position is clear. We want a budget deal – one that's balanced – so that we can avoid the devastating consequences of sequestration," Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters. "The stakes are too high for a nation facing a serious fiscal crisis."
Panetta has been one of the leading voices calling for Congress to come up with a detailed plan that he and other military officials can weigh in on. However, as of yet, proposals to slash the budget have been rare. Given the uncertainty surrounding the debate, veterans, active duty personnel and their families may be concerned with what the potential cuts means for their benefits.
The importance of avoiding sequestration, which would cut $55 billion from the 2013 military budget, was highlighted by Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who recently spoke before the House Armed Services Committee. In addition to saying the cuts would have a significant impact on the capabilities of the military, he pointed out that it could also hurt families by delaying payments to service providers through the Defense Health Program, according to the Heritage Foundation.
Furthermore, some government-run programs aimed specifically at military families could take a hit if sequestration is allowed to occur. In addition to potential changes to the TRICARE health insurance program, some lawmakers have floated the idea of ending government financial support of commissaries on military bases, according to Military.com.
While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides healthcare to many troops, some servicemembers encounter trouble when seeking treatment. Specifically, soldiers who left service with anything but an honorable discharge may not qualify for healthcare, even if they meet the physical standard, The Seattle Times reports.
The issue is one that affects a large portion of today's most recent vets. About 20,000 troops may face challenges when it comes to gaining access to healthcare due to certain blemishes on their record.
Among those who have encountered such trouble is 26-year-old Jarrid Starks. Despite earning a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, having post-traumatic stress disorder and suffering from a spinal cord injury, Starks was initially denied treatment because of a tumultuous last year in the service. His case is pending a review of his military records.
"We are creating a class of people who need help the most, and may not be able to get it," Maj. Evan Seamone, chief of Military Justice at Georgia's Fort Benning, told the newspaper. "And, when you do that, there are whole families torn apart, and higher levels of crime. It's a public-health and public-safety issue."
The problem is especially relevant now, as there is a renewed focus on the mental health of soldiers. Some experts estimate around 20 percent of recent veterans have symptoms of PTSD.