Most veteran advocates agree that addressing unemployment is a significant issue, but a new report found that there was progress made in the last year. Findings from the Department of Labor reveal that unemployment among soldiers who have served after the September 11 attacks fell from 12.1 percent in 2011 to 9.9 percent at the end of 2012, The Associated Press reports.

While the findings are certainly encouraging, the DOL still stresses that there is work to be done, especially in the face of looming budget cuts. Federal, state and local governments will likely feel the effects of sequestration, which could result in reductions to their workforce, and given that an estimated one-third of veterans work in the public sector, this could have a significant impact.

Still, with Congress passing a host of laws, including one that offers tax credits to businesses that hire veterans, there are reasons to be optimistic. Furthermore, the military is now required to provide transition assistance training to troops leaving the service so that they are better equipped to find job once they enter civilian life, the AP reports.

The findings, which were culled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, also included a number of other encouraging facts. For instance, among veterans of all generations, unemployment dropped to 6.9 percent in 2012, which is lower than the general population.

The tuition assistance program has been at the center of much debate in Washington over the last several weeks. First, the popular benefit was suspended until at least October and then an amendment attached to the upcoming budget bill was defeated. However, there was some good news on Thursday when Congress passed a bill that restored the program to every branch of the military except the Coast Guard, The Associated Press reports.

Initial efforts fall flat
Soon after it was announced that the program would be suspended, thousands of complains came flooding in. Veterans' advocates in Congress, led by Senators James Inhofe and Kay Hagan, worked to propose an amendment that would restore funding for the program attached to the upcoming government spending bill. However, the plan was initially shot down because lawmakers wanted to move forward as quickly as possible on the law to avoid the potential for a government shutdown. 

Change of course
Despite the setback, Inhofe and Hagan kept pushing for the amendment and eventually got it attached under one condition: the military would have to make cuts to other areas to save the estimated $250 to $350 million that suspending the tuition assistance program would have done. Inhofe applauded the decision of Congress to change its actions and accept the amendment to the government funding bill. 

"What this does is reverse the decision from the Department of Defense that took away some of the abilities of our troops, when they are brought into the service, have in terms of subsidizing their tuition," said Inhofe, a senator from Oklahoma.

What it means for military families
While the amendment is certainly a victory for servicemembers and their loved ones, the addition of the amendment is not a permanent solution. Specifically, it only extends the benefit through the end of the fiscal year 2013 – which is through September 30. Still, it could have a significant impact on the financial future of military families. The program pays up to $250 per semester hour for active duty personnel, which adds up to as much as $4,500 per year. The program has been a big help to many soldiers looking to pick up a degree or earn a new license, which could help lower the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans. 

Though the financial future of the military has attracted a great deal of attention in recent months, the growing mental health crisis plaguing veterans and active duty servicemembers is causing a much greater strain on the Armed Forces. The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a heavy emphasis on suicide prevention over the last several years, but despite the significant efforts, the issue is still one of the most pervasive in the military community, The Arizona Republic reports.

Congress, White House have taken action
Over the last several years, suicide prevention has been a priority for lawmakers in Washington, D.C. For instance, in 2007 Congress passed the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act, which was designed to reduce the stigma sometimes attached to seeking out mental health counseling. Around the same time, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), created a hotline dedicated to helping out veterans in crisis. In fact, last year President Barack Obama ordered the staffing at the hotline to increase by 50 percent. During the last five-plus years it has handled an estimated 740,000 calls. 

Wounds often not visible
Experts say that one of the biggest reasons veterans may be hesitant to seek help for their mental wounds is because tens of thousands of soldiers have come home with visible injuries, so they feel as though they are not entitled to seek treatment for matters of the mind. However, with an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) it's important they start to view non-visible wounds as valid, experts say. 

"A lot of them view that because they didn't come back with an amputation, they don't think they deserve help," Danny Guckenburg, a counselor at the Phoenix Vet Center, told the newspaper. "There is a need to validate that their wounds are just as important. This is the place they can open up about the pain they are experiencing. They can get a sense of hope that is missing."

New resources available
Earlier this month, the Army officially launched its website for the Ready and Resilient Campaign, which provides soldiers with many helpful resources, especially when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention. In particular, it offers a long list of numbers – including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – as well as links to the military health system's website and the Army's suicide prevention literature. 

The War in Afghanistan has been ongoing for more than 11 years, and during that time around 2,200 servicemembers have lost their lives in combat. In an effort to pay tribute to the fallen troops, a former sailor who was deployed in Afghanistan recently completed an impressive undertaking. Earlier this year, Ron White constructed a temporary wall and wrote the name of every servicemember killed in action on it – all from memory, Military Times reports.

White started the process in May 2012 when he began to commit the names of every soldier to memory. In February, he began the painstaking process of constructing the wall and writing all the names, a task which took him an estimated 11 hours. The unique tribute garnered attention from families of servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan and many people stopped by to witness the progress. It certainly was not an easy task.

"It was emotionally draining, physically and mentally," White told Military Times.

White expects to repeat the tribute several times in the future at other places throughout the country. While he is working on that, however, there are numerous other tributes going on dedicated to soldiers. For instance, the Big Ten Conference recently honored wounded warriors during each day of the Big Ten Conference Championship.

The announcement that the tuition assistance program has been suspended has caused concern among many members of the military community. The vital resource helped many servicemembers earn their degrees, licenses and other credentials, but while the decision may be a setback, it doesn't mean soldiers can't pay for school. There are other resources available that can help troops cover the costs without tuition assistance.

Post-9/11 GI Bill
While tuition assistance has been suspended until October, lawmakers have not touched the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This vital benefit has helped many servicemembers return to school after separating from service, but it can also be used while they're still in the Armed Forces, Military.com reports. The biggest difference about using the GI Bill before leaving the military is that troops lose the housing allowance portion of the benefit. However, if housing isn't an issue, taking early advantage of the GI Bill can be one of the best ways to replace the tuition assistance program.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill may see some changes in the near future that could add some benefits. One proposed piece of legislation, Expanding Education Opportunities for Post-9/11 Vets' Families, would allow troops who retired due to injury to transfer their benefits to their family members.

Turn to the school
The tuition assistance program may not be able to provide servicemembers with funds, but that doesn't mean they can't find assistance from other sources. For instance, looking to see what kind of financial aid each individual school offers can pay big dividends, notes Military.com. Of course, these programs can vary considerably from school to school, and servicemembers can find help in a wide variety of ways – from work study to scholarships.

Some schools may also have programs designed specifically for soldiers. In fact, a 2012 study found that more institutions have such offerings now than in 2009.

Research tax credits
Knowing the tax breaks one is entitled to can go a long way to providing supplemental income. The money can be used for anything, but in the case of soldiers looking to head back to the classroom without the help of the tuition assistance program, education may be a good use for it. However, it's important to keep in mind that tax regulations frequently change so it's crucial for servicemembers keep abreast of the latest revisions.

Frequent moves are one of the biggest challenges facing military families. Aside from having to adapt to a new location, moving can also cost hundreds of dollars extra if they have a family pet. In some cases, they cannot take their four-legged family member with them. In an effort to help and prevent more pet admission to shelters, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to All Animals (SPCA) launched Operation Military Pets to make sure families do not have to be separated from their animals.

Moving pets can cause a significant financial burden, and the costs are not covered by the Department of Defense. Operation Military Pets helps fill this void by offering financial assistance to members in all five branches whether they are moving within the United States or to an international destination, Military.com reports.

The program has already been a significant success, according to the SPCA. Among those the program has helped is Shawn Flint, an Iraq War veteran who required assistance for moving his dog Heidi. He rescued her while serving in Iraq, and the program helped bring her back to the United States. Now, the two have been together for more than three years. 

Operation Military Pets is certainly not the only program dedicated to helping servicemembers balance the care of their cats and dogs with the stress of military service. Another program, known as Dogs on Deployment, matches soldiers up with volunteers who will take care of their pets while they're deployed.

Helping soldiers find civilian jobs once they separate from service is not only a priority for the Pentagon, private organizations have also been helping out. One of the most substantial efforts, known as Get Skills to Work, is led by big-name companies such as General Electric, Alcoa, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and is aimed at providing servicemembers with the tools necessary to find employment after leaving the Armed Forces, reports The Cincinnati Enquirer. 

A search for meaning
One of the biggest challenges troops face when they search for jobs upon returning home from the battlefield is the stark contrast in lifestyles. While active duty soldiers have a structured life in the service and often have tasks that give their job meaning, it can be difficult to find that on the home front. Such was the case for James Giuffre, who felt that any job he could land once he returned stateside did not provide the same level of satisfaction as his time in the military. However, after graduating from a program offered by Get Skills to Work at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, he may have the opportunity to find more fulfilling work. 

"The problem we have today is many of our vets were overseeing millions of dollars in equipment and supervising hundreds of people, and now they can't find jobs," said Darrell Smith, manager of veteran student affairs at the school, told the newspaper. 

How does the program help?
Get Skills to Work does more than provide its veteran students with ability to succeed in advanced manufacturing positions, it also helps them work toward finding a job. Students who graduate from the program are given job counseling meant to help their professional careers in the industry. Manufacturing is certainly a good place to look – the organization says there are an estimated 600,000 positions available. The organization hopes to help 100,000 veterans find jobs by 2015.

Just one of many resources
The organization is one of many tools post-9/11 veterans can use if they're looking for employment. For instance, the Department of Labor operates its Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), which offers everything from information on available to programs to expert advice on finding jobs. Separating servicemembers may also want to head to AFBA's Career Center, which pairs them up with employers looking to hire vets.

Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have found many different ways to cope with the emotional and physical wounds sustained during deployment, but few have taken it to the lengths that one Indiana veteran did. Efrain Fuentes recently participated in an impressive 384-mile bike ride from New Orleans to Tennessee, a decision he credits with helping him navigate the transition to civilian life, The Herald-Times reports.

The experience was organized by Ride2Recovery, a non-profit that is dedicated to helping ease veterans' pain once they return from war. This was certainly a steep challenge for Fuentes, who was suffering from a back injury as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Still, he managed to make it through the grueling training and difficult ride thanks to the support of his fellow veterans and spectators along the route.

"It was beautiful," he told the newspaper. "It really lifted our spirits and touched us, especially seeing the schoolchildren out there."

Ride2Recovery was established by the Fitness Challenge Foundation and regularly hosts events around the country dedicated to helping wounded warriors. Most rides cover anywhere from 350 to 450 miles and welcome hundreds of veterans to participate. In 2011, the organization hosted 32 rides.  

The decision to suspend the tuition assistance program for members of four of the five service branches has caused a significant amount of controversy. Members of the military community believe they are not in the clear just yet, with some analysts expecting the Department of Defense (DOD) to suspend Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) programs in the coming weeks, SpouseBuzz.com reports.

MyCAA first launched in 2009 as a way to help spouses of active duty servicemembers further their careers. Originally it provided up to $6,000 in tuition assistance, but its popularity proved too much for the funding to handle and the benefits had to be cut. Still, it has offered vital assistance at a time when unemployment among military spouses is much higher than the civilian population. Although there's no confirmation, experts foresee the DOD taking some action regarding MyCAA in the near future.

"I would expect DOD to suspend MyCAA very soon," Terry Howell, the education benefits expert for Military.com, told the website. "Like [tuition assistance] the DOD is being very quiet about their next moves."

The MyCAA program was a big help to military spouses who were earning certifications and licensures. Transferring these across state lines is often a problem for families who have to frequently move. Dr. Jill Biden recently called on governors to make it easier for spouses to transfer such credentials from state to state. 

Whether during deployment, on the home front or after they've separated from the Armed Forces, servicemembers face a number of challenges that are unfamiliar to the civilian population. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs both offer a number of resources to help the military community overcome these obstacles, and the Army recently consolidated these efforts through the March 12 launch of the website for its Ready and Resilient Campaign.

What is it?
The initiative began with the goal of making it easier for soldiers and their families to reach out for help when they need it. Specifically, organizers hope to help servicemembers improve their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. The program hopes to highlight the importance of integrating resilience training into Army's military education so that troops are better equipped to overcome the myriad obstacles they may encounter during their time in the service. 

The recently launched website includes a number of resources that will help the Army reach this goal. On the front page, for instance, users are presented with a list of helpful hotlines that address everything from suicide prevention to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The website also offers transition assistance by providing resources to help soldiers find employment in the civilian realm once they leave the service.  

"You can find this information in 500 other different places. But this is supposed to be the one-stop shop for soldiers," said Col. John Sims. "We wanted to make a place where leaders, soldiers and family members could go and find information and quick resources, emergency hotlines, and learn to improve their resiliency."

Why is it necessary?
The website's launch comes after the release of a report detailing the serious issue of mental health in soldiers, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The report found that the diagnostic criteria for PTSD are often hard to pin down, and some troops who should be diagnosed are not. As it stands now, an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD. 

The Ready and Resilient Campaign may also help lower the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans. While it dropped by more than 2 percentage points in February to 9.4 percent, it still stands above the civilian rate.