Every year many servicemembers return home from deployment bearing the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder. Fierce Government reported that in 2013 alone, more than half a million veterans with primary or secondary PTSD were treated at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' clinics and medical centers. 

Despite the large number of veterans living with PTSD, knowledge and treatments related to the condition are limited. But a consortium led by the VA's National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder wants to change that through a collection of neurological tissues. 

A closer look at PTSD
On July 2, the VA announced the creation of the first-ever nationwide brain tissue biorepository. The "brain bank," as it is more commonly referred to, will help research that looks at PTSD in veterans, the VA reported.

According to a press release issued by the VA, the bank will follow participants during their lifetime and then study the brain and other tissues donated after death. The information gathered both before and after death will help researchers to learn more about the causes and progression of PTSD and hopefully identify possible treatments. 

"Although we have learned a great deal about abnormalities in brain structure and function from brain imaging research, there is no substitute for looking at the neurons themselves," national brain bank founder Dr. Matthew Friedman said in a statement. "Understanding the cellular and circuit contributions to abnormal brain activity in PTSD is critical in the search for potential biomarkers of susceptibility, illness and treatment response and for developing new treatments targeting the conditions at the cellular level."

A call for participants
The VA's Office of Research and Development reported that the study is open to any veteran with PTSD living in the U.S. Participants will be required to fill out surveys by mail, on the phone or online, and complete a brief test of memory and concentration. Donated neurological tissues will be collected after death. 

According to the Office of Research and Development, veterans who wish to participate will need to sign consent documents, as will their next-of-kin who will have to confirm the decision to donate after death. Even after signing, former servicemembers can withdraw from the study at any time. 

Veterans without PTSD can also participate in the study. The VA reported that researchers need to be able to study unaffected tissue as well to determine the impact of PTSD on the brain. 

During T-Mobile All-Star FanFest, baseball fans in Ohio will have an opportunity to spend the day celebrating their favorite sport with other fans while supporting the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. 

In the week leading up to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Cincinnati, Ohio, will host a series of themed days for fans. Saturday, July 12, will be "Salute to Our Soldiers Day." According to a press release from MLB, the organization planned the day to honor and support the men and women who serve in the armed forces. 

Activities for the day will include a presentation of the colors by Junior ROTC members for the national anthem and an opportunity for attendees to write thank-you notes that will be sent to troops. 

Servicemembers who want to attend the FanFest day will receive a $5 discount on their tickets. 

Other themed days include Opening Day/Kids Day on July 10, 25th Anniversary of the World Series Champion Cincinnati Reds Day on July 11, Spirit Day on July 13 and Tribute Tuesday on July 14, MLB reported. 

The five themed day will lead up to the 86th annual All-Star Game, a friendly competition between the American and National baseball leagues. Players were chosen by the votes of fans to represent their team in the prestigious games. The winning league is awarded home field advantage in the World Series this fall. Fans will have opportunities at the themed days to win tickets to attend the game. 

The All-Star Game will be held at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on July 14. 

Soldiers may still have to dress in uniform, but they now have a little more variety when it comes to their options.

The new Army fatigue pattern officially hit select military stores on July 1. The design, called Operational Camouflage Pattern, is replacing the current Universal Camouflage Design. 

The Army reported in a press release that several uniforms and variations will be permitted during the transition period.

"Presenting a professional appearance is very important to Soldiers. But, we will not inconvenience or burden our troops," said Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey in the press release. "We will still be the most lethal fighting force the world has ever known even if our belts don't match for the next few years."

The uniforms will be coming to military stores through November of this year, and new soldiers will receive Army Combat Uniforms in the pattern beginning in January 2016.  

Army Times reported that the new pattern is available for purchase at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Fort Lewis, Washington; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Drum, New York; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Richardson, Alaska. It is also available in some South Korean installations.

The cost of the new uniforms is comparable to the price of the old pattern, and soldiers will continue to be issued a clothing stipend that can go toward the new purchases. 

Soldiers have until Oct.1, 2019, to fully transition to the new uniform. 

Service animals are invaluable for many Americans living with physical disabilities. But these animals may be able to provide critical support for those with unseen injuries as well.

A growing number of veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder have found comfort and support through partnerships with service dogs. And now the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs wants to study just how effective this relationship is. The VA is currently conducting a study on the effect that service dogs can have on veterans suffering from PTSD, the organization wrote in a blog post. 

ClinicalTrials.gov reported that the study will primarily look at the activities and quality of life of the veterans paired with service dogs over three years. Secondary markers that will be measured include severity and symptoms of PTSD, depression levels, suicide intent, health care utilization and cost, employment and sleep. 

While there are many organizations that help partner veterans with service dogs, the VA currently only approves animals for patients who are blind or deaf, the organization reported. However, this could change in the future.

"It was like night and day for me when Adonis entered my life," Joel Nicholson, a veteran of the Marines and National Guard, told the VA about his service dog.

The VA reported that a doctor recommended that Nicholson get the dog after he checked in to the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program in West Virginia. 

The study is estimated to include 220 veterans, and participants are already being partnered with service animals. It is expected to be completed by June 2017. 

Army Maj. Scott Smiley was leading his platoon through Iraq in 2005 when a bomb exploded in the road and left him completely blind. Upon returning to civilian life after service, Smiley found it difficult to cope with his injury. However, he quickly realized that he needed to overcome his disability and began to take on challenges like climbing Washington's Mount Rainier and his most recent accomplishment, completing the Ironman Triathlon. 

With determination comes success
After rehab, Smiley knew he had to be strong to take care of his wife, Tiffany. 

"I could let my mind go in a way and say we're ruined and we're not going to be able to do anything," Tiffany told CBS News. "Or I could go the other way and be his biggest cheerleader. And I sort of took that on, even if I didn't believe it myself."

With the support of Tiffany and his brother-in-law, Smiley tackled the Ironman Triathlon – a 2.5-mile swim, a 100-mile bike ride and a 26-mile marathon. If that is not enough, he had to compete in 135-degree heat. Smiley told CBS News that finishing the race made him realize that no matter what your situation is, if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. 

According to People magazine, his successful race is going to be the subject of a documentary to be released in November 2015.

In an emergency situation, every second counts. That is why a new app wants to get emergency responders to the scene faster than ever, even if they are not professionals. 

The PulsePoint mobile app notifies CPR-trained bystanders when a sudden cardiac arrest event occurs in their immediate vicinity. The alert allows for a civilian to start life-saving CPR or defibrillation until emergency responders are able to arrive.

According to the PulsePoint website, 57 percent of adults in the U.S. report that they have had CPR training, but only 11 percent have used it in an actual emergency situation. The creators want to increase that number through their free app.

Northwest Public Radio reported that the app played a role in saving the life of a baby in Spokane, Washington, last September. When the child stopped breathing at a store, a local mechanic working nearby was notified. He ran over and was able to start performing rescue breaths. Because the nearest fire engine was on another call, it took more than five minutes for medics to arrive.

"The more responders we can get there that can switch out [doing] CPR and keep that person's blood pumping until we have professional responders there, the more likely that person is going to survive," Spokane Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer told Northwest Public Radio. 

The app is tied to participating 911 dispatch centers and only available in limited areas at this time. Most recently, the app became available to users in Santa Barbara County. Civilians in the area can download it to an iPhone or Android phone, PulsePoint announced in a press release. 

Adaptive sports in general are great therapy for injured veterans. But there is nothing quite like adding a little competition to inspire wounded warriors to greatness, especially when it involves a friendly struggle against other branches of the service.  

After more than a week of competition, the U.S. Department of Defense Warrior Games ended on June 28. The Army took home highest honors with 162 medals, the Department of Defense reported. The Marine Corps finished in second and the Air Force came in third. More than 500 medals were awarded over the course of the event. 

A celebration of perseverance 
The Warrior Games is an annual athletic competition for ill, wounded or injured servicemembers and veterans in the U.S. While the competition has traditionally occurred in Colorado, this year the event was organized by the Department of Defense and held at Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia, the DoD reported. 

"What an incredible series of Games it's been," said Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work during the closing ceremony. "These Games demonstrate just how important adaptive sports are to the recovery, reconditioning, rehabilitation process for our wounded, ill and injured warriors."

Competition across branches 
This year's Warrior Games featured approximately 250 athletes from the Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command and the British Armed Forces, the DoD reported. 

One of many impressive feats during the event was the 57 medals won by Army swimmers over the course of 48 events. According to the Army, its soldiers took home 17 gold, 22 silver and 18 bronze medals at the meet on June 27 at the Manassas Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center pool. 

The branch's medals included first place finishes in the 200 meter mixed freestyle relay (02:18.3) and the women's 200 meter freestyle relay (02:31.6), the Army reported.

"You can feel the love," Tracy Smith, a Marine veteran, told an Army reporter while watching the swimming events. "They persevere and people rally. It's such a positive experience. That's what it's all about." 

The Chairman's Cup was awarded to the Army team at the closing ceremony on June 28, the DoD reported. The cup goes to the team that earns the most points throughout the course of the Games. 

Emergency responders may not be fighting another person, but they are engaged in a battle nonetheless. That may be one of the reasons why organizations are finding that veterans are well-equipped for work in disaster relief in their life after the military. 

Veterans on a mission
This month, about a dozen veterans were deployed from Colorado to Alaska to help fight fires that have broken out in the state, Colorado's 9 News reported. Their training is the result of a new partnership announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture between the Bureau of Land Management and Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is a veteran organization that takes advantage of the skills of former military members and trains them as first responders for emergency situations across the country.

According to the Team Rubicon website, the organization was born when two marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, and six other veterans and first responders flew to Haiti in the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake to help provide aid in areas that traditional organizations deemed too dangerous. The two realized that the skills they had learned in the military translated well to disaster relief. After they returned to Haiti they started Team Rubicon. Today the organization gives veterans purpose, community and self-worth as they bridge the gap between when a disaster occurs and the time that more conventional aid can arrive.   

Building on military skills
Multiple organizations are eager to work with the nonprofit to bolster wildfire fighting capacity nationwide. The National Park Service announced that the Point Reyes National Seashore is partnering with Team Rubicon to host firefighter training for 75 to 80 veterans during the end of June. Successful completion of the training will allow the veterans to be deployed to fight wildfires during the critical summer season. 

"It has always been a bucket list thing for me, since I was young, I have always loved the outdoors and taking care of the environment," Veteran Marc Gonzalez of Colorado Springs told 9 News. "Fighting wild land fires is just something I have always wanted to do. This opportunity came up with Rubicon and I could not say no."

 To date, nearly 28,000 members of Team Rubicon have been deployed nationwide in response to floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons and other disasters, the Department of Agriculture reported. 

According to Time magazine, around 2.6 million Americans have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan on active duty. Of these servicemembers, over 600,000 have been left completely or partially disabled.

From June 18-19, the Defense Department's Warrior Games took place at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. A total of 270 injured veterans competed in a variety of sports competitions. Who are these brave and determined men and women? Meet a few of the vets who participated in the event. 

Redmond Ramos was serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Navy when he stepped on an explosive device and lost his left leg, according to Navy Live. He decided that he was not going to let his disability ruin his love for running and joined the Warrior Games to partake in the track and field events, among others. 

Kristen Esget was deployed from the Coast Guard when she was hit by a car. She experienced traumatic brain injuries and severe damage to her right knee. She told Time that tasks like reading and sleeping became incredibly difficult, but after years of strength and perseverance, she swam at the Warrior Games. 

Krystoffer L. Bowman was a technical surgeon in the Air Force. He fought through multiple disabilities while serving for over 19 years, focusing his efforts on helping wounded soldiers. His injuries got worse without the proper attention and he now has a range of conditions, including occipital neuralgia, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His determination and courage continued at the Games during the cycling and volleyball competitions. 

Organizations across the world have been actively trying to raise funds and awareness for military veterans who have returned from service with physical and mental injuries. Many of these servicemembers experience difficulty finding jobs and adapting to other aspects of civilian life. To lend them a helping hand, American Corporate Partners has started a new summer challenge that is aimed at pushing the country to realize the hardships these veterans endure and to do what they can to show their support. 

New summer challenge focuses on veterans
Similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge that took the Internet by storm during the summer of 2014, the Give Them 20 challenge puts participants to the test by requesting that they do 20 push-ups and other actions, depending on how creative people decide to get. Participants then challenge two of their friends to do the same – or add a new task – and then post a video of it on social media. 

ACP was founded in 2008 as a nonprofit centered on assisting veterans entering into the workforce during life after service. According to The Huffington Post, the organization provides an online community to volunteers who share their advice and career experiences, which veterans can then use as a helpful resource. ACP also offers a job board, which has attracted some of the country's major corporate leaders.

"Whether you're red or blue or left of center or right of center, it doesn't make a difference," Sidney Goodfriend, ACP's founder and chairman, told The Huffington Post. "We all should figure out a way to help these guys."

The news source noted that the need for awareness is pertinent, as many veterans, particularly female vets, continue to find it challenging to find a new career as civilians. Many of these retired servicemembers need to support their families and do not have the funds without a job.

Challenge catches fire
Syracuse.com explained that many of entertainment's most popular celebrities have already taken part in the challenge, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Will Arnett, the Rockettes and the entirety of the New York Mets. Goodfriend mentioned that he still wants A-listers like Jay Z and Taylor Swift to participate and hopes they do before the challenge loses steam. 

Like the Ice Bucket Challenge, the main goal behind the project is encouraging people to donate to the retired servicemembers who need their support. However, Goodfriend made it clear that all he asks is participants become aware of the situation these veterans are in. 

"Almost every charity out there is trying to get you to write a check," Goodfriend told The Huffington Post. "But this is the only nonprofit, certainly for veterans, not looking to raise money. We're looking for peoples' time and we try to make it really easy for them to be able to contribute."

ACP has provided a website on which veterans can watch all of the new #GiveThem20 challenges and witness the country's acts of solidarity.