For months, President Barack Obama has been pushing for a 1 percent pay raise for troops rather than the 1.8 percent they would receive under the government's formula. Earlier this week, he told Congress he was exercising his position as the government's pay agent in order to do just that, Military Times reports.

The announcement comes after Congress has failed to come to an agreement on the pay raise, and with the Department of Defense looking to cut costs as sequestration continues to have an impact, reducing the pay raises seemed like the smart move. Obama made the announcement in a letter sent to Congress and said that while this is committed to supporting the troops, economic conditions have forced him to take drastic steps. 

"As our country continues to recover from serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare, however, we must maintain efforts to keep our Nation on a sustainable fiscal course," he wrote. "This effort requires tough choices, especially in light of budget constraints faced by Federal agencies." 

Obama's plan would go into action Jan. 1, but it can be changed if Congress takes appropriate action. Specifically, lawmakers need to find $580 million for 2014 to make up for the savings garnered from the pay raise reduction. 

Therapy dogs have shown promise in helping veterans overcome challenges associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, and now some of the youngest members of the military community are also turning to four-legged friends for comfort. This summer, a number of therapy dogs visited Operation Purple – a camp for kids with parents who are deployed – and the early returns have been overwhelmingly positive, Fox affiliate WTFX reported.

A long-standing relationship
Canine companions coming to Operation Purple, which has locations all over the country, continue the tradition of dogs in the military. As far back as World War II, therapy dogs were sent to help comfort injured soldiers, and more recently with veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Using them to alleviate the stress placed on military children is relatively new, but therapy dogs have currently visited all 14 Operation Purple summer camps. The benefits to such a program are very apparent, experts say.

"Therapy dogs have been shown to reduce anxiety, decrease depression and increase self-esteem and confidence," Amy McCullough of the American Humane Institute told the news channel. "So at the summer camps we see therapy dogs distract kids from their worries, help with homesickness and provide conversation starters to make new friends."

Challenges abound
Uncovering effective ways to help military children overcome their obstacles has become particularly important in light of recent findings. One of the most significant challenges they have to overcome is the product of frequent moves. According to the Department of Defense, military children attend between seven and nine different schools before graduating. As a result, military children often see social, emotional and behavioral problems civilian youngsters do not, according to a 2011 study from the RAND Center for Military Health and Policy Research.

"Long and frequent deployments, with short dwell times in between, have placed stresses on Army children and families already challenged by frequent moves and parental absences," the report said.

The findings echo results of a more recent study from the nonprofit Child Trends that examined the effects deployment has on children. Specifically, the research found that young children are particularly vulnerable to long-term emotional strain. More specifically, anxiety is common among young military children who have a parent serving overseas, and that is often heightened if they return from combat with injuries. 

The 2004 Battle of Fallujah was one of the fiercest of the Iraq War. Now, more than nine years later, a group of Marine reservists are choosing to honor those killed in a unique way. The five servicemembers are set to embark on a lengthy 81-mile hike as a tribute to the dozens of troops who lost their lives during the weeks-long battle, Military Times reported.

The hike is being led by Maj. Charleston Malkemus, who fought in the infamous battle. He started the hike as a small endeavor but it has since grown by leaps and bounds, and he estimates that approximately 50 people will be making the trek with him this Labor Day weekend. In addition to honoring fallen troops, Malkemus hopes his hikes will increase awareness of the challenges returning servicemember​s face.

"According to our count, 81 died during the two major offensives of the battle of Fallujah," he told the news source. "We hope [the hike] begins to rouse the community. The next greatest generation of America is about to come home, so we see this as only the beginning."

Malkemus and his fellow hikers aren't the only ones showing support through a lengthy journey. Capt. Michael Boelk and his wife recently ran 100 miles over the course of 24 to 27 hours in an effort to support military families, NBC affiliate KARE reports. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill has not only helped servicemembers pursue their education goals, but it has also helped millions of military family members enter the classroom. The ability to transfer the benefits to loved ones is one of the entitlement's most significant advantages, but due to budget cuts there has been a growing concern that troops may no longer be able to transfer the GI Bill. However, in a discussion at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel affirmed his commitment to ensuring vets can share their benefits with their spouse or children, Military Times reported.

A personal issue
In addition to feeling a professional obligation to protect the GI Bill as the Secretary of Defense, Hagel is especially committed to preserving all of its benefits because he was one of the senators who helped write it when it went through Congress in 2007 and 2008. Not only that, but Hagel used the Vietnam-era GI Bill after he separated from service. So even as the Pentagon looks to cut costs at nearly every corner in the light of sequestration, the GI Bill is one area that may not see quite the same changes as others.

"[The GI BIll is something] we want to protect in every way we can, because we think it is the right thing to do for our people," he told the gathered crowd. ""We've committed to do that for our people. We think it enhances our people, it enhances our country. It is a smart investment in our country. It is a smart investment in you, in your families."

Recent changes take effect
Although the transfer rights are still in place, they have seen some changes in recent weeks. On Aug. 1, in order for servicemembers to share their benefits with their spouses or children they had to begin adhering to changeds. Now, if they want to transfer their benefits to a family member, troops have to incur an additional four years of service. Previously, a 20-year veteran would only have to serve between one and three years extra. Army officials recommend signing up to transfer benefits even if they aren't planning on doing so.

"It's a really great program," said Kim Seldon, an Army veteran, military spouse and USO volunteer at a recent briefing. "It's worth thousands of dollars. I just hope all of the service members and their families can take advantage of the program." 

Finding a job is one of the most important parts of transitioning from active duty to civilian life, but doing so can sometimes be difficult, especially for wounded or disabled veterans. In an effort to make the process a bit easier, the Department of Labor is considering implementing some new rules. The new regulations would require government contractors to set a goal of having at least 7 percent of their workforce comprised of disabled workers and 8 percent made up of veterans, Stars and Stripes reported.

The new rules might have a significant impact on veterans' employment because government contractors employ about 20 percent of the nation's workforce – approximately 16 million people. However, the move has not been without its critics. Specifically, some say it conflicts with already existing regulations that bar interviewers from asking about an applicant's disability. Still, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez believes it could be good for both employers and wounded vets.

"To create opportunity, we need to strengthen our civil rights laws and make sure they have the intended effect," he told the news source recently.

Unemployment for disabled workers stands at about 14.7 percent, but recent efforts from the federal government have helped bring down the rate among veterans. In July, the rate for post-9/11 vets was about 7.7 percent.

Few people understand the financial hardships members of the military community better than those who have navigated the challenges themselves. In an effort to equip them with the tools necessary to help others overcome these common obstacles, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation recently awarded 50 spouses with fellowships to become accredited financial counselors, Military Times reported.

The initiative, known as the Military Spouse Fellowship program, has awarded fellowships to more than 1,250 people around the world in its seven years. Through the classes, program participants can go on to work at family readiness and support centers, credit counseling and tax centers and  financial aid offices. 

"We already have a number of spouses from previous classes doing this work,"George Smaragdis, a spokesman for the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, told the news source. 

In addition to helping military families with issues such as financial planning and other hardships, the program also is vital because it can assist military spouses as they try to find jobs, something which can be very difficult for someone who has to move fairly regularly. According to a recent study from Blue Star Families, unemployment among military spouses is between three and four times higher than the civilian population. 

Even lifelong football fans may never get the chance to meet with some of their favorite players, but a group of servicemember​s were recently given the opportunity to visit Washington Redskins training camp. The group of about 50 troops from Fort Lee not only toured The Bon Secours Training Facility, but they also met face-to-face with the likes of star quarterback Robert Griffin III and London Fletcher, the Army's official website reports.

The meet-and-greet not only had an impact on visitors, but several Redskins players know the challenges facing the military community. Both of Griffin's parents were Army sergeants when he was born and he spent much of his young life moving around, spending time in Japan, Washington, Louisiana and finally Texas. Wide receiver Josh Morgan also has close ties to the military – his mother and uncles served in the Navy and Army.

"People who don't have the connection don't know what they [military members] really go through; the effect that it has on them," he told reporters "Just like a lot of people who don't have connections with those who play sports; they don't really know how hard it is to do what we do. It's that respect level; you don't know it unless you go through it."

The NFL and Armed Forces have long had close ties. In fact, a number of players spent time in the military including former Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson and Pro Bowl linebacker Kevin Greene, who spent 16 years in the reserves. 

Between frequent moves and the stress of having a loved one in harms way, military spouses face many challenges the civilian population does not encounter. This includes difficulty finding steady employment, largely due to the fact that employers are less likely to hire someone they know has to move within one or two years time. However, a recently launched handbag company, R. Riverter, has helped many military spouses find jobs when other places may have said no, Dayton Daily News reports.

R. Riverter was founded in 2011 by two military wives who understood the challenges facing those who have loved ones in the Armed Forces. In just two years, the brand has grown considerably and it offers military spouses the chance to work from home – wherever in the country that may be. Carly Davisson is among the 15 military spouses employed by the company and has flourished in her seven months on the job.

"It's been an amazing experience," Davisson told the newspaper. "It does not feel like work. It's like a hobby."

Unemployment among military spouses is considerably higher than that of the civilian population. This is due in large part to the fact that many of them have jobs which require licenses, but not all states allow spouses to transfer them from place to place. 

There has been a wide variety of programs aimed at helping veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan find civilian jobs, but two servicemembers have taken things into their own hands. Thomas Wilder and Neil McCanon, both Iraq veterans, are nearing the launch of their own craft brewery, aptly called Young Veterans Brewing Co., The Associated Press reported.

Wilder and McCanon returned from Iraq in 2005 and found transitioning back to the civilian world was difficult. They went down a number of different paths, including heading back to school and finding employment in various forms, but nothing felt right. Eventually, after trying out a home brewing kit and earning positive reviews from friends, it became clear that starting the brewery was the best option. Although the businesses venture is partly about earning money, Wilder says there's more to it than that.

"For me, it's sort of my way of showing that after service there's more to do," Wilder told the AP. "For a lot of soldiers who come home, there's a lot of trouble. I've been through that, and I know what that's like." 

The two high school friends aren't the only entrepreneurs in the military community, and the National Defense University Foundation is looking to give them the chance to have their business ideas heard. The first annual Veterans Venture Forum is slated for Oct. 29.

Last week the Pentagon announced it would provide same-sex couples up to 10 days leave so they could travel to get married if they reside in a state where gay marriage is not yet legal. The decision was met with applause by many gay rights advocates, but now some conservative groups are coming out against the move, Stars and Stripes reports.

Some of the most significant criticisms have come from the Family Research Council, which says the additional days of leave discriminate against heterosexual couples who do not get the same benefits. However, Department of Defense officials dismiss those claims, saying that the 10 days leave will bring same-sex couples to equal footing with their heterosexual counterparts.

"[The uncharged leave] will provide accelerated access to the full range of benefits offered to married military couples throughout the department and help level the playing field between opposite-sex and same-sex couples seeking to be married," Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen told the news source.

The renewed debate comes after the DOD announced it would also open up all benefits available to heterosexual couples to same-sex married couples. This includes housing, health care and separation pay.