The World Firefighter Combat Challenge pits the best firefighters from around the world against each other in competition. According to WSFA 12 News, challengers will climb a five-story tower, grab a heavy hose and descend the tower again. They must then pull a 175 pound dummy down a stretch of the competition grounds, and they must do all of this while wearing 80 pounds of fire gear or more.
The world finals for this event was recently held in Montgomery, Alabama. The news source reported that over 600 firefighters showed up to compete. Many of the competitors were large, very fit men. However, Sarah Fraiser, a firefighter with the Clinton Fire Department in Mississippi, wants people to know the challenge is not just for men. In fact, 5 percent of this year's participants are women, according to the news source.
The 33-year-old mother of one told WSFA 12 News that the challenge was tough but she was proud to be a part of it. Fraiser and another female firefighter, Cheri Ardion of Louisiana, both did well enough in their brackets to move on to the next round.
The finals will take place on Oct. 24.
There is plenty of hype surrounding the upcoming release of "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens." Yet, many people do not realize that one of the stars of the will-be-blockbuster is a former servicemember.
Adam Driver, who is credited on IMDB as Kylo Ren in the new film, once served in the Marine Corps. Driver told Rolling Stone that he had not considered going into the military until his stepfather convinced him it was a way out of small town life in Mishawaka, Indiana.
"I was having an argument with my stepfather, and he was like, 'Why don't you join the Marine Corps?'' Driver told Rolling Stone. "And I was like, 'Noooo! Well, maybe, actually.'"
According to Fox 411, Driver enlisted after 9/11 and spent two years and eight months as a Marine Lance Cpl. Unfortunately, the actor injured his sternum in a mountain biking accident and was medically discharged from service. Soon after, he pursued his passion for acting.
He has been in the HBO series "Girls," the Jason Bateman movie "This is Where I Leave You" and "Inside Llewyn Davis."
Despite his Hollywood success, Driver still keeps close ties with the military. Fox 411 reported that he runs a nonprofit organization called Arts in the Armed Forces, which allows servicemembers to see theater troop performances for free.
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" will be in theaters Dec. 18.
The Home Depot launched a program in 2011, called The Home Depot Foundation. According to the company's website, the group has given $80 million to support veterans. The foundation consists of volunteer employees who dedicate their time to fundraising and working on projects to help former servicemembers.
On Oct. 22, The Home Depot Foundation chapter in Detroit, Michigan, spent the day making repairs to a local women veterans center, as reported by The Detroit News. The Epiphany Veterans Life Center, which provides services like meals, transportation, medical care, counseling, career training, job placement and transitional housing for female veterans in the area, was in need of a quite a few repairs.
Volunteers from the foundation installed new lighting fixtures, painted, put in new flooring and cleaned. They even installed new shelving, according to the news source. In addition to the work done in Michigan, other volunteer groups from the foundation's sector across the country will be participating in a number of veteran improvement jobs through Veterans Day.
To view pictures from the Detroit project and many more Home Depot Foundation jobs, visit Instagram or Twitter and search the hashtag #ServiceSelfie. Every time someone likes one of these hashtagged photos, the foundation will donate $1 toward future veteran projects.
Leaving the military for life after service is a big step for many veterans. A future without the familiarity of uniforms, dog tags and ranks may seem daunting and a tad confusing. Among the social challenges in post-service, veterans must also confront new financial obstacles and career decisions. AFBA has outlined some helpful financial advice for servicemembers preparing to make the transition into civilian life.
Research the differences of civilian finances
Many military members are given tax breaks in a variety of different sectors. Most do not even realize this. Be prepared to begin paying taxes you did not have to pay as a soldier. You should know that civilians pay state income taxes, as well as property taxes. Use the Internet, talk to your military contacts and consult a financial advisor to find out what changes you will see and how you can prepare for them.
Get the job your deserve
Finding a civilian job is a big part of the transition from military life. Check out AFBA's video blog on tweaking your resume so that it gets more views. You can also talk to veteran career services about ways to translate your military skills into a civilian career. A good job can boost your confidence in life after service and help you face any financial challenges that may arise.
Reevaluate your budget
Your military budget will likely look very different from your new civilian one. Creating a budget is an important step toward relatively stress-free financial management. Factor in your new income, housing costs and family expenditures to avoid overspending. A financial advisor may also come in handy during this process, as he or she would have the skills to assess your financial situation from a professional perspective.
Take what you can with you
According to Military.com the Thrift Savings Plan is a "tax-advantaged way of saving for retirement." Many servicemembers participate in this plan but may not realize that they can take the balance they have saved with them upon departure from the military. Servicemembers can opt to leave the funds in the TSP to gain interest, move the funds into their new retirement plan or transfer the balance to an Individual Retirement Account.
Remember to think of your health
Typically, military health benefits do not continue once you leave service. If your spouse does not have a plan that will provide duel coverage, you should begin your search immediately for a plan of your own. Research various medical, dental and vision plans to avoid paying expensive premiums. Your new employer may offer these plans, as well, so discuss options with your human resources contact in your company.
Plan for the future
It is never too early to start planning for the future. Once you leave the military, you will need to choose a civilian life insurance and retirement plan. You might also consider enrolling your spouse in a Survivor's Benefits Plan. If you have children, it is a good idea to open a savings account for them so that they can use the money for college or other future endeavors. Setting aside an emergency fund is never a bad idea, either. Life is unpredictable and having a backup account to cover you in times of need can be a huge comfort.
Life after service should be an exciting time for veterans. There are endless opportunities and new ventures to explore. Finance-related stress should not hold you back from pursuing the civilian life you want. Use the advice above to make the financial part of your transition from military service a little easier.
Halloween is right around the corner, and many families are beginning to pick out costumes for the kids. If you want your children to represent your military family well during this year's Trick-or-Treat festivities, consider dressing them up in a patriotic costume. Take a look at AFBA's top 10 favorite USA-inspired costumes.
1. Captain America
What better way to embody the American spirit than the First Avenger himself? Your sons and daughters can go as the shield-wielding hero and still represent the country you serve by wearing the star-spangled uniform.
2. Statue of Liberty
This costume is a great opportunity to test out your DIY skills. Sons or daughters of military members will be the hit of the Halloween parade as they proudly carry the torch of liberty in front of them. See how to make your own Statue of Liberty costume here.
3. Astronaut
Take your patriotism to infinity and beyond as your dress up your little guy or gal as a space pioneer. Proudly display the American flag patch on the astronaut's uniform, and get crafty by doubling the space helmet as a candy holder.
4. Olympic Athlete
Few things are more American than sports. Give your kids the chance to shine by dressing them up as gold medalists. If you are feeling creative, you could even create a Wheaties box with their face on it to serve as a Trick-or-Treat basket. Easily accessorize this costume with a reflective sweat band and light up athletic shoes to help you see them in the dark.
5. Revolutionary Patriots
Picture how adorable your little ones will look dressed up as Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin or Betsy Ross. Colonial outfits are easily rented, and who knows? Maybe your son or daughter will even learn something about a historical figure in the process.
6. Military Dress Uniforms
Make your kids the spitting image of the servicemember in your family by putting them in their very own dress blues. Most Halloween costume shops will have a variety of military dress uniforms available. All that is left to do is let your kids pick out their favorites.
7. First Responder
Nothing is quite a patriotic as a hometown hero. Dress your little ones up as firefighters, police officers or emergency medical service workers for a good old-fashioned American Halloween.
8. Rosie the Riveter
Give your kids the chance to relive history with this costume. Rosie the Riveter was an iconic image from World War II, but your children will be equally iconic as they stroll through the neighborhood calling out, "We can do it!" Here is an affordable DIY option for this costume.
9. Field Medic
You can get creative with this costume idea. When you dress your children up as a military field medic, you get the opportunity to use the medic's bag as a candy holder. This is another outfit that most Halloween shops will have in stock.
10. Military K-9 Trainer
Want an opportunity to bring the beloved family dog along on Halloween? Dress your kids up as military K-9 trainers. This costume could consist of an all-black outfit with a patch that reads, "K-9 Handler." Accessories might include a whistle and a bag of treats for the well-behaved pup.
Halloween is an exciting time for children. While most kids might dress up as story book characters and princesses, you can give your children the opportunity to portray real life heroes. Most of the costumes above are easy to put together, and many of them will be a hit with your kids. Even though Halloween is a typically patriotic holiday, you can still use it as an opportunity to promote the feeling in the children of your military family.
According to The Center for American Progress, 1.5 million veterans are at risk of homelessness as a result of poverty. With Veteran's Day being only a few weeks away, students at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, got to experience first-hand what it was like to be a veteran in modern society.
The Veterans Affairs Administration and Fairfield University's nursing school partnered to conduct a simulation for the nursing students. According to WTNH News 8, the students were each given a packet that gave them a scenario that included things like how many kids they had, if they were employed and what they made at that job. The students then had to go through the daily activities and responsibilities of a veteran on the resources listed in their packet. The news source reported that many students in the simulation had to "visit" a loan provider or sell items at a pawn shop to try to make it through their imaginary week.
The simulation was meant to show students the difficulties that many veterans face.
"Caring for veterans requires knowledge of their service experience," nursing school Dean and former servicemember Meredith Kazer told WTNH News 8. "Knowledge of the impact on families, special diseases that are in higher prevalence among veterans."
Many of the participants told the news source that they left the experience with a deeper respect for servicemembers.
There are many nonprofits that go out of their way to help veterans in their communities. The Quota Club of Shreveport and United Way teamed up to take veteran support to the next level. According to the website, the Quota Club is a "service organization that cares about disadvantaged women and children and the deaf and hearing impaired." The group consists of community members interested in helping to improve the lives of their friends and neighbors.
United Way of Northwest Louisiana and Volunteer Louisiana recently sponsored the Quota Club as they made over 72 Move In Kits for former servicemembers in the region, as reported by The Shreveport Times.
The group recognized that finding a new home after entering civilian life after service was a big step in veterans' reintegration. The Move In Kits consisted of a large bucket that was filled with household cleaning supplies and personal care products. Not only did the group put together these handy kits, each member handwrote a welcome home letter to a veteran and put it in one of the buckets.
The news source reported that organizations like Hope for the Homeless, Volunteers of America, Easter Seals and the Veterans Administration Medical Center would distribute the kits at the Veteran's Day events in town.
As gun control becomes a hotter topic and society faces the very real threat of active shooter situations, first responders have been forced to change the way they handle these incidents. First responders in southern Wisconsin have been holding training sessions to better prepare for situations in which a perpetrator attacks with a gun.
According to Fox 6 Now, the purpose of the training sessions was to teach firefighters and paramedics who answer the call of an active shooter incident how to work with police officers. One of the police captains involved told the news source that victims cannot wait while first responders organize. The various teams need to be prepared to work together so they can act quicker.
Roughly 400 first responders from Milwaukee and the surrounding areas gathered at State Fair Park to run exercises and practice working with different units.
"In these types of incidents, you're going to have hundreds of officers converging and so you may not be teamed up with members from your own police department," Greenfield Police Captain Dave Patrick told Fox 6 Now.
Oct. 22 is the last day of the training, and the first responders who participated hope the drills will help them should any active shooter situations arise in the future.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that is committed to building homes for people in need. Most recently, they took their humanitarian efforts to a new level by building a home for a veteran and his family.
When the Champaign County's Habitat for Humanity near Urbana, Illinois, found out Army veteran Bobby Hart was looking for a place he and his family could call home, they stepped up to help. According to IllinoisHomepage.net, the organization the local high school organized a fundraiser to raise the money to support the project.
After friends, family and neighbors came together to help Hart and his wife build the house, Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the new property to the family as their 84th home built in Champaign County on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. Hart told the news source he was extremely grateful for the support.
"[The house is a] new start, fresh start for our family," the former servicemember told IllinoisHomepage.net. "It's just a blessing, really. Our kids get to grow up in a house."
The News-Gazette reported that the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a large yard was a small show of gratitude for Hart's service. The family plans to move in later this month.
Servicemembers put their lives on the line in combat to keep the rest of the country safe, but their battle is not over after they leave the military. In fact, for some, the battle of readjusting to civilian life may be even more difficult than their service. Some veterans experience alienation and have difficulty reintegrating, and these factors can combine to drive veterans to commit suicide. The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that every day 22 veterans commit suicide because of combat-related stress or problems with reassimilation. Veterans groups have banded together to make Oct. 22 "Buddy Check 22 Day." During this day, civilians and veterans are encouraged to call former servicemembers to check on them. AFBA has listed a few ways you can participate in Buddy Check 22 Day.
1. Make a call
The easiest way to do your part during this holiday is to pick up the phone and call a veteran. You will not be expected to talk for hours on end, but a simple two minute phone call could be the thing that saves a former servicemember's life.
2. Pay a visit
If you have the time, visit a veteran at his or her home. Spend the afternoon catching up and asking the veteran how things have been. Seeing that there is someone who wants to spend time with them is sometimes all it takes to turn a veteran's life around.
3. Drop a line
If you plan far enough ahead, you could have a letter delivered to a veteran on Oct. 22. While they cannot respond immediately to a letter, your kind words of encouragement and gratitude are something they can return to repeatedly in times of stress.
4. Take them out
You could always take your favorite veteran out for the day. Whether you go out for a nice meal or catch a new movie, a former servicemember is sure to appreciate the fact that you have reached out to them.
Veteran suicide is something everyone can work together to prevent. Sometimes all it takes is knowing that there is one person in the world who is looking out for you, and a phone call or visit can express this to a former servicemember in need. Of course, there are many other ways in which you can participate in Buddy Check 22 Day, but the four suggestions above are a good place to start.