After serving two tours in Afghanistan with the British military, Prince Harry was searching for a way to help combat veterans who were injured during their service. In 2014, he came up with the idea to host a sporting event to benefit wounded veterans and their families. The prince called his brainchild The Invictus Games, a name inspired by the poem of William Ernest Henley. The name was meant to convey an "indomitable spirit" in the face of adversity, and the games' slogan, "I am the master of my fate," is a direct line from Henley's poem. The inaugural competition was held in London at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. According to the Invictus Foundation, the 2014 games brought together "over 400 competitors from 13 nations around the world." 

Prince Harry believed that sport and competition would help the wounded servicemembers heal and find purpose in life after service. Recently, the prince proudly announced that the Invictus Games would be returning for a second event. The 2016 games are set to take place May 8-12, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The 86th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14 brought thousands of baseball fans from around the country to Cincinnati, Ohio. From Friday, July 10, until the game on Sunday night, people gathered at Fan Fest, enjoyed the typical ballpark foods and waited for a glimpse of their favorite players. The excitement and energy in the city was palpable, but few were as excited as the members of the Cincinnati Fire Department. A week before the events surrounding the big game kicked off, 120 of Cincinnati's distinguished firefighters were asked to unfurl the American flag during the National Anthem at the Great American Ballpark. 

One of the firefighters, Marc Monahan, told WLWT News that he and his fellow first responders were used to holding the flag during the Reds Opening Day game. However, Monahan continued by saying that the atmosphere surrounding the All-Star Game was much more spirited. Because the game was broadcast to over 200 countries, Monahan and the other Cincinnati firefighters practiced the unfurling several times before the big day to ensure relative perfection. The 120 men and women from the CFD did their city proud as they effortlessly displayed the nation's flag while dressed in their finest blues. 

In Nelsonville, Ohio, 52 teenagers got to live the life of a firefighter for a week. The teens, all between ages 14-18, traveled to Hocking College for the Ohio Youth Fire and EMS Training Academy. This year, 19 of the camp's participants are returnees. For seven days, the young men and women pushed themselves to their physical limits as they handled the fire hose and practiced search and rescue missions. They also ran drills in full fire gear, which can add up to 50 pounds to a person's body.

The camp is not just about fighting fire, however. It is a place where young adults can learn teamwork and service.

"What we do on fire grounds, and EMS too, is collaboration communication. We're working together as a team and functioning as one," said April McComb, the camp's registered nurse.

Many of the campers have plans to pursue careers as first responders and serve their communities. In fact, Jacob Brammer, one of the camp's veterans, was recently certified to be a volunteer firefighter in his community. Ohio Youth Fire and EMS Training Academy offers scholarships to any interested prospective campers and is only one of many youth-geared first responder training camps in the country. 

In the vast majority of emergency situations, first responders are called on to do everything in their power to keep people alive. However, complications arise when paramedics respond to a situation where the person is dying and has very specific end-of-life wishes, such as a "do not resuscitate" order. 

This professional conflict is the focus of a recent study led by Deborah Waldrop, a professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Waldrop examined the role of first responders who answer end-of-life calls. 

Emergency response at end-of-life
According to a press release, Waldrop interviewed paramedics and emergency medical technicians in Western New York to gain perspective on the largely unknown intersection between emergency care and end-of-life care. She reported that while most responders are not trained in end-of-life care, they do more of it than they are given credit for. 

Though they have not received training, the study found that most responders have found ways to navigate the situations, including verbally walking the family through the process during their loved one's last moments. However, a major problem arises when there are no medical orders or the orders cannot be found. Without an official document, the responders are obligated to take life-saving measures and transport the patient to a hospital, even if the family says otherwise. 

"It's why the end-of-life conversation needs to happen at the time of a life-limiting diagnosis or when something changes on the trajectory of that illness and why those documents have to be in a prominent place," Waldrop said in a statement. "In the heat of the moment, families don't want to be shuffling through files." 

The study reported that in general, first responders expressed the desire for more training in how to handle these situations. 

Steps to aid the process
​Waldrop recommended that families make sure to openly discuss a terminal loved one's wishes with medical professionals and caretakers and place any official medical orders in a prominent location such as on the refrigerator door so that it can be easily given to emergency responders. 

"It's someone's life that may end differently than they intended if we fail to take these steps," Waldrop said. "Those memories don't easily go away." 

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, patients can request a DNR order from their doctor, who must either honor the request or refer the recipient to a doctor who will. Standard forms may also be found at the state Department of Health. Family cannot override a DNR order once it is written by the physician, but if a person has not made an order and is no longer able to communicate the desire, a family member can make the decision in certain situations.   

The California Emergency Medical Services Authority recommended that people wear a DNR medallion if they are worried that responders will not see the authorized form. 

Combat veterans returning home from active duty will have a slightly easier transition back to civilian life thanks to a new bill signed into law by Illinois' governor.

This month, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed state legislation that will waive license plate fees for combat vets in Illinois who are returning from active duty, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The waiver will be applicable for up to 12 months after the veteran's return from service.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Neil Anderson, a Republican from Rock Island.

According to the Post-Dispatch, returning combat soldiers will have to prove that they received hostile fire or imminent danger pay in the last 12 months by providing documentation to the Secretary of State. 

The Cyber Drive Illinois website listed that random-number U.S. Army veteran license plates typically have a $195 fee for newly acquired vehicles.

The law is set to go into effect in January 2017. 

Many combat veterans struggle with their return to civilian life after service. In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs stated that around 11 to 20 percent of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder. However, former U.S. Marine Tank Commander Sean Gobin may have found a solution. Gobin's own combat experience was difficult, and upon his departure from the military in 2012, he found it hard to process everything he had gone through. In hopes of clearing his head, Gobin and another military friend decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and raise money for disabled veterans along the way.

The pair hiked the 2,168-mile trail for eight hours a day, and Gobin said the challenging experience gave him time to work through his military experience. He decided to share this healing process with other combat veterans when he founded Warrior Hike. The nonprofit supplies returned military personnel with the supplies and equipment needed for hikes ranging from two to six months all across the country. Gobin told CNN that "hiking is like a reset button. It helps you become a civilian again." Thus far, Gobin and his nonprofit have helped over 70 veterans, and it is their hope that these numbers continue to grow.

Earlier this month, Angers, France, hosted the first-ever Conseil International du Sport Militaire Women's Basketball Tournament. The U.S. team was comprised of players selected from the 2014 Armed Forces Women's Basketball Championship. Coached by Army Lt. Col. William Johnson and Tonya Strobridge of the Navy, the U.S. team left with a 3-1 record and a bronze medal.

The team's only loss came in the semifinals of the tournament. The game remained close throughout regulation play, but China advanced to the championship with a 79-74 victory over the U.S. The women came back strong, however, and played an impressive game against the host team.

The center for the team, 6-foot-4 Army Spc. Danielle Salley, led the U.S. to a 74-41 victory over France with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tiffanie Guthrie also put up impressive numbers with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The team is currently preparing for the CISM World Military Games, which will take place in South Korea from Oct. 2-11 this year. The U.S. is set to host the 2016 CISM Women's Basketball Tournament at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.

On June 30, 2013, America saw its biggest loss of first responder lives since the 9/11 attacks. The wildfires that had been scorching across the Yarnell Hill area in Arizona took a vicious turn and claimed the lives of 19 members of the Prescott Fire Department's Granite Mountain Hotshots.

Two years later, the sacrifice of those elite first responders has been honored in the Gulf Coast town of Naples, Florida. Eagle Scout Max Goin and Troop 2001 unveiled a memorial outside North Collier Fire and Rescue Station 45, which also serves as the troop's headquarters. Encased in the red brick square are 19 shovels to symbolize the lives of each firefighter lost in Arizona. The inscription on each shovel reads, "In memory of Granite Mountain Hotshots," and has the date of the tragedy.

Goin and Troop 2001 were at a scout camp in New Mexico the day the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed. Part of their camp was closed because of brush fires, and the devastation of the wildfires stuck with them. In addition to honoring the memory of the fallen Arizona firefighters, they want their project to remind people to appreciate the service of first responders. Goin wants people to recognize the bravery, commitment and sacrifice of these individuals everywhere.

In an emergency situation, communication is critical. In the occurrence of a national emergency, communication between components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is especially important. 

On July 7, President Obama signed the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. According to the Committee on Homeland Security, the act requires the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that interoperable communications are maintained within components of the department. 

According to Homeland Security Today magazine, Homeland Security must also write and submit a plan to Congress that details how the group will achieve department-wide interoperable communications.

The act was introduced by Democratic Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey on March 24, 2014, as an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Payne is a ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications.

"This is a great victory for New Jersey and for our entire nation," Payne said in a statement. "The law sets up the Department of Homeland Security to finally achieve department-wide interoperable communications, a necessity for ensuring the safety of DHS personnel and the communities they serve. I thank President Obama for swiftly signing the DHS Interoperable Communications Act into law."

According to Payne's official website, the bill was proposed in response to Homeland Security's lack of a robust and comprehensive strategy for communication. A 2015 follow-up to a 2012 audit found that plans for corrective actions had not been finalized and there was no timetable for finalization to occur, leaving the department unprepared for emergencies.  

Job interviews can be challenging for anyone. But that difficulty is often multiplied when an individual has post-traumatic stress disorder or a mental illness. It is a hurdle that many veterans face in life after service when they attempt to start a new career outside of the military. 

While it may seem daunting, veterans who live with these conditions are not without hope. Researchers at Northwestern University found that study participants with PTSD or severe mental illnesses who trained with a virtual program were nine times as likely to get job offers in the next six months compared to those who did not use the system, the university reported. 

Training for success
According to the Chicago Tribune, the study looked at the virtual program "Job Interview Training with Molly Porter," a computer program that features an actress who reads questions and responses common in interviews.

The program, which was released for general use last summer, was created by SIMmersion, a Baltimore-based startup. According to the program's website, "Molly" is equipped to ask hundreds of common interview questions.

Northwestern University reported that participants were repeatedly asked questions by the virtual character, who acts as a human resources employee. Their responses were recorded with voice recognition software and a job coach in the program gave immediate feedback on the screen regarding their answers. As the interviews progressed, the questions became increasingly harder. 

Confidence through experience
Of the vets with PTSD and individuals with severe mental illnesses who participated in the study, the ones who did more training sessions tended to have a greater likelihood of getting a job offer and within a shorter period of time, the university reported. 

"Veterans with PTSD and people with mental illness such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia are prone to anxiety, which can escalate during stressful social encounters such as the job interview," Matthew Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in an article by the university. "The training was a big confidence builder for them."

Individuals can purchase full access to the training program online for $89.95, but The Huffington Post said that it may also be found at some job resource centers.