Service animals are invaluable for many Americans living with physical disabilities. But these animals may be able to provide critical support for those with unseen injuries as well.

A growing number of veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder have found comfort and support through partnerships with service dogs. And now the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs wants to study just how effective this relationship is. The VA is currently conducting a study on the effect that service dogs can have on veterans suffering from PTSD, the organization wrote in a blog post. 

ClinicalTrials.gov reported that the study will primarily look at the activities and quality of life of the veterans paired with service dogs over three years. Secondary markers that will be measured include severity and symptoms of PTSD, depression levels, suicide intent, health care utilization and cost, employment and sleep. 

While there are many organizations that help partner veterans with service dogs, the VA currently only approves animals for patients who are blind or deaf, the organization reported. However, this could change in the future.

"It was like night and day for me when Adonis entered my life," Joel Nicholson, a veteran of the Marines and National Guard, told the VA about his service dog.

The VA reported that a doctor recommended that Nicholson get the dog after he checked in to the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program in West Virginia. 

The study is estimated to include 220 veterans, and participants are already being partnered with service animals. It is expected to be completed by June 2017. 

Army Maj. Scott Smiley was leading his platoon through Iraq in 2005 when a bomb exploded in the road and left him completely blind. Upon returning to civilian life after service, Smiley found it difficult to cope with his injury. However, he quickly realized that he needed to overcome his disability and began to take on challenges like climbing Washington's Mount Rainier and his most recent accomplishment, completing the Ironman Triathlon. 

With determination comes success
After rehab, Smiley knew he had to be strong to take care of his wife, Tiffany. 

"I could let my mind go in a way and say we're ruined and we're not going to be able to do anything," Tiffany told CBS News. "Or I could go the other way and be his biggest cheerleader. And I sort of took that on, even if I didn't believe it myself."

With the support of Tiffany and his brother-in-law, Smiley tackled the Ironman Triathlon – a 2.5-mile swim, a 100-mile bike ride and a 26-mile marathon. If that is not enough, he had to compete in 135-degree heat. Smiley told CBS News that finishing the race made him realize that no matter what your situation is, if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. 

According to People magazine, his successful race is going to be the subject of a documentary to be released in November 2015.

Adaptive sports in general are great therapy for injured veterans. But there is nothing quite like adding a little competition to inspire wounded warriors to greatness, especially when it involves a friendly struggle against other branches of the service.  

After more than a week of competition, the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games ended on June 28. The Army took home highest honors with 162 medals, the Department of Defense reported. The Marine Corps finished in second and the Air Force came in third. More than 500 medals were awarded over the course of the event. 

A celebration of perseverance 
The Warrior Games is an annual athletic competition for ill, wounded or injured servicemembers and veterans in the U.S. While the competition has traditionally occurred in Colorado, this year the event was organized by the Department of Defense and held at Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia, the DoD reported. 

"What an incredible series of Games it's been," said Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work during the closing ceremony. "These Games demonstrate just how important adaptive sports are to the recovery, reconditioning, rehabilitation process for our wounded, ill and injured warriors."

Competition across branches 
This year's Warrior Games featured approximately 250 athletes from the Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command and the British Armed Forces, the DoD reported. 

One of many impressive feats during the event was the 57 medals won by Army swimmers over the course of 48 events. According to the Army, its soldiers took home 17 gold, 22 silver and 18 bronze medals at the meet on June 27 at the Manassas Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center pool. 

The branch's medals included first place finishes in the 200 meter mixed freestyle relay (02:18.3) and the women's 200 meter freestyle relay (02:31.6), the Army reported.

"You can feel the love," Tracy Smith, a Marine veteran, told an Army reporter while watching the swimming events. "They persevere and people rally. It's such a positive experience. That's what it's all about." 

The Chairman's Cup was awarded to the Army team at the closing ceremony on June 28, the DoD reported. The cup goes to the team that earns the most points throughout the course of the Games. 

Emergency responders may not be fighting another person, but they are engaged in a battle nonetheless. That may be one of the reasons why organizations are finding that veterans are well-equipped for work in disaster relief in their life after the military. 

Veterans on a mission
This month, about a dozen veterans were deployed from Colorado to Alaska to help fight fires that have broken out in the state, Colorado's 9 News reported. Their training is the result of a new partnership announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture between the Bureau of Land Management and Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is a veteran organization that takes advantage of the skills of former military members and trains them as first responders for emergency situations across the country.

According to the Team Rubicon website, the organization was born when two marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, and six other veterans and first responders flew to Haiti in the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake to help provide aid in areas that traditional organizations deemed too dangerous. The two realized that the skills they had learned in the military translated well to disaster relief. After they returned to Haiti they started Team Rubicon. Today the organization gives veterans purpose, community and self-worth as they bridge the gap between when a disaster occurs and the time that more conventional aid can arrive.   

Building on military skills
Multiple organizations are eager to work with the nonprofit to bolster wildfire fighting capacity nationwide. The National Park Service announced that the Point Reyes National Seashore is partnering with Team Rubicon to host firefighter training for 75 to 80 veterans during the end of June. Successful completion of the training will allow the veterans to be deployed to fight wildfires during the critical summer season. 

"It has always been a bucket list thing for me, since I was young, I have always loved the outdoors and taking care of the environment," Veteran Marc Gonzalez of Colorado Springs told 9 News. "Fighting wild land fires is just something I have always wanted to do. This opportunity came up with Rubicon and I could not say no."

 To date, nearly 28,000 members of Team Rubicon have been deployed nationwide in response to floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons and other disasters, the Department of Agriculture reported. 

According to Time magazine, around 2.6 million Americans have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan on active duty. Of these servicemembers, over 600,000 have been left completely or partially disabled.

From June 18-19, the Defense Department's Warrior Games took place at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. A total of 270 injured veterans competed in a variety of sports competitions. Who are these brave and determined men and women? Meet a few of the vets who participated in the event. 

Redmond Ramos was serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Navy when he stepped on an explosive device and lost his left leg, according to Navy Live. He decided that he was not going to let his disability ruin his love for running and joined the Warrior Games to partake in the track and field events, among others. 

Kristen Esget was deployed from the Coast Guard when she was hit by a car. She experienced traumatic brain injuries and severe damage to her right knee. She told Time that tasks like reading and sleeping became incredibly difficult, but after years of strength and perseverance, she swam at the Warrior Games. 

Krystoffer L. Bowman was a technical surgeon in the Air Force. He fought through multiple disabilities while serving for over 19 years, focusing his efforts on helping wounded soldiers. His injuries got worse without the proper attention and he now has a range of conditions, including occipital neuralgia, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His determination and courage continued at the Games during the cycling and volleyball competitions. 

Organizations across the world have been actively trying to raise funds and awareness for military veterans who have returned from service with physical and mental injuries. Many of these servicemembers experience difficulty finding jobs and adapting to other aspects of civilian life. To lend them a helping hand, American Corporate Partners has started a new summer challenge that is aimed at pushing the country to realize the hardships these veterans endure and to do what they can to show their support. 

New summer challenge focuses on veterans
Similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge that took the Internet by storm during the summer of 2014, the Give Them 20 challenge puts participants to the test by requesting that they do 20 push-ups and other actions, depending on how creative people decide to get. Participants then challenge two of their friends to do the same – or add a new task – and then post a video of it on social media. 

ACP was founded in 2008 as a nonprofit centered on assisting veterans entering into the workforce during life after service. According to The Huffington Post, the organization provides an online community to volunteers who share their advice and career experiences, which veterans can then use as a helpful resource. ACP also offers a job board, which has attracted some of the country's major corporate leaders.

"Whether you're red or blue or left of center or right of center, it doesn't make a difference," Sidney Goodfriend, ACP's founder and chairman, told The Huffington Post. "We all should figure out a way to help these guys."

The news source noted that the need for awareness is pertinent, as many veterans, particularly female vets, continue to find it challenging to find a new career as civilians. Many of these retired servicemembers need to support their families and do not have the funds without a job.

Challenge catches fire
Syracuse.com explained that many of entertainment's most popular celebrities have already taken part in the challenge, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Will Arnett, the Rockettes and the entirety of the New York Mets. Goodfriend mentioned that he still wants A-listers like Jay Z and Taylor Swift to participate and hopes they do before the challenge loses steam. 

Like the Ice Bucket Challenge, the main goal behind the project is encouraging people to donate to the retired servicemembers who need their support. However, Goodfriend made it clear that all he asks is participants become aware of the situation these veterans are in. 

"Almost every charity out there is trying to get you to write a check," Goodfriend told The Huffington Post. "But this is the only nonprofit, certainly for veterans, not looking to raise money. We're looking for peoples' time and we try to make it really easy for them to be able to contribute."

ACP has provided a website on which veterans can watch all of the new #GiveThem20 challenges and witness the country's acts of solidarity. 

Women in the armed forces have more options than ever before when it comes to the ways that they can serve their country. After an intense application and selection process, a select group of women in the Navy will be the first to expand these opportunities even further.  

On June 22, officials released the "FY16 Enlisted Women in Submarines Selections," naming the first group of female sailors who will serve in the U.S. submarine force. The list includes four chief petty officers and 34 others in lower pay grades, the Navy reported. They will serve in the two crews of the U.S.S. Michigan. 

According to the Navy, the selection process was competitive. The branch received applications from almost every community throughout the Navy, representing 31 different ratings. Each application was reviewed and scored using an objective system.

Navy Times reported that the application window opened in January and the selection process began in April. 

"We could not be more pleased with the amount of interest shown by enlisted women in wanting the opportunity to serve in the undersea warfare domain," said Rear Adm. Charles Richard, the Enlisted Women in Submarines Task Force commander. "It's an exciting time in the submarine force, as we continue to move forward in shaping the future of our force, drawing from the best pool of talent possible." 

The 38 selected women will undergo standard submarine medical screening before they begin training, the Navy reported. According to Navy Times, 69 female sailors were listed as alternates in case any of the selected women are unable to report for duty. 

Civil War history is lying under the waters of the Savannah River. With the help of a U.S. Navy dive team, it may be salvaged. 

The CSS Georgia, an ironclad warship, was built to protect the city of Savannah, Georgia, in 1862, Navy Times reported. It was scuttled in the river near the end of the Civil War.

Navy Times reported that Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 23 was deployed to the site on June 1 and will spend just under two months freeing the Confederate ship from the bottom of the river.

According to The Associated Press, the divers will remove the wreckage in the following categories: four cannons, live ordinance, forward and aft armor casements, and engine remnants.

CWO3 Jason Potts, commander of MDSC-23, told Navy Times that the environment will provide the team with the biggest challenge. Because the remains of the ship are on the edge of a shipping channel, the divers will have to battle strong currents and shifting debris. 

Even the Army gets a fashion reboot every once in awhile. But in the case of the new camo rolling out for soldiers, the focus is safety, not style. 

Beginning on July 1, soldier uniforms in the Operational Camouflage Pattern will be available for purchase at select military clothing stores, the U.S. Army reported.

New soldiers will receive army combat uniforms in the pattern beginning in January 2016. During the summer of 2016, equipment and uniforms in the pattern will become available to members of the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. National Guard and Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Enlisted soldiers receive an annual clothing stipend that can be used to buy pieces in the new pattern. 

"I myself will wait until I am issued my clothing allowance before purchasing a uniform with the Operational Camouflage Pattern," said Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey. "I encourage all soldiers and leaders to do the same by budgeting for a new uniform, belt, boots, and T-shirts as you receive your clothing allowance over the next 2-3 years."

The Army reported that the new pattern was selected after the most comprehensive uniform testing the military branch has ever performed.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told Army Times that the testing revealed that the pattern of the uniform is very important in protecting soldiers in a variety of environments.

Army Times reported that the Operational Camouflage Pattern will replace the Universal Camouflage Pattern, a green and gray pattern that proved to be unpopular. The new uniforms will be similar to the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage that has been worn in Afghanistan over the last five years. 

When "Good Kill" premiered in May, the film offered moviegoers a glimpse into the life of an Air Force drone pilot. The movie received relatively positive feedback from critics, and The Washington Post reported that it helps civilians to better understand what sacrifice and service look like in modern combat.  

The whole story
With such portrayals in popular culture on the rise, the U.S. Air Force released a statement on May 15 to dispel common misconceptions that the public has about remotely piloted aircrafts. The statement examined six primary myths:

1. Remotely piloted aircrafts are less safe than manned aircrafts.
2. Combatant commanders are not requesting RPA capability.
3. Federal Aviation Administration requirements do not apply to RPAs.
4. Only a pilot and sensor operator are required to complete an RPA mission.
5. RPAs are only used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
6. An RPA mission is like a video game. 

According to the Air Force, every RPA mission involves a pilot and crew who control the aircraft, and each combat air patrol is supported by nearly 200 people in various capacities. Contrary to popular belief, the safety rates are in fact comparable to those of a manned aircraft, and they are currently the top capability requested by combat commanders around the world.

The Air Force reported that RPAs are currently being used to support combat search and rescue, strike coordination, closer air support and other tasks in addition to ISR and other mission sets. 

For video game enthusiasts, the Air Force emphasized that controlling a remotely piloted aircraft is not a game. New pilots, many of whom have already undergone training for flying manned aircrafts, go through an intense, year-long training program to learn how to operate RPAs. It is not as simple as picking up a controller. 

Playing an active role
The Air Force wants the public to know the real stories of the men and women who operate RPAs, a picture that is not always accurately portrayed in popular culture. 

"We've been quiet about it for years, and there were good reasons for that, there were some direct concerns," Col. Jim Cluff told Military Times. "Now we've undertaken a very deliberate process to tell the story while at the same time making sure we are protecting our airmen. Our concern is just that we didn't talk a lot about what the community does and how they do that, and left it to others to figure it out."