The March employment report came out on Friday, and while the economy added fewer jobs than expected, the news was much better for post-9/11 veterans. Statistics from the Department of Labor revealed that the unemployment rate for soldiers who have joined the military after September 11 dropped to 9.2 percent, down slightly from 9.4 percent.

The improvement marks a continuing trend of slight improvement that indicates the many initiatives aimed at veterans' employment are paying dividends. Many of the programs have been aimed at helping soldiers transfer skills they learned in the Armed Forces to jobs in the civilian world. Many of these are common sense moves, such as making it easier for troops to earn certification for jobs they are well qualified to do.

"It's hard for me to believe that a guy can drive a truck in combat but he can't drive one on the highways. I mean, what the hell is that all about?" John E. Hamilton, commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told NBC News recently. "You've got a [medical] corpsman out there in field with Marines doing everything short of open-heart surgery but he can't be an EMT when he gets home."

While the unemployment rate is improving, lawmakers recognize their work is not done. In fact, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee plans on reviewing all the proposed legislation next week, Military Times reports. 

A permanent change of station (PCS) presents military families with many unique challenges. Aside from the stress associated with moving and having to adapt to a new location, there is also the question of how they're going to get their belongings from point A to point B. This is especially true when it comes to moving their pets, who often require special attention. While there are obstacles, taking the appropriate steps can make it easier for troops to bring their pets with them when they move.

Act quickly
Perhaps most importantly, servicemembers need to start planning as soon as they learn where they are moving. This includes a number of steps, but the first one should be to visit the veterinarian. Pets need specific certification to fly on planes – whether overseas or within the United States – and vets can provide military families with the correct documentation. Experts recommend heading to a doctor with experience in the military community.

"I would definitely start with a veterinarian, particularly military, since we do this all of the time," Erin Stough, veterinary corps officer, Combat Center Veterinary Services, told Military.com. "I would encourage people to read records and keep copies of the vaccine and health records. Be informed."

Do research
Families flying on commercial airlines need to be well-researched when they're making arrangement to transport their dog or cat. For instance, dogs that weigh more than 100 pounds can't be shipped on a commercial flight, and if the temperature is too hot or too cold airlines may not allow them to be shipped either. Military families also should look into whether there are any border crossing fees for animals they may encounter.

After arrival
The process is not done once families reach their ultimate destination. Experts also stress the importance of servicemembers taking steps to ensure their pets can adjust to their new surroundings. While this may be easier said than done, there are a few things that can make the process go more smoothly. For instance, pet owners try to keep a normal routine for the immediate time period after their arrival, and for those families with dogs, it's imperative for them to keep their canines leashed until they get used to their new surroundings. 

The Armed Forces has changed a lot in the last several years, and that includes recent strides for women in the service. Earlier this year, the military announced it would allow female soldiers to serve in combat roles – something which was previously prohibited – and one group of women at Fort Bragg is taking things to a whole new level, as The 18th Fires Brigade is preparing to welcome the first female enlisted soldiers in an artillery unit, the Fayetteville Observer reports.

Nearly a year in the making
Former-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced the shift in policy allowing women to serve on the front line earlier this year, but the wheels were set in motion at Fort Bragg well before then. In fact, last summer officials there launched a pilot program to see whether women were capable of joining artillery units previously open only to male troops. Being a member of these units is both physically and mentally demanding. Along with having to be able to lift 100-pound rounds, soldiers also have to be familiar with everything from physics to metrology. For Lt. Shannon Syphus, the opportunity is one she relishes. 

"I didn't know prior that it wasn't open," Syphus told the newspaper. "But I just fell in love. I can get on the radio and call for fire and something explodes. I love the technical aspects — the math and the precision. You can't find that with any other job in the Army."

Continuous change
As the brigade prepares to welcome its newest members, the rest of the Armed Forces is undergoing similar changes. For instance, earlier in March, Tech. Sgt. Leslie Cumming, the only female military training instructor in the Air National Guard, broke new ground when she was named Air University Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, according to the official website of the Air Force.

Cumming's accomplishment, along with the contributions of Syphus and others, did not come as much of a surprise to many analysts. Experts point to the fact that many women, who make up about 15 percent of the Armed Forces, were already serving in the front lines because of the unpredictable nature of war, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

With the war in Iraq over and the conflict in Afghanistan winding down, the government is tasked with providing healthcare to the more than 2 million soldiers who have served overseas in the last 12 years. New research from scientists at the Institute of Medicine suggests that federal officials are doing a poor job of keeping up with the demand for medical issues and health ailments caused by the wars, USA Today reports.

The expansive study, conducted over four years, highlights the fact that the United States has never had to respond to these challenges before because of the unique nature of the wars. Specifically, things like multiple deployments, with short time between each one, as well as the high number of reservists and National Guardsmen who served have caused unforeseen obstacles. Despite the best efforts of military officials, more needs to be done, experts say.

"These are extraordinary challenges," Dr. George Rutherford, who chaired the group that produced the report, told the publication. "We are learning as we're going. I think the VA and [Defense Department] have really exerted extraordinary efforts to try and get it right … but there are some areas that need to be improved."

Part of the problem has to do with the fact that the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) often have trouble communicating. This is particularly evident when it comes to medical records. The two departments have separate programs designed to store their records, which causes difficulty when soldiers transfer from active duty to life as veterans. This could be partly to blame for the estimated 900,000 person backlog in VA benefits claims.

Four years ago, President Barack Obama vowed to oversee the creation of one all-encompassing place for medical records to be shared by the VA and the DOD. So far, that has yet to be fully realized. Earlier this year, then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki seemed to back away from plans for one shared system and instead cited plans to focus on making it easier to transfer records from one department to the other, Stars and Stripes reports.

Many servicemembers were pleased last week when Congress restored the popular transition assistance program, which had been slated to be suspended until at least October. However, despite the victory, military officials are still unsure when they can allow new soldiers to enroll in the program because there is still some uncertainty regarding what budget cuts need to be made, Stars and Stripes reports.

The biggest issue is where in the budget the Department of Defense will cut $43 billion, as required by sequestration. Military officials met with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently to go over what reductions can be made and when the transition assistance program can resume. Sources say servicemembers can expect a decision within the next several days. 

"What we know definitively is that right now, it's suspended," Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Cristin Marposon told the publication. "It's being worked aggressively, and as soon as we have the way ahead, it will be announced."

When the final announcement comes, it will have a significant impact on throngs of troops. According to Military.com, an estimated 300,000 use the vital program, which provides up to $7,500 for tuition payments each year. 

As the Department of Defense looks to cut costs, there have been some concerns over the military's readiness. A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) may allay some of those concerns, because analysts found that a modest reduction to annual pay raises will allow the Armed Forces to save money while still retaining its current levels of readiness, Military Times reports.

The proposed change mirrors a similar point made in the 2014 Obama administration budget, which suggests reducing annual pay raises for active duty troops from 1.7 percent to 1 percent. The CBO points out that even adjusting payment to reflect inflation instead of private-sector growth, as is the case now, would save around $45 billion through 2021. There is some concern that such a reduction could hurt recruiting and retention, but the CBO says it shouldn't.

"The fact that military compensation has risen dramatically over the past decade – to the extent that, on average, enlisted military personnel now earn more than 90 percent of civilians with similar education and experience – could lessen the effects of such a policy," the CBO said. 

Military families who are concerned about the impact of sequestration can take solace in the fact that their paychecks will never be delayed, nor will their allowance for housing, according to the National Military Family Association. 

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the controversial federal legislation which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, went before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, and though a decision is not expected for several months, early signs indicate the law may be struck down, according to The Washington Post. If that happens, it will be a big step forward for same-sex military couples, who are currently denied many benefits because of DOMA.

The law was brought before the Supreme Court by lawyers for 83-year-old Edith Windsor. She challenged the 1996 law after she was told she owed $360,000 to the IRS after the death of her wife. The two had been married in New York – which recognized same-sex marriage – but because it wasn't recognized at the federal level she was on the hook for taxes. The issue is similar to what is faced by gay and lesbian couples in the military, because they are often barred from receiving benefits even if they are legally married.

Reporters inside the court hint that the Supreme Court could rule in favor of Windsor and the millions like her. The most encouraging sign came from Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, often a deciding vote, who said he questioned the law's uniformity.

"I think it went beautifully," Windsor told reporters. "I thought the justices were gentle…. I didn't feel any hostility or any sense of inferiority. I felt we were very respected, and I think it's going to be good."

Wednesday marked the second day in a row the Supreme Court heard cases regarding the rights of same-sex couples. On Tuesday, they took up the issue of California's controversial Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage. Experts were less clear on what the outcome of that case could be due to the fact it deals with a state law rather than a federal one.

Repealing DOMA is one of the final hurdles for same-sex military couples. In September 2011, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was officially repealed, which allowed gay and lesbian troops to openly serve for the first time. The victory would come soon after outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced that benefits such as hospital visitation rights and admittance to family groups would be extended to gay couples, The Boston Globe reports.

Military families are not unfamiliar with financial challenges. Having to frequently move can make it difficult for spouses to find steady work, but as the cuts from sequestration begin to take effect, they may face new obstacles. Holly Petraeus, the assistant director of servicemember affairs for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, says furloughed salaries and other cuts may make troops and their loved ones prime targets for unscrupulous lenders, The Associated Press reports. 

Salaries exempt from cuts, but challenges remain
The Department of Defense (DOD) has to make billions of dollars in cuts over the next several months, but the salaries of military personnel can't be touched. Still, sequestration could significantly delay the pay to civilian employees, many of whom are spouses of active duty soldiers. Furloughs could mean that military families have to reach out to lenders, making them susceptible to fraudsters who may be looking to take advantage of people in vulnerable positions. Petraeus recently spoke to attorneys general in the South to warn them of the impending crisis. 

"I think a lot of folks have some concern that if the sequester does hit hard, that they may seek loans and they may seek loans in places where they are going to get really bad rates," Petraeus told the crowd, according to the AP. 

A popular target
Even before sequestration, military families were already a common target for scammers. Petraeus said that because they are young – usually 25 and under – servicemembers are seen by unscrupulous lenders as easy to manipulate into bad deals with high interest rates. The startling trend has not gone unnoticed by the Department of Justice, which recently penned a blog to offer advice to soldiers looking for loans. 

The department said that one of the most important things to remember is to be aware of up-front fees and to always ask what the total price of the loan is. It's also important for servicemembers to be sure of who they're dealing with, the DOJ says. 

Preparation becomes more important
It may become even more crucial for military families to be wary of scammers in the coming months and years as thousands of soldiers return home from Afghanistan. Around 34,000 troops will return to the United States by the end of 2013, with the remaining forces expected home by the end of 2014.

There's no denying that soldiers are among the most physically fit individuals in the country. After all, they have to be, given that they're often tasked with carrying heavy gear all while performing a physically demanding job. In an effort to better understand how carrying all that weight affects their bodies, researchers in Massachusetts have applied a novel approach to studying servicemembers, the Army's official website reports.

Scientists at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center are leading this trial. While previous research has been conducted on what toll the heavy gear is taking on the bodies of soldiers, those studies traditionally relied on asking subjects to simply walk in a straight line, which does not accurately mimic their activity in the field. To change this, Brown had participants – who were carrying anywhere from seven to 88 pounds – run, jump and cut like they would during battle. 

"This is just another data point that shows how much load is affecting our soldiers," said team leader Dr. Jeffrey Schiffman. "Now we're starting to get more into react-to-contact type moments."

Studying soldiers more like athletes could offer solutions that ensure heavy gear doesn't take a toll on their health, which is a significant issue. A 2008 report found musculoskeletal injuries are common in active duty soldiers. 

First lady Michelle Obama has been one of the most ardent supporters of military families over the last several years, and she recently furthered her commitment when she made a visit to both the Fisher House and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She stopped in not only to talk to the loved ones of wounded servicemembers​, but also to offer tickets to the upcoming Easter Egg Roll at the White House, USA Today reports.

The visit gave Obama the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by military families, which are often especially prevalent among those who have a family member currently in the hospital. However, she discussed more than just the obstacles they have to overcome. She also praised the Fisher House, which offers families the chance to stay close to their loved ones while they are recovering.

"I mean, the Fisher Houses, as you all know, are just so important to families who are recuperating," she told those in attendance. "They're doing some great stuff.  As you can see, the houses are beautiful. And all around the country, they are as beautiful and as welcoming and as comforting as you guys are experiencing here."

Obama's visit is evidence of her commitment to the Joining Forces initiative, which she launched with Dr. Jill Biden to support military families across the country.