With more and more troops coming home from extended deployments, there was a strong focus on how best to integrate soldiers back into life after service at the Army's quarterly meeting between top officials and several representatives of veterans groups.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno and Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho were among the highest ranking officials on hand at the Jan. 24 meeting to ensure that soldiers are being supported in their returns to the U.S., the Army reported. Several veterans organizations were represented, from those focused on finding post-military employment for servicemembers to those helping soldiers work through traumatic experiences from combat.

"When leadership comes in to talk to the veterans' service community, it demonstrates to veterans that they are interested in the soldiers after they get out of the service," said Genevieve Chase, an Army reservist and founder of American Women Veterans.

Among the leadership present was Col. Adam Rocke, director of the Soldier for Life initiative. Founded only a year and a half ago, the program functions as an all-inclusive support system for veterans in search of health care, certification for skills gained through military service and general advice on how to ease back into civilian life.

"These [meetings] are paramount because at the end of the day, it's not about any one individual," Rocke said, "it's about the collective group – the service members and their families as a whole."

With the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Middle East in its final stages, the House Armed Services Committee held a series of hearings to discuss the next major strategic move of the country's military might: the Asia pivot.

Stars and Stripes reported that several Congressmen on the committee voiced their concerns over a China grown economically and militarily confident and the need for U.S. forces to protect the interests of various allies in the region.  

"The trajectory for our relationship with China is uncertain today, where we're going to go in the future," said Frank Kendall, an advisor to the Secretary of Defense. "One of the reasons we're focused on the Asia Pacific is we want to do our best to influence that trajectory to go in a positive way."

Part of that uncertainty comes from a lack of hard intelligence on China's military capabilities. In 2012, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published a report that cast doubt on the reported figures of China's military spending. While China itself reports that it spent over $100 billion on its armed forces, the SIPRI report alleges that contributions from other branches of government most likely push that number upwards of 50 percent higher.

With a lack of details surrounding the U.S.'s role as a player in the Pacific, many see the rebalancing of armed forces as the first step in securing that future.

In an unexpected move, Italian customs agents have begun withholding packages and letters bound for U.S. troops stationed in the country unless the normally waived taxes and duties are paid on the incoming shipments.

Stars and Stripes reported that Italian officials are enforcing a new interpretation of a rule contained in the agreement between the two countries that allows the U.S. to station troops on foreign bases. Normally, mail meant for soldiers stationed at foreign bases is exempt from customs taxes and duties. The new interpretation applies to a host of odd items such as lottery tickets, roasted coffee, typewriter ribbons, nutmeg, hair products and playing cards.

Common items that fall under the heading of living necessities are taxed at a low rate, but for more obscure items, soldiers are now being forced to pay upwards of 22 euros – or about $30 – before the packages can be released from customs.

There are roughly 10,000 servicemembers stationed in Italy, according to CNN, though Italian customs have only held a dozen packages so far. 

Representatives from the Navy and the American embassy in Rome continue to meet with Italian officials to resolve the issue.

When Winter Storm Leon rolled across the southeast U.S., dropping ice and two and a half inches of snow in some places, many residents of perennially snowy northern states were confused by meteorologists calling it a major storm. But after grid-locked highways and thousands of stranded commuters, it's hard to call it anything other than a significant event.

The situation was so dire in South Carolina, the Army wrote, that the National Guard was mobilized to help motorists who had skidded off the road and even to get rolled-over tractor trailers back on the ground. The South Carolina guard deployed across the state in Humvees and an all-purpose, 10-ton vehicle called a wrecker that was used to right a capsized 18-wheeler.

Georgia had to call on its contingent of National Guardsmen as well when the storm caused such gridlock around Atlanta that commuters abandoned their cars on the road for the night, some even seeking refuge inside convenience stores on the side of the highway, NBC News reported.

Tim Dougherty is a regular commuter in the Atlanta area, but after a day on the roads, he barely made it out of the city when the storm hit.

"What took me 30 minutes [Tuesday] morning took me 26 hours to get back," he said. 

Weather.com reports that at least a dozen deaths have been attributed to the storm's effects.

The newest addition to the Navy's fleet of submarines, complete with all the bells and whistles, is set to begin testing.

The Department of Defense reports that the first of eight new Virginia-class submarines has completed construction and preliminary factory testing and is ready to stretch its legs in open waters. Construction was completed two months ahead of schedule, moving its estimated certification and delivery date up as well.

The new sub, christened the USS North Dakota, is the first of a new sub-section of the Virginia class. It features a host of technological upgrades including digital touch screens in lieu of mechanical controls and "photonics masts" instead of traditional periscopes, the Navy explains. The photonics masts are attached to the outside of the hull and contain high-resolution cameras that modify light sources to transmit a detailed, dynamic view of the sub's surroundings to the control room.

Still, the ship must pass a rigorous three-step testing process before being handed over to the Navy. Everything from its ability to dive and surface without incident to the amount of noise that escapes the dampening in the hull will be under intense scrutiny.

The submarine is being constructed and tested by Connecticut-based General Dynamics.

It can be easy to lose sight of the important things when politics get involved, but Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg's presence at the State of the Union address reminded the nation what true sacrifice and courage look like.

Injury and triumph
Near the end of his hour-long speech, President Barack Obama took a moment to draw attention to the 30-year-old Army Ranger as he sat in the gallery alongside the first lady and other dignitaries.

"On every issue," Obama said in a transcript of the address provided by CBS News, "the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might – but because of the ideals we stand for, and the burdens we bear to advance them."

Those ideals are perseverance, determination and optimism – qualities which Remsburg needed in spades after he suffered a catastrophic injury in Oct. 2009, NBC News reports. Remsburg was on his 10th tour of duty, this time in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when a roadside bomb threw him into a nearby canal and peppered him with shrapnel.

Doctors watched as Remsburg remained in a coma for three months, but after years of surgeries and grueling rehabilitation, Remsburg was able to attend the State of the Union as an honored guest of the President, epitomizing the ideals that Obama mentioned when he first introduced the wounded veteran.

Stars and Stripes reported that Remsburg and the President had met once before as the soldier was in recovery, relearning how to walk, talk and eat without assistance after his injury.

"He wanted to show me something," Obama said. "And he leaned out of his chair. And he reached out and grabbed his walker. And with the help of his parents, he pulled himself forward and he stood up. And he looked at me, and he gave me a sharp salute."

"He said, 'Rangers lead the way.'"

Benefits for veterans still a sticking point
Remsburg wasn't the only mention of the military during the much watched speech. With the legislative fate of recent proposed cuts to cost-of-living-adjustments included in veterans benefits still uncertain, Obama took a moment to weigh in on the issue. While some lawmakers have proposed recouping some federal revenue from the cuts, Obama disagreed.

"We'll keep slashing [the deficit] so our veterans receive the benefits they've earned," Obama said, "and our wounded warriors receive the health care — including the mental health care — that they need."

Since their announcement, the COLA cuts have been criticized by legislators, active duty servicemembers and a cadre of the top enlisted retirees from around the country.

The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will square off Feb. 2 for Super Bowl XLVII, but some players took a break from the media hustle to thank the troops for making it all possible.

The Department of Defense had a correspondent at Media Day ahead of the big game Sunday in New York and they were very busy. Forty-two videos were uploaded to the DOD's YouTube channel with a wide variety of players, coaches and even cheerleaders from both teams thanking all members of the armed services for their sacrifices and wishing them a safe return to the States.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning took some extra time to explain how head coach Jon Fox, raised in a military family, has reminded his players throughout the season to maintain a military mindset – an effective strategy given his team has made it to the Super Bowl.

While the troops are surely appreciative of the players' well-wishes, they're not sitting idly by as the game plays. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports on the preparations taking place among troops at For Carson, Afghanistan.

While alcohol is prohibited for troops stationed in the country, the troops will have "a wide selection of near beer," said Maj. Tony Noce, who is in charge of the preparations, as well as 1,200 donated pizzas, hot wings and fried chicken.

"We're definitely going to eat," Noce said, even though kickoff is schedule for 3:30 A.M., local time.

Life in the military can be difficult enough without having to worry about employment opportunities for a soldier's life after service. Thankfully, several recent statistics point to the beginning of the end for the alarming trend of high unemployment rate among recent and long-time veterans alike.

A helping hand from the private sector
In 2011, a group of 11 companies that included JPMorgan Chase, AT&T, Verizon and EMC announced that they would be partnering to form the 100,000 Jobs Mission in order to hire 100,000 military veterans by the year 2020. According to a press release from the group, the unemployment rate for the U.S. sat at 8.9 percent at the time of the announcement, with the smaller and disproportionately affected sample size of veterans at 9.2 percent.

Just shy of three years since the group's formation, it has met – and surpassed – its goal. The Military Times reported that not only has the group's number of member companies skyrocketed from the original 11 to the current 131, but that they have hired 117,439 veterans in a variety of industries across the country.  The wild success the program has experienced in reaching its goal seven years ahead of schedule prompted the companies to double down on their original pledge.

They now promise to hire an additional 100,000 veterans before the decade is out.

Decreasing numbers, increasing hope
The success of the 100,000 Jobs Mission is indicative of a larger trend within the community of unemployed veterans, both young and old – they are finding jobs.

The unemployment rate for veterans who served after 9/11 hit its high-water mark in January 2012 when the number spiked to 12 percent, according to the Washington Post. A year and a half later in November 2013, the number for overall unemployment had fallen to 6.7 percent and the most recent numbers show a continued decrease to 5.5 for December.

The post-9/11 veteran unemployment numbers may seem more drastic – they fell from 9.9 percent to 7.3 percent from November to December – but with a smaller sample size, the month-to-month statistics of the group will change more rapidly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends looking at the annual figures for the group instead, but even there the news is good: from December 2012 to 2013, the rate dropped 3.5 percentage points.

Where are the jobs coming from?
It can be easy to chalk job growth up to the improving economy, but several key factors have led to more and more veterans finding employment for life after the military. While many companies have been happy to hire combat veterans for their experience and skills, employers and prospective employees alike have found it somewhat difficult to transfer their abilities directly to the civilian workforce.

As the Washington Post explains, "The 10,000 military healthcare workers or 10,000 military truck drivers who left the armed services last year often have to pass new tests and go through a fresh set of licensing hurdles in order to get a job as a civilian EMT or truck driver – even if they already have the required skills."

The licensing requirements are largely bureaucratic but a costly and time-consuming hurdle for many veterans who have already been living off unemployment checks for months. As a result, the White House released a report entitled, "The Fast Track to Civilian Employment," which outlined several measures in which they would streamline the process for veterans to receive workable credentials for skills gained in the military.

In addition, several Congressman have initiated programs such as the Veterans Conservation Corps, which seeks to employ retired military men and women in "wildfire protection, recreation enhancement, and habitat restoration."

With programs along those lines and another 100,000 jobs on the way from successful corporations, expect the unemployment rate among all veterans to decrease well into the future.

With the increasingly prevalent use of drones and unmanned vehicles in operations around the globe, some top officials are rethinking how soldiers are rewarded for their service.

Despite backlash in 2013 after announcing a medal specific to drone pilots and soldiers whose deeds are performed from remote locations, Stars and Stripes reported that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a full review of all medals awarded for valor and courage on the battlefield. That specific award was scrapped, but some critics think that this review might open the door for more like it.

It's no question that drone missions have been crucial in the United States' operations abroad. The New York Times explained how the 2011 raid of Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad compound could not have been accomplished without the reconnaissance of an RQ-170 drone. The question at hand is whether to give the commendation to the robot or to the soldier who piloted it hundreds of miles away.

"We are all for proper recognition," Joe Davis of the Washington VFW told Stars and Stripes. "And we believe in protecting the rank order of those medals that can only be earned in a combat zone, and keeping them at their higher precedence."

Veteran homelessness is one of the country's hardest problems to address, but Phoenix might have found the answer.

The specific number is hard to nail down, but according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are upwards of 60,000 homeless veterans on any given night in the U.S., or about 12 percent of the adult homeless population.  Until last year, Phoenix had about 220 veterans without a stable living situation, Mayor Greg Stanton told USA Today.

Thanks to new funds from the Federal stimulus that allowed for more affordable housing and a new policy toward mental health and substance abuse, the city has housed nearly all veterans once without a home.

"In a housing first model," Stanton explained, "we understand that if someone has been on the streets for a long time, and been abusing drugs or alcohol for a long time, it may take awhile for them to be able to break that issue in their lives."

Other low-cost housing models immediately revoked support if drugs or alcohol were found to still be part of a veteran's life after service, but Phoenix has opted to aid veterans to a more healthy phase of their lives.

The program has been a wild success, with retention rates well above the 90 percent mark.