Leaving the military can be a difficult adjustment for most veterans, especially when so many face unemployment. But according to a new study, employment for female veterans is actually on the rise in the U.S.

According to the report released by the Council on Veterans Employment, in addition to trending down, the unemployment rate for women veterans is not significantly different from the average unemployment rate for all women. In 2013, the numbers were 6.9 percent versus 6.8 percent, and 6 percent versus 5.9 percent in 2014, respectively. 

Taking federal action
The study was established in response to the Veterans Employment Initiative, launched by President Obama in 2009 under Executive Order 13518, "Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government." The order called for the federal government to promote employment among veterans through leading by example. According to the report, 31 percent of new hires across the executive branch in the fiscal year 2013 were veterans as a result of the initiative.

While results such as these showed that the initiative was increasing employment opportunities among veterans in general, the Women Veterans Initiative was established to ensure that female veterans were also receiving opportunities at the federal level. 

The report revealed that the federal government performed well in meeting the employment needs of female veterans. Though women make up only 9.2 percent of U.S. veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, they comprised almost a quarter of new hires in 2013 across the executive branch.

A valuable demographic
Female veterans draw on their military experience to excel in the workplace.  

"The Nation needs traits veterans possess to keep America competitive," said Elisa Basnight, director of the VA Center for Women Veterans. "When women veterans surrender the uniform, they keep the intangible with them – resolute resilience and the unbeatable skills that they will use in business, entrepreneurship, industry, and public service at all levels."

The Women Veterans Initiative additionally reported that female veterans were nearly twice as likely to be enrolled in school as their male counterparts. They are also younger and more racially and ethnically diverse than male veterans.

To increase conversations about the needs of female veterans, the VA's Center for Women Veterans launched a campaign in March that focuses on honoring and supporting the women who served this country. 

A former Hollywood star is using her Nashville farm to offer hope and healing to wounded warriors and their families.   

Jennifer O'Neill is an actress best known for the film "Summer of '42" and her role as a CoverGirl makeup model. She is also the daughter of a World War II vet, which sparked her desire to use her farm, Hillenglade, to reach out to members of the armed forces.

According to the nonprofit's website, Hope and Healing at Hillenglade uses horses and the scenic beauty of the country to provide a place for servicemembers and their families to heal, not only from physical injuries, but from invisible injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulties reintegrating into civilian life and familial and marital stress.

 "Anyone in the service – whether they have PTSD or not – is welcome," O'Neill told Fox News. "The farm is about restoration, healing and giving hope."

O'Neill hosts events at Hillenglade on holidays that pertain to military life, such as Flag Day and Independence Day. Hundreds of military members, past and present, and their families are treated to live music, food, activities and, of course, horses.

"What really works well for PTSD is love – and whether that's from a person or an animal, it doesn't matter," Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor at New York University's Langone Medical Center, told Fox News. "Horses are absolutely therapeutic. I believe in this."

Hillenglade's next event is planned for June 13, the weekend of Flag Day, and is free to active military members, veterans and their families who register prior to the cut-off of 300 people. According to the nonprofit's website, the day will include pony and horse rides, sports, food, horse exhibitions and paintings, and more. 

Transitioning back into civilian life after serving in the military can be difficult. Often, some of the challenges are caused by the misconceptions and myths about veterans perpetuated by civilians who have little knowledge of the experience of members of the armed forces. But journalism students from the University of Michigan hope to help combat some of those misconceptions with their new book "100 Questions and Answers About Veterans: A Guide for Civilians." 

The book is composed of 100 questions that veterans said they wish civilians knew the answers to, according to the University of Michigan. Questions range from knowledge of basic military life, such as the meanings of Memorial Day and Veterans Day, to more personal questions such as why veterans often prefer people do not thank them for their service.

"Veterans are frequently misunderstood by well-meaning civilians who want to reach out, but who might not know just how," said Joe Grimm, the School of Journalism's editor in residence who led the class that researched and wrote the book. "This guide was created to help close that knowledge gap."

Though written by the journalism students, the questions and answers were reviewed by veterans of the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, including Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Jeff Barnes, the University of Michigan reported.

The book is part of a larger series on cultural competence. Other guides by Grimm's "Bias Buster" class focused on Native Americans, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans and more. All seek to promote greater understanding by breaking down walls and encouraging communication between diverse groups.

"Given the similarities between vets and other groups of people who are frequently stereotyped, this would be a place we could do some work," Grimm told The Associated Press.

The book is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. 

From deployments to relocations, military life can present many challenges for families. Luckily, technology is being developed to help address some of these difficulties. These five mobile apps aim to make life easier for military families by providing valuable resources straight to their phones.

1. My Military Life
The National Military Family Association created the My Military Life app to give families credible information to help navigate a variety of relevant topics. According to the NMFA, these situations include deployment, moving, parenthood and transitioning out of the military, among others. When a user downloads the app, he or she answers a few preliminary questions to help the app determine which topics are applicable. 

2. Sesame Street for Military Families
Who better to help young kids through the challenges of military life than their favorite characters from "Sesame Street"? This app has resources, videos and activities to help military families navigate difficult issues by encouraging kids to recognize and express their feelings. Topics that are covered include injuries, grief, homecomings, deployments and self-expression. The resources provided by the app are available in both English and Spanish. 

3. My Base Guide
Families who relocate will find My Base Guide to be a useful resource for simplifying the process. The app provides information on base regulations, registration, education and schools, housing and more, which is perfect for a transition to a new location. The app contains this helpful information for more than 120 bases in the U.S.

4. Babies on the Homefront
​Taking care of a baby is difficult under the best of circumstances, but being in the military brings additional challenges. The Babies on the Homefront app attempts to smooth the experience for military parents of children up to age 3 by providing tips to handle bad behavior, ideas for creative play time and suggestions for self-care, the app's website reported. The app, developed by ZERO TO THREE: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, allows parents to personalize their account with their baby's picture and age, and specify their situation using a variety of options such as "at home," "deployed" or "leaving soon."

5. FOCUS on the Go!
Created by the Families Overcoming Under Stress Project for Military Families, the FOCUS on the Go! app provides fun, educational games for families to play together. The games provide opportunities to practice solving problems and communicating while helping Buddy Bear through different challenges. Kids also learn relaxation tools and ways to identify their emotions. 

Military uniforms perform an honorable duty when they are in use, but once they are no longer needed, they are often discarded or packed away. However, those looking for an alternative option are in luck. A U.S. Marine mom is turning old uniforms into treasured mementos for loved ones. 

Elsa Zarate, an Army veteran, operates Bands 4 Courage, a company that creates bands and bracelets from military uniforms. According to her website, Zarate was inspired when her son was on his first deployment overseas with the Marines.

Zarate took pieces of her son's boot camp uniform and fashioned them into a band in order to symbolically keep him close while he was away, Today News reported. People soon started asking about the bracelet, and the idea for Bands 4 Courage was born.

"The more compliments I received the more I wanted to show my appreciation to our servicemembers and find a way to uphold the honor of their used Military uniforms instead of it being trashed or misused," Zarate said on her Etsy page.   

Zarate uses fabrics, buttons, patches and any other salvageable part of the uniform to make each of her final products unique. Each item is delivered with a card containing information about the person who owned the uniform that was used to make the band, and free bracelets are given to anyone who donates a uniform. 

Bands and bracelets can be ordered from the Bands 4 Courage website or the company's shop on Etsy. While there are many options online, customization is also available.

It is common for military families to have to move frequently. These transitions can be challenging, as aspects like moving with children can make the process stressful without good planning. Preparing for your move a few weeks before the day will help reduce any anxiety you may have about the transition.

Whether you are an expert or this is your first time switching homes, before your next move, remember these tips to ensure that your experience is as stress-free and positive as possible.

1. Declutter as often as you can
Over the years, a house can start to accumulate a significant amount of your belongings. It is best to frequently declutter your home. It helps to determine if you want to keep something based off of whether you are willing to move it to another house down the line.

Military.com recommended going through everything as frequently as every 10 days, especially if you have children who tend to collect a number of toys. Go through their closets with them and figure out what they are willing to get rid of. Having a yard sale with any items you do not want to keep but are not willing to throw away will reduce the amount of stress you feel on moving day.

2. Choose trustworthy packers
When your spouse is away and you are responsible for moving everything on your own, movers and packers are extremely valuable. While most people focus on finding movers they can trust – which is important – they often forget to focus on finding reliable packers. They are the ones who will be making sure that your belongings get to your destination in one piece, so it is essential that you can trust them. Sometimes it can even be worth it to praise their hard work, as this often encourages them to do a better job.

3. Pack a box for your first day
According to MilitarySpouse, packing a box with all of the essentials you will need for your first day at your new home will make the moving process run a lot smoother. Think of everything, from towels for showering to a broom to get rid of any debris that enters the house after moving boxes in and out all day. Be sure that your box is not put in the moving truck with all of the others. Sometimes using a bag instead of a box can make these items easier to carry and may fit better in your car.

4. Take pictures of complicated cords
If you do not know the ins and outs of the cables and cords involved in the setup of your electronics, it can be challenging to reinstall everything without assistance after you move. Before unplugging electronic devices like your television and computer, it can save you a lot of trouble to snap a picture. When you get to your new house, you can refer to the photo as you plug everything back in.

5. Have a plan for unpacking
A home overflowing with unpacked boxes can be overwhelming. Having a plan can speed up the process. After a couple of moves, you may have determined what works for your family. For example, if you have children, tell them that after unpacking five boxes you will go to a nearby park or pizza place to motivate them.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to never open more than one box at once. This makes everything feel more chaotic. Tackle one at a time and take breaks if you feel yourself start to get stressed out. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is partnering with 50 cities to provide economic opportunities for veterans nationwide. 

According to the VA, the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative, launched on May 18, aims to increase employment and education opportunities for former servicemembers through national and local employers alike. 

"The best way to get things done for veterans is to involve partners from both the public and private sectors – national to local," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. "If history has shown us anything, it's that all you have to do is give veterans an opportunity and they will go beyond anything you could ever envision."

Each community will have a VA Economic Liaison who will encourage and coordinate participation among public and private organizations that offer resources for veterans, the VA reported. The initiative's partners include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, departments of Defense and Labor, large companies like Hilton and TriWest, and others, at both the national and local level. 

While data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployment for veterans declined in 2014, the numbers are still above 5 percent for both male and female veterans. The VA hopes that the community partnerships created by the VECI will accelerate job growth for America's soldiers. 

Six bills passed by Congress aim to provide solutions to some of the problems that veterans face in everyday life. The successful votes bring the bills one step closer to becoming laws. 

According to the minutes from the floor proceedings, on May 18 the House voted to approve the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act and the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act.

The bills aim to help veterans and keep the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable.

For example, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act would require the VA to keep a copy of any employee reprimand or admonishment on file, according to the Library of Congress. This would allow the VA to keep better track of each employee's work history, providing greater accountability.

To combat a problem that many veterans face, the Veteran's I.D. Card Act could help protect former servicemembers from identity theft, The Associated Press reported. Under current laws, many veterans must carry around official documentation in order to prove military service. Because some of these documents contain sensitive information, such as the veteran's Social Security number, it can make the vet vulnerable to identity theft. 

Homelessness is a problem that affects far too many veterans. The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act extends reintegration programs available to veterans through the year 2020, according to the Library of Congress website.

The Senate will vote on the bills next. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to hear the nation's best ideas for how to use technology to improve quality of life for veterans with disabilities. 

The VA's new Innovation Creation Series for Prosthetics and Assistive Technologies is a two-month campaign that seeks to gather ideas for innovative ways to solve problems that disabled veterans face every day.  

 "We're reaching out to technology leaders in the corporate world and to the public in order to find creative new solutions to help transform care and quality of life not only for our veterans, but for the public at large," VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald said. "The innovations that come out of this challenge will benefit the veterans we care for and will be open source to help advance American medicine."

The series launched on May 15 in Palo Alto, California. According to Stanford University, guest speakers at the launch included Beijing Paralympics gold-medalist Oscar Sanchez, director of the Center for Women Veterans Elisa Basnight, and White House Maker-In-Residence Stephanie Santoso. 

According to the VA, the organization is calling for innovators to submit ideas to address the following five challenges: 

1. Develop a device that can be put on the end of an upper or lower extremity prosthetic for use in daily life.
2. Create a pillbox with a built-in reminder system that can be used for pills that need to be taken up to eight times a day.
3. Design technology that would change the speed and grip strength of an upper extremity prosthetic. 
4. Develop a video game controller that would provide alternative access for veterans who are using them in therapy. 
5. Create an apparatus to dampen tremors during the performance of tasks that require fine motor skills. 

Solutions to these challenges would give disabled veterans greater autonomy and reduce some of the stress they deal with every day. They could also provide aid to members of the general public who face the same struggles. 

The launch was the beginning of a tour that will cross the country en route to Washington, D.C., where the National Maker Faire takes place on June 12 and 13. The series will then conclude with final judging on July 29 at the Richmond VA Medical Center.

  

Communication is key for families trying to successfully handle deployment. Failing to talk to one another can make separation stressful and overwhelming, especially for the spouses of military servicemembers.

It is important to work together as parents through frequent conversations. Part of the challenge in ensuring that this happens is planning out times to talk. This can require flexibility for those deployed and their families at home. The other task is finding a means of communication that works for everyone. Here are five effective ways to talk with your loved one regularly to feel close to each other and make deployment less stressful. 

1. Letters
Communicating through writing is often thought of as a more traditional form of keeping in contact with someone. However, there is sentimental value in sitting down with a pen and paper and sharing your thoughts and stories. Have the kids write a letter with you and include a drawing that your spouse can hang up while away from home.

Military.com noted that numbering each letter so your spouse knows which ones to read first will prevent any problems from occurring if the mail arrives at a slower pace than you write, as this is one of the reasons why people tend to choose other forms of communication during deployment.

2. Skype or FaceTime
If your spouse has access to a laptop or smartphone with Wi-Fi, FaceTime and Skype are effective ways to communicate regularly. They are completely free and combine the personal touch of a phone call with face-to-face interaction. Plan a time when all of the kids can gather around the computer and say hello to their mom or dad. Even a few minutes a day can drastically improve how up to date you are with each other's lives.  

3. Phone
There's nothing more personal than hearing your loved one's voice after being away from each other for a long time. Phone calls are the perfect form of communication for special occasions, such as birthdays or holidays. Children will also get very excited at the idea of hearing their parent's voice and catching him or her up on their lives in real time.

However, as long-distance phone calls can be very expensive, it may be best to save them just for these occasions. It is also a good idea to check with your phone company for military discounts, as many major businesses offer these to make communication less expensive for military families.

4. Email
Email is one of the fastest ways to communicate with your loved one during active duty. You and your children can quickly share experiences that he or she missed. They can also attach photographs and videos to give him or her visuals. Just make sure that your spouse has service wherever he or she is deployed. Many email servers show when the message has been opened and read so you can confirm that your spouse received your note.

5. Care packages
Parents magazine recommended care packages as another great way to keep in touch with loved ones on special occasions. On your spouse's birthday, for example, it can be nice to send a care package filled with his or her favorite snacks and items that he or she may miss while away, such as home-baked cookies.

Including pictures of the family can serve as a pleasant surprise for your spouse who may not have seen the children in a while. Be sure to send the package with plenty of time to arrive if you are sending it for a special date to make sure it gets there in time.