In 1999, the late Senator John McCain, himself a former naval pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam, introduced legislation to designate the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month. Each and every year for the past two decades, the Senate and House of Representatives have adopted resolutions urging the President to issue a proclamation that calls on the people of the United States to recognize and honor U.S. service members as "an act of national unity."

There are a variety of ways for ordinary Americans to heed this call and pay tribute to the brave men and women who serve our country at home and abroad. From recognizing the many national days of observance that take place throughout the month, to performing individual acts of kindness for service members, here are some of the best ways to demonstrate your gratitude this National Military Appreciation Month.

National observances during National Military Appreciation Month

NMAM kicks off each year on May 1 with Loyalty Day, a special day set aside "for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom." First celebrated in 1921, Loyalty Day was made an official recurring holiday by Congress in 1958, and has been recognized with an official proclamation every year by every president since Dwight Eisenhower.

Every May also presents the opportunity to commemorate Victory in Europe Day, which occurred on May 8, 1945, and represented the end of World War II in Europe. This year, VE Day will fall on Wednesday, May 8, and will mark the 74th anniversary of Germany's unconditional surrender to America and the allied forces.

VE Day is shortly followed by Military Spouse Appreciation Day, which traditionally occurs on the Friday before Mother's Day. On May 10, 2019, Americans will honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and recognize the crucial part that military families have to play in strengthening our Armed Forces.

Celebrated the third Saturday in May every year, and this year on May 18, Armed Forces Day is a time reserved for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their service. This holiday celebrates every member of every branch of the U.S. military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

The last Monday of May is reserved for Memorial Day, a federal holiday meant to commemorate the men and women who died while in military service. This year, Memorial Day falls on May 27, 2019, and events are scheduled to take place throughout the country, with military parades happening in many cities and towns.

How to demonstrate your gratitude this May

There are many individual gestures you can make during NMAM, either in conjunction with one of the individual national observances, or simply as a random act of gratitude.

If there is a specific service member or military family in your life, you can let them know you appreciate their sacrifices with a gift, a thank you card or simply by taking the time to tell them. Offering to cook dinner for a military family or handle their chores on Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a good way to show you care. Similarly, calling and thanking a service member on May 18 is a great way to truly celebrate Armed Forces Day.

If you would like to reach out to service members you are not personally acquainted with, remember that a care package is always welcome. Operation Support Our Troops America has a program that ships boxes full of comfort items to men and women serving abroad, and you can find ways to donate, volunteer or join the mission on their website.

You can also do it on your own. The U.S. Postal Service offers a free "Military Care Kit" with all of the necessary supplies for sending packages overseas, including boxes, packing tape and customs forms. Get your free kit shipped to you by visiting the USPS website.

The brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces protect our nation day in and day out, and are deserving of our respect and thanks all year long. But National Military Appreciation Month should inspire us to make a special effort to show our appreciation and display conspicuous acts of gratitude. 

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces bravely put their lives on the line for their country, regularly putting themselves at risk of both physical and mental injuries that can create lifelong scars. Some of these occupational hazards are obvious, while others are lesser known and cry out for more attention.

A 2016 United Health Foundation survey of one million veterans and civilians found that the former group was more likely than the latter to contract arthritis (25 percent for vets compared to 23 percent for civilians), cardiovascular disease (10 percent versus 7 percent), cancers (11 percent versus 10 percent) and illnesses that leave them functionally impaired (26 percent versus 21 percent).

Along those same lines, a North Carolina Medical Journal study concluded that osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of military discharge during armed conflict, second only to combat wounds.

With more active-duty personnel and veterans developing arthritis as a result of their service, advocates are now asking Congress to increase funding for more research into potential methods for combating the disease.

ACR lobbying CDMRP to designate arthritis a research subject

In total, arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases, including both degenerative and inflammatory varieties. The inflammatory forms typically involve immune-system disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Considering the types of physical activity mandated by military life, no one should be too surprised by the sheer prevalence of the disease among those who serve. The most susceptible service members are those who suffer knee injuries while deployed, with one recent study showing that one in five military members with a knee injury develop radiographic arthritis before the age of 30, cutting short the careers of many heroes still in the prime of their life.

"[Young veterans with arthritis] will be looking at a knee replacement in their early 40s versus a peer in the civilian world that may not have been subjected to a mechanical injury getting a knee replacement in their 60s or 70s," Dr. Colin Edgerton, chair of the American College of Rheumatology's Committee on Rheumatological Care, told the Military Times.

A former Army rheumatologist, Dr. Edgerton spent his time in the military treating soldiers with musculoskeletal disorders and, as part of his duties, had to judge whether those with arthritis needed to be medically discharged. Witnessing first-hand the impact the disease had on service members' lives and careers turned Dr. Edgerton into a fierce advocate for arthritis prevention.

"It's about stopping those injuries before they occur so that that person is not looking at early joint replacement surgery and disability at a point in life where they otherwise would not have had that," he said.

Dr. Edgerton and the American College of Rheumatology are hoping legislators will fund research that may uncover new methods of prevention and treatment. More specifically, they're hoping to have arthritis listed as a "line item" in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs budget for fiscal-year 2020, which would mark the disease as a research subject worthy of sharper focus and increased funding.

"If there was a dedicated line in that research budget for arthritis, that would go a long way toward establishing kind of a sustainable focus on arthritis, since it is such a high-impact disease in the military population," Dr. Edgerton stressed.

Arthritis was previously listed as an area of interest in the Army's 2018 Medical Research and Material Command program, but only received roughly $6 million in research funding. By contrast, in 2019 the CDMRP allocated $130 million for breast cancer research.

Though the Congressional Arthritis Caucus made a failed attempt to have the disease included as a line item in the 2019 CDMRP, Dr. Edgerton hopes 2020 will be the year Congress finally funds research into this career-killing and life-altering ailment.

"Just three years ago we kind of recognized that this is something that needed to be done and each year we … get more support," he noted optimistically. "So we hope this is the year that we actually get it done."

March marks Women's History Month, a 31-day observance of female contributions made throughout history and in contemporary society.

The month-long celebration can trace its own history back to the very first National Woman's Day, organized by the Socialist Party of America and held in New York City on Feb. 28, 1909 – a full nine years before American women achieved the right to vote.

On March 19, 1911, the first-ever International Women's Day was celebrated by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, many of whom held demonstrations demanding suffrage and an end to employment sex discrimination. In 1917, after women in Soviet Russia earned the right to vote, March 8 became a national holiday there. International Women's Day was primarily observed in socialist and communist countries, until being taken up by the feminist movement in the late 1960s, and in 1975 the United Nations began celebrating the day.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week, and in 1987 Congress designated the entirety of March as National Women's History Month.

Today Women's History Month provides an occasion to honor women who have broken glass ceilings and claimed major achievements in a variety of fields, including the United States military.

A decorated history of women in the military

Today there are over 216,000 women serving in the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, accounting for over 16 percent of the total number of officers and enlisted personnel.

Women also now comprise 10 percent of the total U.S. veteran population, and represent 20 percent of veterans under the age of 35, according to the Department of Labor.

The very first woman to serve in the American military was Deborah Sampson, who in 1782 enlisted in the Continental Army under a man's name to fight in the Revolutionary War. At one point, she removed a musket ball from her own thigh so that her true gender would not be revealed in surgery. Once her identity was discovered, Sampson was honorably discharged, and her husband received a military widow's pension in 1832, according to The New York Times.

Female enlistees disguised themselves as men during the Mexican-American War and Civil War as well, though most women served as nurses during this period of American history. Most notably, Dr. Mary Walker acted as a surgeon for Union troops, and was held by the Confederacy as a prisoner of war after she crossed enemy lines to treat wounded civilians. To this day, she is the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

In the early part of the 20th century, Congress created the Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. Though they did not possess military rank, nor were they entitled to the same pay or Veterans' Benefits as men, over 21,000 of these nurses served military hospitals both at home and overseas during World War I.

In WWII, roughly 400,000 women served in noncombatant roles, including as nurses, mechanics, clerks, pilots and ambulance drivers. Hundreds more acted as field intelligence agents in the OSS, 88 were taken as POWs and 16 were killed in action, according to Task and Purpose.

In 1948, the Women's Armed Service Integration Act enabled women to become permanent members of the military, rather than only serve during wartime. There was a female presence in America's subsequent wars, with 50,000 women participating in Korea, many as nurses in M.A.S.H. units, and 11,000 deployed to Vietnam, where Commander Elizabeth Barrett became the first woman to hold a command in a combat zone.

Congress authorized women to fly in combat missions and serve on combat ships in 1991 and 1993, and the first female fighter pilots flew combat missions in Iraq in 1998, the same year that Captain Kathleen McGrath became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship.

The 21st century has been filled with even more landmarks, including Col. Linda McTague becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Air Force fighter squadron in 2004 and Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody becoming the first woman to achieve four-star officer rank in 2008.

In 2016, the Department of Defense opened all combat jobs to women, without exception, paving the way for even greater female military heroics now and in the future. The following year, the first woman graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer course. Though the female lieutenant requested that her name not be released, the Marines did put out a video that showed her training for her milestone achievement.

This Women's History Month is a great time for all Americans to reflect upon the rich history of women in the military, while also thanking current female officers and enlistees for their service. 

On Wednesday, March 13, patriots and dog lovers alike can join together in saluting our nation's four-legged heroes for National K9 Veterans Day.

This year's holiday will commemorate the 77th anniversary of dogs officially becoming a part of the U.S. Armed Forces. According to Military.com, it was on March 13, 1942, that the Army first began training for its new War Dog Program, known also as the "K-9 Corps."

The United States Postal Service is among those paying tribute, having recently announced a new booklet of 20 stamps that "honors the nation's brave and loyal military working dogs."

According to the USPS, each block of four stamps features one stamp each of the four breeds chosen for inclusion in the booklet: German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd.

The patriotic stamps were designed by art director Greg Breeding, and created by the Los Angeles-based DKNG Studios. The stylized digital images feature red, white, blue and gold coloring, along with illustrations of dogs wearing tactical service vests. In the background of each stamp is the detail of a white star. A full white star on a gold background also appears on the center of each block.

Though an official release date for the military dog stamps has not yet been revealed, the Postal Service did promise that more details on dates and locations for the first-day-of-issue ceremonies would be forthcoming.

A distinguished breed of service

Though the K-9 Corps dates back to WWII, military dogs have been serving in the U.S. military since World War I. The most famous canine veteran of the Great War was a Staffordshire terrier mix named Stubby, who saved many sleeping soldiers by barking and waking them during a German mustard gas attack. According to History.com, Stubby went on to serve in 17 battles and survive at least two major injuries, including shrapnel in his chest and leg, before becoming the first dog to be given the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Armed Forces.

When Sergeant Stubby died in his sleep at the age of 10 in 1926, his remains were gifted to the Smithsonian Institution where they continue to be displayed today.

Examples of canine heroism can be found in more recent conflicts, as well. Just this past November, an Army Ranger dog named Maiko was killed in action during a skirmish in Afghanistan, according to Stars and Stripes. The 7-year-old military working dog was leading Rangers into a compound when he was fired upon by a militant, revealing the militant's position and saving the lives of other soldiers, who then targeted that position.

There is a memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, that recognizes such sacrifices. Although the War Dog Memorial was originally built to remember only those dogs that served in Vietnam, it now honors all dogs that have served in the United States military.

Today an estimated 2,300 military working dogs serve on U.S. bases worldwide, performing dangerous tasks alongside their human counterparts. These canine warriors often use their noses and smaller sizes to engage in search and rescue missions that more traditional service members are less equipped to complete.

"These military dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs, are putting themselves on the line. They're out in the front lines," Diane Whetsel, head of the Sage Foundation that works to help fund medical services for military dogs, told CNN.

While it may be true that "all dogs go to heaven," surely a special place there is reserved for all of the pups that we remember and pay tribute to on National K9 Veterans Day.

Veterans often have a difficult time finding jobs after leaving the military for a variety of reasons, ranging from employers with unconscious hiring biases to soldiers themselves having skill sets that do not easily translate to the civilian workforce. One potential career path that would provide veterans with the ability to continue doing meaningful work is the role of educator.

For over 25 years, the Troops to Teachers Program has enabled military members with a baccalaureate degree or higher to complete a teaching certification process and become an academic subject teacher for kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Military members who wish to use their unique experiences and knowledge to transform young lives can do so through TTT, and they can even get started while still on active duty.

How to transition to teaching through TTT

All current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces interested in a career in teaching can receive counseling, referrals and job assistance through TTT.

Though a bachelor's degree or higher is required to teach elementary or secondary school, becoming a vocational or technical instructor requires only the equivalent of one year of college and six years work experience in the technical or vocational field in which you wish to teach.

Those who qualify and choose to participate in TTT can receive stipends of up to $5,000 to defray the cost of teacher certification training. There are also bonuses of up to $10,000 available to those who teach in high-needs schools. In order to receive a stipend or bonus, a program participant must commit to teaching for at least three years at targeted schools, typically located in low-income areas.

It's important to keep in mind that Troops to Teachers is not a teacher certification program itself, but rather a program that works through a network of state offices to provide participants with certification counseling, certification tuition funds and referrals for employment leads.

Participants can use an Alternative Certification Program or University Teacher Preparation Program to complete their certification. According to The Balance, those stationed in Europe would likely benefit the most from ACP, since it allows individuals to complete their teaching certification through online courses.

There are 31 state TTT offices operating across the country, providing placement assistance for the more than 50 states and territories that are part of the program. These offices will help military members with state certification requirements, though participants can also use the TTT website to speak with representatives and receive alternative certification information.

A history of serving in uniform and in the classroom

The Troops to Teachers program began in 1993, as a response to the military downsizing of the early nineties and a way to transition service members to a rewarding and vital teaching career. In the last 26 years, more than 20,000 veterans have made their way from the military to the classroom, becoming teachers and establishing the program's credibility and reputation through their impressive performances in the classroom.

"School systems are finding former military members to be very valuable assets," John Gantz, director of the TTT program, told The Balance. "They bring leadership skills, a concern for their students [similar to their troops] and a lot of experience to the classroom."

Over the course of the program, schools have also noticed a higher retention rate from former military members than from teachers who just finished college.

Service members who would like to learn more about the Troops to Teachers Program can obtain more information from their state TTT office, or by visiting www.ProudToServeAgain.com.

On Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, the United States Coast Guard Reserve will celebrate its 78th year of being "Semper Paratus," or "Always Ready."

Though still a spring chicken compared to the Coast Guard, which was itself formed in 1790 as one of America's five armed forces, the Coast Guard Reserve's nearly eight decades of history is worth reflecting upon.

From World War II to today, reservists have served our nation proudly, responding to foreign enemies as well as natural disasters. Here is a look back at the rich heritage that many will be observing this Tuesday.

USCG Reserve created just in time to serve in WWII

The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve actually traces its beginnings back to the signing into law of the Coast Guard Reserve Act on June 23, 1939, which created a non-military reserve service made up of volunteer boat owners and yachtsmen, performing the types of tasks handled by today's Auxiliary.

It was not until the Auxiliary and Reserve Act of 1941 was signed into law on Feb. 19, 1941, that the two organizations became separate entities, which is why the Reserve celebrates the 19th as its birthday. The legislation designated the Coast Guard Reserve as a military branch of the Active service, and turned the civilian volunteers into the Auxiliary, creating a separation that still exists to this day.

The service's birth couldn't have come at a more opportune time, as America entered into World War II later that year after the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Active Duty "regular reservists" ended up serving side by side with their regular Coast Guard shipmates in all phases of wartime operations, with their heroics on display in locations ranging from Iwo Jima to Normandy.

According to the Reserve, there were 6,800 Reserve Officers, 300 Reserve Warrant Officers and over 135,200 Reserve enlisted by the end of the war, outnumbering the regular Coast Guard by a ratio of five to one.

Evolving roles in the years that followed

After the conclusion of WWII, the Reserve was disbanded, with all of the regular and Temporary Reservists returning to their civilian status.

This remained the case for several years, until a 1948 executive order from President Truman ordered all five branches to "stimulate, enlarge and train" their respective Reserve components. The following year, the first federal funding was finally approved for Coast Guard Reserve units, and in 1950, hundreds of Coast Guard Reservists volunteered for Active Duty in the first year of the Korean War.

During the early phase of the Vietnam War, the Coast Guard Reserve hit peak recruitment numbers, with more than 18,000 members recorded in 1965. Yet numbers dwindled as the conflict wound down, and there was again discussion of disbanding the Reserve, according to Military Benefits.

But in October of 1972, Congress tasked the Coast Guard Reserve with a new mission when it authorized the involuntary call up of Coast Guard Reservists for peacetime assistance. Since then, the Reserve has responded to numerous accidents and natural disasters, including the Mississippi, Ohio and Red River floods, the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, as well as multiple vessel explosions, sinkings and airplane crashes.

More recently, Reservists supported rescue and recovery operations related to the earthquake in Haiti and helped out in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and participated in the recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Today, as it enters its 78th year, the United States Coast Guard Reserve continues to uphold its Semper Paratus pledge, promising to be always ready, whether at home or overseas, and whether man-made or natural. 

The United Service Organizations will be celebrating its 78^th birthday on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.

Better known as the USO, the private, not-for-profit organization works in cooperation with the Department of Defense to provide live entertainment and other services to members of the United States military and their families.

Born in 1941, the USO claims six different parents—the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked the six agencies to combine their resources to boost the morale of troops fighting in World War II.

Although congressionally chartered, the USO is not a government agency, and has relied on charitable donations and the efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers for all of its nearly eight decades of history.

A new organization gives Hope to America's heroes

After being formed in 1941, the USO quickly became known for its live performances, which began with stateside military theaters spread throughout the country, and soon led to Hollywood stars heading overseas to entertain the troops.

Of those stars, the one most closely associated with the organization was comedian Bob Hope, who performed his first USO show only three months after its founding. Hope went on to entertain troops for the next 50 years, making his last trip overseas in 1990 during the Gulf War.

In 1997, the U.S. Congress declared Bob Hope the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces," in recognition of his half a century of entertaining those serving in the nation's wars. The USO Center at the Los Angeles International Airport also bears his name.

Of course, no one could have originally imagined that Hope would eventually develop such a lengthy tenure as an ambassador for the USO—especially since the organization originally disbanded in 1947, after the Axis powers surrendered and ended WWII.

But in 1949, with America at the beginning of what would eventually become a lengthy Cold War, the USO's six original founding organizations decided to revive the agency. But due to funding issues, it wasn't until the Korean War began that the USO was back entertaining troops overseas, and the Defense Department earmarked $13 million for the organization's operations.

Yet the agency dealt with similar funding issues after the war concluded, and became dormant once more, remaining inactive until the U.S. entered the conflict in Vietnam.

Eventually, the USO received a government charter, and the organization also began placing more emphasis on improving the lives of military families, while still providing entertainment to soldiers as well.

Over 35 million troops served

Today the USO claims over 200 locations spread across 14 countries, including America, where it has a presence in 27 states. Over 30,000 volunteers help the organization realize its mission, as do the many musicians and entertainers who continue to perform live shows for military service members.

In 2016, during a gala event to celebrate the USO's 75^th birthday, retired Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. estimated that the USO had served more than 35 million Americans over the course of its history, according to The Providence Journal.

That service continues to take many forms, including family counseling for military members returning home from deployment, services for troops at airports as they travel to and from duty overseas and various programs that allow those deployed overseas to connect with their families stateside

As mentioned, the USO is a charity organization with a small paid staff, which relies on volunteers and charitable donations. To give the USO a birthday gift, head to their donation page and show your support.

Late last year, just days before breaking for the holidays, the 115th United States Congress managed to pass two pieces of legislation aimed at improving education benefits for members of the military transitioning into civilian life.

The Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act, which was designed to correct mistakes made by the Department of Veterans Affairs that led to delayed and inaccurate payments for thousands of Post-9/11 GI Bill users, passed both houses with unanimous consent. Further bipartisan support was shown for the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act, which had a similar goal of protecting student veterans, as well as easing voting rules for military spouses and expanding burial benefits for military families, among other provisions.

President Donald Trump has since signed both bills into law. Here's what the new legislation will mean for military members and veterans moving forward.

GI Bill students underpaid due to VA errors to receive reimbursement

The first bill pertains to those taking college classes or getting on-the-job training through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides up to 36 months of education benefits to qualifying veterans or active duty military members with at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001.

Veterans were previously required to use these education benefits within 15 years of completing their service, yet that deadline was erased with the creation of the Forever GI Bill. Unfortunately, a Forever GI Bill provision that changed the way housing stipends are calculated was not implemented on time due to major technology failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which led to many students being underpaid, according to Military Times.

Not only did some students struggle to pay their rent or mortgage bills as a result, but many were also hit by late fees for tuition that the VA also failed to pay on time.

The Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act of 2018 holds the VA accountable for retroactively fixing inaccurate payments and reimbursing affected students, while also barring schools from the practice of charging GI Bill students for tuition payments that are delayed through no fault of their own.

"For many student veterans, every dime counts," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who co-sponsored the bill. "That's why the VA needs to get this right and pay student veterans the full amount of money they were promised. I'm glad that my colleagues in the Senate saw how important this issue is, and I hope this bill stays on the fast track to becoming law, so we can make this right for our veterans."

More benefits for student, transitioning and homeless veterans

These student veterans protections are complemented by a provision in the new Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide GI Bill users with electronic proof that they will be receiving housing payments from the VA.

The new requirement will enable students to prove to landlords their ability to pay for housing even if they are a full-time student without active employment. The new law also enables the spouse of a service member who dies on active duty to terminate a residential lease without penalty for up to one year after the death.

In addition to students, transitioning service members and homeless veterans are also set to receive greater assistance acclimating to life on the homefront, thanks to the new law.

The VA is now required to contract with a non-federal entity to identify and post a list of programs and organizations that can help service members transition out of the military.

Another provision gives homeless veterans up to 60 days after moving into housing to apply for employment assistance under the federal Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program. Previously, only veterans living on the streets or in a shelter were eligible for assistance.

The spouses and family members of U.S. military members are also impacted by the new legislation, according to Air Force Times.

Military spouses are now allowed to use the same residence as their active-duty spouse for state and local voting purposes, whether or not they meet the residency requirements of a state on their own merits.

The law also extends veteran burial rights to the spouses and children of active-duty service members, even if they pass away before the military member. Previously, being buried in veteran cemeteries required approval from the VA.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, has a rich history as a proving ground for various major developments.

The base was built on and partially named after land that was once used by local inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright to test and perfect the world's first successful airplane. During World War II, German aircrafts were sent back to the laboratories for analysis. Beginning in the late 1940s, Wright-Patt's Air Technical Intelligence Center began its infamous investigation into reports of UFO sightings. In the late fifties, the base was the site of medical examinations to determine the final selection of the Mercury astronauts who eventually landed on the moon. Thousands of aeronautical inventions have been birthed at the base, including advanced gas turbine engines, aircraft electronic controls, stealth technology and precision-guided bombs.

And this year, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base designed and tested one of its latest innovations: better-fitting Air Force maternity uniforms.

Time for change

Earlier this fall, the base published calls for volunteers who were willing to wear the new maternity service dress shirt. At the time, officials told Military.com that they were looking for around 30 to 50 pregnant airmen to participate in the wear test.

"The greater the number of participants the more accurate the results, due to the ability to fit many different body types and stages of pregnancy," said base spokesman Daryl Mayer.

The updated maternity uniform was designed with an eye towards improving the comfort, fit and functionality of Air Force uniforms. As such, the new shirt now features darts on the front and back for a more fitted appearance, and is also made of a stretchier material that boasts better stain resistance and more opacity.

Whether the shirt hits its target of providing enhanced comfort will be determined by the volunteers, who were asked to fill out questionnaires at the end of the experience.

"The feedback from the fit/wear participants will be utilized to make any final adjustments to the fit or design of the improved maternity shirt," said Mayer. "This participant feedback ensures that we have a final product that meets the user's needs."

A wave of potential updates

This new maternity shirt is just the latest installment in a number of uniform changes that the Air Force has recently implemented to meet the needs of pregnant troops and new mothers alike. Last November, pregnant airmen at Wright-Patt were testing a maternity airman battle uniform. The camouflage maternity uniform, which featured pants with a full-stretch panel and an adjusted chest fit for the blouse, was so comfortable, according to Air Force Capt. Mollie Eshel, that her co-workers didn't even notice she was pregnant until her 34th week.

Talk about a successful camo outfit!

Many storied or technologically-advanced developments have come out of Wright-Patt over the years, but updated uniforms for expectant mothers actually serve a rather valuable and unheralded purpose.

"Women suffer in silence on many of the uniforms that don't fit. And they've never fit," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein. "The amount of money that women are spending altering essentially a men's uniform to fit a female frame is unsatisfactory. So we're going to get at this."

Working with only a $1.7 million budget and 18 staff members, the relatively small uniform office headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is tasked with the order to "get at this." When you consider that the team is responsible for outfitting hundreds of thousands of Air Force personnel serving all over the globe – and above it – it's hard not to respect their service.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time for mental health providers, advocates, survivors and allies to promote suicide prevention awareness. This idea encompasses everything from reducing mental health stigma, promoting treatment and supporting intervention strategies. 

Suicide in America

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Rates have increased by more than 30 percent since 1999. In fact, Nevada was the only state to see a decrease in suicides during this time period.    

Suicide isn't just a mental health issue. Per the CDC, other contributing factors include relationship issues, substance abuse, stress and more. Yet it's important to understand how depression, anxiety and other emotional or behavioral issues contribute to such tragic circumstances. Rates of suicide may finally decrease if the stigma around mental health care disappears for good.

Events like Suicide Prevention Month – as well as Suicide Prevention Day and Suicide Prevention Week – were created to reduce this stigma and offer support to those who may be suffering. 

Veteran suicide statistics

Unfortunately, veterans are more likely to die by suicide than the general population. A report from the Department of Veterans Affairs found that although retired servicemembers make up 8 percent of people in America, they account for 14 percent of all suicides. Overall, nearly 21 veterans die by suicide every day, which translates to a rate that's 2.1 times higher than that of nonveteran adults.

There are numerous possibilities for why veteran suicide rates are higher than civilians'. One study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's JAMA Psychiatry, found timing may have an effect. Researchers found that veterans who had little down time between deployment or who were initially deployed within the first year of service were at higher risk of suicide. 

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder are also culprits that may affect veterans more strongly than the general population. As the VA noted, veterans who suffer combat trauma, especially multiple wounds and/or hospitalizations, are at a high risk of suicide. The more times the person was subjected to trauma, the greater that risk increased. Similarly, one study found that PTSD and suicide had a strong correlation – more so than other anxiety disorders.

Resources for friends and family

The VA understands that suicide is a serious problem affecting veterans and servicemembers, and the department knows it's in a position to help. Veterans who receive mental health assistance through the VA are less likely to commit suicide than those who do not.

In 2007, the VA launched the Veterans Crisis Line to help veterans, servicemembers and their loved ones who may be having mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. The Crisis Line offers 24/7 support, 365 days a year, even if the caller isn't registered with the VA or enrolled in its health care services. 

Friends and loved ones should keep an eye out and look for signs of crisis among the veterans in their lives. Vets themselves should also look for these red flags so they can take themselves to treatment. Signs of possible self harm include:

• Continuous sadness or depression.
• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Agitation or mood swings.
• Sleeplessness.
• Excessive guilt, shame or sense of failure.
• Rage.
• Substance abuse.
• Neglecting personal care.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.
• Giving away cherished possessions. 

The Crisis Line, in collaboration with the VA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also created a handy tool called the Veterans Self-Check Quiz to help former servicemembers determine if they need treatment. Users can decide what to do after they take the assessment, whether that would be chatting with a responder, getting a referral for an in-person visit or nothing at all. 

While suicide and mental health issues affect veterans at a higher rate than the rest of the population, it's important to remember that help is available. National Suicide Prevention Month is the time for veterans, servicemembers and their families to spread awareness and end stigma once and for all.