The public and private sectors – along with myriad advocacy groups – have scaled up efforts to support veterans who are looking to start a business throughout the past several years. Thanks to their inherent leadership skills and plenty of other strengths acquired in the military, veterans have been known to make exceptional managers, executives and entrepreneurs. With the economy running strong, now is a great time for veterans to step into business ownership. 

Resources span from specialized loan programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other groups – including private banks – to support and guidance from governmental agencies and advocacy organizations. As one of the more important aspects of succeeding in the enterprise is a sound understanding of business, degree programs are also expanding for the veteran entrepreneur community. 

Unique education
Southern California Public Radio recently reported that the University of Southern California has crafted a business degree program in such a way that specifically seeks to educate veterans, titled the Master of Business for Veterans. According to the news provider, roughly 140 service members have completed the program in the four years since its inception, and many have been especially happy with the lessons related to re-acclimation. 

"We could be sitting around the table in a project group in the civilian world where there's nobody in charge – everybody is of equal status," Army veteran James Bogle told the source. "And you now have to figure out how to get the job done when there's nobody directing. Among the most important factors of your success in the civilian world are whether or not the people you work with like you. And that's simply not a factor in the military."

Interestingly, SCPR noted that about 20 percent of the veterans who have completed the degree went on to launch businesses of their own, showing just how effective the program is in leading service members toward entrepreneurship.

More opportunities
Military Times reported that one nonprofit, Bunker Labs, is touring the nation in efforts to give veterans an opportunity to pitch their small business ideas between this summer and next spring. The tour will be stopping in Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, the District of Columbia, Washington state and California over the next 10 months, while investors will be present to hear the entrepreneurial ideas of veterans in attendance. 

The news provider noted that the chief executive officer of Bunker Labs, Navy veteran Todd Connor, is confident that this tour will have a positive impact on veterans who are looking to launch a business. 

"Entrepreneurship is not a single-player sport," Connor told Military Times. "You need people, you need community, you need friends, you need customers, you need employees. Organizations like Bunker Labs pull together community and give them a place to show up both online and in person."

Veterans should take these opportunities to launch their business careers whenever they get the chance. 

Gun violence has become one of the greatest challenges facing the United States, acting as a stark, polarizing topic of contention and true threat to innocent civilians in every state and community. With the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States taking place earlier this month, more groups are beginning to speak out against the nation's current set of laws and regulations that govern the sale of weapons, most notably assault rifles like the one used in Orlando. 

The Los Angeles Times reported that the attacks in Newtown, Connecticut, and Blacksburg, Virginia, marked the third and second largest mass shootings in history, respectively, taking place within the past 10 years alone. With more public outcry for reforms and a variety of organizations mobilizing to force the issue on Capitol Hill, service members – both active and retired – are also scaling up their efforts to catalyze change in legislation. 

Military steps up
The Christian Science Monitor recently reported that the Veterans Coalition for Common Sense, which was launched just two days before the mass shooting in Orlando, is working to advocate for reforms in the federal government. According to the news provider, the group was formed by some of the more decorated veterans living today, including former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, Admiral Eric Olson, who achieved the first four-star rank for a Navy SEAL, and the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency General David Petraeus. 

The group seeks to encourage common-sense legislation regarding gun sales and relevant background checks in hopes of stifling the current cycle of regular killings, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 33,000 civilians in 2015 alone, the source affirmed. The biggest qualm from the group appears to be against the National Rifle Association.

"Policymakers should know that they're not alone when they stand up to the NRA – they'll have all of us behind them," U.S. Navy veteran and coalition advisory committee member Shawn VanDiver told the Christian Science Monitor. "My name might not carry much weight, but Gen. Petraeus, Gen. McChrystal, they do."

The news provider also cited research from the Global Strategy Group that found 91 percent of veterans support mandatory background checks and nearly 60 percent would approve of a complete ban on assault weapons. 

Veterans are invaluable leaders
This is far from the first time veterans have stepped up to protect civilians far from the battlefield, right here at home. Groups formed by and comprising active and retired service members have been fighting for a range of causes throughout the past several decades. One, Veterans For Peace, took part in a demonstration to support two other organizations and protest New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's June 5 executive order that has been widely received as an attack on First Amendment rights. 

With continued support from the military, advocacy groups will remain active in fighting for the rights of American civilians. 

The National Guard is one of the more vital resources available to states and municipalities when going through some form of disaster, including riots, earthquakes and more. As a result, the National Guard has been more heavily engaged in training exercises that simulate some of the worst case scenarios imaginable, preparing the service members to respond with comfort and experience should devastating events come to pass. 

In Washington State, the National Guard went through some more significant training routines this month, while other states have been conducting their own exercises that target more realistic disasters. 

Cascadia Rising drills
Q13, a Washington-based Fox affiliate, recently reported that the Washington National Guard went through exercises called the "Cascadia Rising drills," which were meant to simulate what would happen should a major fault line slip in the coming years. According to the news provider, the fault runs from Canada to Northern California, and scientists at the Federal Emergency Management Agency have predicted that a slip would translate to a doomsday-like scenario. 

"When the Cascadia Subduction Zone does rupture, it will result in a catastrophe like nothing we have ever seen," Washington National Guard Head Major Gen. Bret Daugherty told Q13. "It's expected to be the worst natural disaster ever in the United States."

With Washington smack dab in the middle of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, it is not surprising that that state has taken its preparedness exercises and training regimens more seriously. The source pointed out that the service members dropped supplies, paratroopers parachuted down, and medical centers were created during the exercises. Although there is no sign to indicate that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is going to become active, preparing for the worst is one of the key responsibilities of National Guard service members. 

To give an idea of the scale this disaster would reach, Q13 cited a report from FEMA that estimated 8,400 deaths, 12,000 injuries, 90,000 hospital patients in need of evacuation and half a million buildings damaged. One can only hope that this rupture never comes to pass but, should it, the National Guard in Washington will be ready to respond. 

North Carolina playing point guard
Carolina Coast Online reported that the National Guard in North Carolina is conducting tests at several port facilities in the state this week to specifically test communication, collaboration and coordination between itself and other entities. Because the National Guard will utilize resources from a range of agencies, including those on the local and federal levels, communication is key in responding to major developments and disasters. 

According to the source, the North Carolina Emergency Management eastern brand, New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, State Crime Lab, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Emergency Management and other departments will be joining the state's National Guard exercises in Morehead City and Wilmington for about eight days. Preparedness is key in the fight to quickly respond to disasters, and the National Guard is ready. 

First responders have long been at the front lines of their communities, working to protect and serve the civilians in their jurisdiction and often putting their lives at risk to do so. This was clear in the weekend's heinous mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where a gunman opened fire on patrons in the early hours of morning. In the hours that transpired following the beginning of the attack, first responders were selfless and resolved in their actions. 

Carrying the weight
Click Orlando recently reported that the emergency medical services professionals and others involved in rescuing the survivors of the attack entered to a devastating scene, but maintained tight control of their actions nonetheless. Other reports have indicated that roughly 300 individuals were in the club at that the time of the event, with 49 being killed and 50 wounded. This made for a uniquely horrific call to respond to. 

"I got reports that early on it was very chaotic," the Orlando Firefighters Union's Ron Glass told Click Orlando. "There seemed to be two separate flows of EMS patients coming out. The initial flow once the incident happened around 2 o'clock in the morning. We had units that were on their way back from the hospital that actually intercepted the call as it was coming out and arrived on scene within seconds."

For first responders, some of the most challenging parts of handling an attack such as this one come after the smoke has cleared and the individuals begin to digest what they have seen, Glass added to the source. He noted that all first responders involved will be monitored to ensure that they are capable of performing in the wake of this tragedy. 

"We're going to be keeping a close eye on our guys for the next couple of days to make sure everyone is doing well, behaviorally acting normal and is not impacted," Glass explained, according to the news provider. "A lot of times, with calls like this, you have scenes where guys become – they start getting distracted, lose focus, and it's because they're still processing what they saw on that call."

Support from the community
First responders in Orlando are certainly getting support from their community members and other professionals from across the nation. For example, the Orlando Sentinel reported that civilians in the neighborhood started to bring first responders food and beverages while the event was still transpiring. Additionally, The Press Enterprise reported that first responders in San Bernardino, who themselves saw one of the most violent mass shootings in American history last December, sent their wishes and supportive words to those in Orlando. 

Pulling behind first responders, as well as the victims of attacks and their families, can make a community stronger in the long run. Any and all support for first responders in Orlando is welcomed in the coming months, as the city works to heal. 

People probably hear about issues like cybersecurity and hacking all the time, but it's often one of those things that gets ignored, or at least categorized as something that "can't happen to me." But the truth of the matter is that there are so many cyber threats out there that even if hackers aren't targeting any individual specifically, random people still run the risk of having their computers, networks, and devices affected by these issues.

As a result, there's probably a lot the average person needs to know about cybersecurity in general, but doesn't, according to a report from the consumer financial advice site Bankrate. The first and most important issue in this regard – especially for people who bring laptops out of their homes on a regular basis – is that they should password-protect their phones, computers, and networks. The best passwords tend to be long and random, and incorporate letters, numbers, and symbols. Having that as a first line of defense if a device is lost or stolen – or even if a hacker tries to gain access – could be hugely beneficial.

Likewise, people who take their laptops out of the house and connect them to public Wi-Fi networks should be extremely cautious about doing so, the report said. If an average user can connect to a network, so can a hacker, and at that point the cybercriminal can monitor all the transmissions on that network. As such, people should never use these connections to send sensitive data including personally identifying or financial information.

Take other precautions
In addition, many people may find themselves annoyed by pop-ups on their computers asking them to click links, but they shouldn't be encountering these intrusions, the report said. That's why things like firewalls, anti-virus programs, and malware scanners can go a long way toward ensuring that people's devices, their personal networks, and most importantly their files and sensitive data have additional layers of security between them and the outside world.

Another issue
Of course, all these things prevent hackers from actively gaining access to a system, but what about passive threats? After all, many consumers have their personal information stolen because they inadvertently download attack programs, rather than someone actually going to the trouble of hacking their systems, the report said. As such, it's vital that people know what to look for when they download things or visit certain sites.

However, it's not always easy to identify these threats unless people know what they're looking for, the report said. For instance, loved ones whose systems were infected may seem to send emails with attachments that appear to be photos or other non-threatening files, but are actually viruses or malware. If things don't seem like they're on the up-and-up, it's better to be safe than sorry, and just avoid them.

In general, the more that can be done to follow common-sense steps for even basic precautions, the better. The best practice when it comes to keeping a device or network safe is to be vigilant and carefully consider security on an ongoing basis.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has gone through a range of changes in the past few years, largely driven by public outcry for improvements to the ways in which the agency serves the military community. Wait times have been drastically reduced, while the VA has also appeared to focus on becoming a bit more transparent to gain the trust of civilians and service members alike. However, there is still plenty of work to be done should the department hope to reach optimal performance across the board. 

Two stories broke this week regarding the VA – one that was somewhat troublesome, and the other being a sign of good things to come. 

TBI examinations under fire
ABC News reported that the VA disclosed that it had sanctioned traumatic brain injury examinations that were not aligned with federal guidelines, specifically in terms of the individuals who were in charge of conducting the tests. According to the news provider, as many as 25,000 veterans will likely have to go through additional screening and new exams because their original tests had been overseen by medical professionals who were not qualified. 

The source discovered this following the receipt of a letter the VA sent to the 25,000 veterans who were impacted by the mistake. The VA has been scrambling to get a handle on this issue, and advocacy groups have already put forth their frustrations with the department.

"We're really disappointed that the VA conducted all these examinations using non-certified physicians or health care professionals to examine veterans who claimed TBI," Veterans of Foreign Wars' Jerry Manar explained in an interview with ABC News. "On the other hand, we're glad that the VA is finally responding and is voluntarily undertaking this review that should be helpful to most, if not all affected veterans."

Still, representatives in Washington have expressed their trust in the VA's Secretary Robert McDonald. 

Reforms to come
Military Times reported that the VA is weighing a piece of legislation that would essentially designate the department's medical facilities as nonprofits, which is a move that is believed to be positive for the veteran community. The news provider argued that this reform, should it pass, would help grant veterans access to private medical care, which would be a first for the department and the military community. 

The lawmaker who proposed the reform, Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers of Washington state, noted that this is a necessary reform given the current stature of the VA. 

"With the never-ending wait times and the VA Secretary doubling down on his comparison to Disney, the time has long passed for the VA to make the necessary changes to ensure that our veterans are treated effectively, seen efficiently and cared for with respect," she told Military Times. 

At the end of the day, private and public sector collaboration will almost certainly have a positive impact on the VA and the veterans it serves, and this reform is another step in the right direction.

Millions of veterans nationwide struggle with both the physical and mental scars that can come with service, and as such people are always on the lookout for ways to help. And now, thanks to a new bill being advanced in the U.S. Senate, that could include at least testing the benefits of medical marijuana when it comes to treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, and Barbara Boxer – Democrats representing New York, New Jersey, and California, respectively – recently introduced a measure that could be attached to the National Defense Authorization Act, according to a report from Marijuana.com. Specifically, the measure – if adopted – would only require the VA to report to Congress within six months as to any studies related to the effects of cannabis in treating PTSD that it may have conducted during that time. If there is no study, conducted, the VA would have to report why it did not take that step.

Part of a bigger trend
And while this idea may sound controversial to some, lawmakers and average Americans alike seem to have adopted a stance that could be described as an "anything to help veterans" kind of philosophy, the report said. Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate recently approved bills that would allow doctors at the VA to recommend medical marijuana use to vets with PTSD in the states where the drug has already been legalized.

Furthermore, the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill last month that would stop the VA from spending money to prevent doctors from making this recommendation, the report said. On the other side of the coin, though, the House Rules Committee recently blocked two bills that would have increased marijuana research from the federal government.

What do the people want?
Interestingly, though, 87 percent of Americans believe doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana in pill form to veterans with PTSD, according to a recent Quinnipiac University Poll. Only 9 percent opposed such a move.

And among households with at least one veteran or active duty military member, the support was split 82 percent for and only 13 percent against, the report said. Furthermore, people of every demographic breakdown – regardless of age group, gender, party affiliation, and race – supported such a change at least 79 percent of the time.

"If you serve your country and suffer for it, you deserve every health remedy available, including medical marijuana in pill form," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "That is the full-throated recommendation of Americans across the demographic spectrum, including voters in military households."

Certainly, just about anything that can be done to help veterans in their everyday lives is something that the vast majority of Americans would support. This is a big reason why many organizations exist to assist veterans in a number of ways, ranging from helping them cope with medical issues to giving them a hand financially whenever they need it.

Operation Stand Down has been helping veterans across the country with social services ranging from housing assistance and clothing to medical support and food. Certain states and cities have their own Operation Stand Down offerings to veterans, and all focus on the re-acclimation of veterans to civilian life and giving them everything they need to complete this process comfortably, safely and efficiently. The biggest initiatives from the organization involve homeless veterans, and it has made a big difference over the years. 

Most state- and city-run divisions of Operation Stand Down will host events that take place over the course of one to three days, inviting veterans to attend and get access to the support and services they need on the spot. The one in Tennessee has been especially vital in helping veterans re-integrate following their discharge from the military. 

One coordinator's quest
The Leaf Chronicle recently interviewed Willie Celestine, a young Army veteran who has gotten involved with the Clarksville, Tennessee Operation Stand Down as an outreach specialist, beginning with the office at its inception during the first month of 2015. According to the news provider, Celestine has worked to apply his own lessons from re-acclimating to civilian life to his duties as an outreach specialist for Operation Stand Down. Celestine spoke to some of the reasons why the office is so important to the veteran community in the area. 

"There is a great need for us," Celestine told The Leaf Chronicle. "Since we've been here, we've housed many homeless veterans and their families. We've been able to help several unemployed veterans find jobs, help veterans file for their compensation and disability and referred many to our legal services."

The source pointed out that Celestine is specifically involved in raising awareness regarding the group's various social services available to veterans, and finding those in need. He also stated that the Clarksville operation has been highly effective when compared to other areas. 

"I think Clarksville is a very veteran-orientated community overall," Celestine added to the news provider. "One of the things that we do enjoy is through the Veterans Coalition is a lot of interacting between the agencies to make sure the veterans are taken care of. As a community, I think we're on point there."

Suffice it to say that Operation Stand Down can have a massively positive impact on an entire community, including the veterans and civilians who are living in it. 

Tennessee leads
Operation Stand Down Tennessee has been around for more than 23 years, making it one of the earlier ones to sprout up in the country. Veterans in that state can access its services through the Operation Stand Down Tennessee website, while it offers employment training, transitional housing programs, Stand Downs and more to its local service member community. 

Veterans can likely find an Operation Stand Down in their state with similar services, and should remember to seek these out given their extreme value in re-acclimating to civilian life. 

Public figures who use their elevated platform to raise awareness can be powerful forces for those in need of help. Veterans have long been supported by a range of public figures, particularly celebrities from the film and music industries. From generating higher volumes of donations to starting their own nonprofit organizations that assist veterans in a specific fashion, celebrities are helping to get the word out about the need for more veteran support. 

This month, a winner of a major beauty pageant chose to use her platform to raise awareness regarding the needs of veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

First of her kind
Army Times recently reported that Deshauna Barber, an Army officer who won the 2016 Miss USA event, set her sights on veteran assistance in her performance on stage. For example, the source pointed out that Barber, who is the first military members to be crowned as the winner for this competition, had a particularly poignant response to a question regarding the place of women in the military, specifically when in combative situations. 

"As a woman in the United States Army, I think … we are just as tough as men," she said, according to Army Times. "As a commander of my unit, I'm powerful, I am dedicated. Gender does not limit us in the United States."

The news provider stated that Barber is now planning to take a couple of years off from the Army Reserves should she go on to win the Miss Universe contest later this year. She will be the first American military member to compete in that event. Army Times also noted that she mentioned the extreme flexibility the Army Reserves offers to its service members, and that it has allowed her to be active about twice a month more recently. 

A smaller scale, but big impact
Food manufacturer Eckrich and nonprofit Operation Homefront recently announced that they had tapped the skills of celebrity grill master Moe Cason to put on a special event called "Grilling for a Cure" in Arkansas. The celebration worked to recognize and honor one family in the state, and led to a donation of roughly $5,000 in free groceries for them by the end, with Cason doing the cooking. Cason, a veteran himself, spoke to what the event meant to him:

"What Eckrich did was wonderful. I'm glad to be a part of it," said Cason. "I was in the military myself, so I know the trials and tribulations of being in the service."

The patriarch of the family, Roger Lobato, was an Army Specialist who contracted cystic fibrosis. The "Grilling for a Cure" event itself is meant to generate donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 

"We really value what Eckrich is doing," Lobato explained. "We need people looking after our service members, so when I see a company like Eckrich doing that, it means the world to me."

Whether performed by a big or lesser known celebrity, any work to raise awareness and support veterans is healthy for the community. 

Millions of Americans use Wi-Fi internet connections on a daily basis, and rarely encounter problems with them. However, depending upon where and how they use those hotspots, they may be putting themselves at significant risk of hacking attacks, identity theft, and the like. As a consequence, it's important for people to remember the best security practices for using Wi-Fi both in their homes and in public, because even knowing the basics can be incredibly helpful.

The area where consumers face the biggest threat on Wi-Fi is when they use it in public, at places like coffee shops, restaurants, shopping centers, and so on, according to a report from Investor's Business Daily. That's because if one person can use them, anyone in the area can, including people who plan to hack those networks. And because so many people connect not only laptops, but also smartphones and other devices to these networks, that may put them at significant risk for being targeted.

"When you join a Wi-Fi network, and I can join that same network, I know that I can attack your computer," Josh Wright, a Providence, Rhode Island-based security consultant, told the site. "And the Wi-Fi hot spot provider, whether it's a coffee shop or whatever, really has no interest in providing additional security for you because that's an added cost for them."

What can be done?
The smartest thing people can do with respect to staying safe on public Wi-Fi networks is to not use them, but sometimes this is unavoidable, the report said. For that reason, it's also smart for anyone connecting to such a network to make sure they have up-to-date virus protection and firewall software that can help them detect any efforts to gain control of his or her system or the files contained on it.

Another important issue to keep in mind here is that not joining a Wi-Fi network on a smartphone is actually the most secure thing that can be done, because these devices have unique one-to-one connections with the service provider and their transmissions cannot be intercepted in nearly all cases. As such, when there is a need to transmit sensitive data, including credit card or bank account details, private personal information, and so on, using these devices without Wi-Fi is often a smart way to go.

What about at home?
Meanwhile, it's important for people to make sure the Wi-Fi networks they use at home are secure as well. In much the same way unprotected public connections can allow hackers access to people's computers, home networks can fall into the same category as long as any potential attackers happen to be in the area. Consequently, home computers should also have anti-virus and firewall programs installed, and passwords for home Wi-Fi networks should follow industry standard guidelines.

The best passwords are those that are long, and which incorporate a series of numbers, letters, and symbols. It's often even wiser to make those passwords totally random, and change them on a regular basis. By doing so, consumers can make sure all their most important information is kept as secure as possible.