Country star Tim McGraw has been one of the most ardent supporters of the military in the music industry, and he recently continued his commitment to veterans. Through his organization HomeFront, the "Live Like You Were Dying" singer is providing military families with a mortgage-free homes.

The most recent recipients of McGraw's charitable efforts was California resident Marine Sgt. Anthony Hodge and his wife, Laura. Hodge, who served 10 years in the military before retiring earlier this year, is the 18th person to get a home through McGraw's charity.

"Tim has always been dedicated to the military, and he always gives shout outs to us and he just supports us in everything that he can do," Sgt. Hodge said. "It’s just like he understands us. This new home is a dream come true, and will definitely allow us to start fresh for a happier life."

McGraw has certainly chosen a worthwhile cause, as veteran homelessness has proven to be a significant problem. According to recent statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 4,380 veterans families are in its homeless program, up about 86 percent from just three years ago.

Upon returning home from combat, many veterans struggle to transition to civilian life, but one pair of men believe they have found an effective outlet. Steven Manchester and  Lino Rego have both penned books since leaving the service and credit the practice with helping them overcome their struggles, The Standard-Times reports.

Rego and Manchester, both from Massachusetts, have taken different approaches to writing, however. For instance, Manchester's first book, "The Unexpected Storm," focused on his personal experience in combat, while Rego's told the story of World War II veteran Leo St. Onge. Despite the differences between stories, each were fulfilling experiences.

"I wanted to share the experience, what happened to me," Manchester told the newspaper. "It was kind of a catharsis for me."

The experience of Rego and Manchester may help lawmakers as they look for ways to make the transition from soldier to civilian a bit easier. Both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working on programs to lower veteran suicide and unemployment rates, The Miami Herald reports.

Among the joint programs the two departments have been working on is a veteran crisis hotline. Officials say an average of 300 vets are referred to health services each month since the hotline launched in 2009.

The jobs report for July was a bit better than expected, as U.S. companies added around 163,000 jobs, and the figures were even more encouraging for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The unemployment rate for vets who joined the services after September 11, 2001 fell to 8.9 percent last month, down considerably from this time last year, Military Times reports.

The latest figures, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are encouraging for a number of reasons. In addition to being indicative of a recovering economy, they also suggest that many of the veterans jobs initiatives being put in place are working as intended.

Among the most significant programs was the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which made its way through Congress last year and offers training, transition assistance and education to veterans looking for work.

Despite the improvement, the 8.9 percent unemployment rate is still above the 8.3 rate for the country as a whole, so there is still work that needs to be done. The issues has not been overlooked by lawmakers, however, with many pushing for the extension of tax breaks for companies that hire veterans, the news source reports.

Service dogs have become a useful treatment for injured veterans, but it turns out the servicemembers training the dogs are reaping some benefits as well. Many soldiers have teamed up with the Warrior Canine Connection, which gives vets with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) the chance to treat their conditions with canine therapy, Stars and Stripes reports.

The non-profit organization is almost a year old and has seen considerable success in its short existence. The program works by taking young golden or Labrador retrievers and matching them with wounded warriors to help train them. So far, 85 vets have participated and the program's first puppy is preparing to be given to an injured vet.

Among those who have found comfort in training the service dogs is Marine Sgt. Jon Gordon, who has both TBI and PTSD. However, after working with Birdie, a black Labrador, his symptoms improved considerably.

"My anxiety is all better," he told the publication. "My relationship with my daughter is better. Just my ability to be out in public and be around people, I can stand it now."

Canine therapy has shown promise in helping alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, and its something that could impact a large number of veterans. Though there are no concrete figures, experts estimate between 13 and 20 percent of recent vets have PTSD.

Many veterans enroll in college after serving in the military, but one in particular is not content with just going to class. Daniel Rodriguez was recently cleared to play for Clemson University's football team as a walk-on wide receiver, The Associated Press reports.

The path won't be easy. Rodriguez has to earn his spot on the starting roster of one of the more competitive programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but he is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. He joined the Army soon after graduating high school and was in Iraq in 2007 for some of the heaviest fighting. He also served in Afghanistan where he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star Medal of Valor.

Upon his return from combat, Rodriguez, a high school football player, was contacted by dozens of college football programs including the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. He ultimately decided to attend Clemson, and given his experience over the last five years, he knows he has what it takes to make the team.

"I'm using the hardships, the horrors, the killing, the friends that I've lost as my fuel to (get) where I want to be," he told the AP. "So I think if you can turn and manipulate anything negative in your life and use it as something good, that's what I've taken into my life."

Over the last 10 years, Clemson has welcomed two former servicemembers on their football team, and the Armed Forces as a long history of being home to many talented football players. In fact, several years ago, Caleb Campbell, a safety for the Army's football team, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in one of the later rounds. Despite being drafted, Campbell eventually was ordered into active duty, but as of 2011 he was on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The athletic tradition of the Armed Forces dates back decades, with Navy alumni Roger Staubach being one of the most decorated quarterbacks of all time and fellow midshipman David Robinson winning two NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and two gold medals in the Summer Olympics.

A recently-released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that veterans are more likely than the civilian population to be managing multiple chronic conditions. The study found that as many as one in five veterans between the ages of 45 and 54 have at least two chronic conditions, WebMD reports.

The statistics are from the National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted between 2007 and 2010. While it found middle-age vets have more chronic conditions than civilians, such was not the case for younger veterans, who had about the same level as those who had never served. Experts believe the physical and psychological effects of combat may take years to manifest themselves as health problems.

"The health differences that appear at older ages suggest that the effects of military service on health may appear later in life," the study stated.

The results could apply to a relatively large section of the population. According to the CDC, about 12 million men between 25 and 64 are service veterans. That's about 15 percent of the total male population in that age range.

Military families face many challenges, and those obstacles become even greater when they are faced with the loss of a loved one. In an effort to help, a number of Texas-based organizations recently provided military families who've lost one of their own with a free day at a local water park, NBC affiliate KXAS reports.

The day of relaxation was thanks to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, the nonprofit Snowball Express and the Hawaiian Falls Waterpark itself. Not only did it offer military families a chance get away, it also gave them the opportunity to talk with others who are trying to overcome the same challenges.

Of the 19 families who made it to the waterpark was the family of Ray Morales, who was killed by a roadside bomb in 2009. His 16-year-old daughter Brianne says she likes spending time with other military families because they can support each other.

"It's just nice to be able to help other kids and spend time with them," she told the news channel. "I just love helping other people and listening to them, and I am always there for everyone, so it's special to me."

Events such as this one could have an impact on thousands of families across the country. According to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, more than 6,500 soldiers have died since 2001.

In order to be given a Medal of Honor, soldiers have to put their life on the line like few others have ever done, and plans are in motion to honor their sacrifice even further. Officials in South Carolina recently announced their intentions to build a museum dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients, The Associated Press reports.

The $100 million museum will be built in Mount Pleasant and on the land shared by the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum currently. While the museum is the heart of the development, it will include much more than that. Organizers expect the Medal of Honor museum to be joined by a hotel and conference center. The hopes are that the new museum will bring 200,000 additional visitors to the area.

The museum will be completed in five years, and the announcement of its construction comes as the Department of Defense launched an online medals database last week. The website lists only Medal of Honor recipients since September 11, 2011, but it is a step in the right direction, some advocates say, according to The News Journal. The issue got thrust into the spotlight recently when the Supreme Court ruled that the Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional.

A recent report from the Rand Corporation suggests that now is a good time to lower military pay raises. Researchers say current pay levels are fair compared to civilian salaries and given the high recruiting and retention rates, it may make good fiscal sense to put a hold on any increases, Military Times reports.

The report was created for the Department of Defense (DoD), which is considering lowering pay raises by 2015. The team found that lowering yearly raises to below the level that civilians receive would not hurt the military in a substantial way. Furthermore, it suggests that one-time bonuses or special pays can help recruitment and retention better than across-the-board raises.

The report also offered up some ways for the DoD to go about limiting raises. Among its suggestions were a one-year freeze on raises of any kind or setting one level for four years, regardless of what is happening in the civilian sector.

The report is part of what will surely be a lengthy battle on potential budget cuts and fee hikes for the military in the next few months. Currently, the United States spends about $700 billion each year on defense.

In the aftermath of the shooting in a Colorado theater that left 12 dead and 58 wounded, first responders across the country are training to make sure they're ready for such an event. Officials at the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS) say SWAT teams and first responders have been increasing their training in the 10 days since the tragedy, CBS affiliate KMOX reports.

Known as active shooter response, the training program can trace its roots back to the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School. Experts say SWAT teams focus on several areas. Primarily, responders place an emphasis on restraint when approaching a situation. Doing so can prevent any further casualties. Additionally, active shooter response changes the role of medical personnel.

"In the past, before these types of incidents had been occurring, law enforcement officials would tell the paramedics 'Wait until we clear this building,'" Nick Gragnani, executive director of STARRS. "Now the teaching is "You go with us. As we clear sections of the building you take care of those that we come upon.'"

First responders across the country can take a few pointers from those at the Colorado shooting. In fact, Congress recently passed a resolution formally honoring the quick response of emergency personnel, The Associated Press reports.