The role of the first responder is constantly changing. Consequently, the technology and strategies used to respond to an emergency should be evolving as well. 

This year, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate launched a number of programs as part of a five-year campaign that aims to increase the safety, communication and awareness of tomorrow's first responders, Homeland Security reported. The Next Generation First Responder Apex Program will use new technology to accelerate first responder response times and decision-making so that more lives can be saved.

According to FirstResponder.gov, the program began with a list of 14 technology priorities put forward by first responders. The First Responder Resource Group and the InterAgency Board also contributed to the list of priorities.The list highlights needs that responders see when they are responding to emergency situations. By addressing the proposed areas, Homeland Security hopes to close capability gaps and further the response team's ability to protect both themselves and others. 

A number of Apex programs are examining how technology can be used to aid first responders in emergencies. Possible innovations include tech applications like real-time network data exchange and wearable sensor technology that aim to increase situational awareness. The NGFR is also looking to enhance uniforms with improvements such as fire resistance and splash protection, while increasing wearability and comfort.  

As prototypes are developed, they will be put through a series of thorough evaluations and testing with first responders. Successful solutions will then be implemented as they become available into the emergency response community to be used on the job. 

Civil War history is lying under the waters of the Savannah River. With the help of a U.S. Navy dive team, it may be salvaged. 

The CSS Georgia, an ironclad warship, was built to protect the city of Savannah, Georgia, in 1862, Navy Times reported. It was scuttled in the river near the end of the Civil War.

Navy Times reported that Mobile Diving and Salvage Company 23 was deployed to the site on June 1 and will spend just under two months freeing the Confederate ship from the bottom of the river.

According to The Associated Press, the divers will remove the wreckage in the following categories: four cannons, live ordinance, forward and aft armor casements, and engine remnants.

CWO3 Jason Potts, commander of MDSC-23, told Navy Times that the environment will provide the team with the biggest challenge. Because the remains of the ship are on the edge of a shipping channel, the divers will have to battle strong currents and shifting debris. 

Army Pvt. Henry Johnson and Army Sgt. William Shemin may be gone, but their service to this country is not forgotten. 

On June 2, President Obama awarded the two men the Medal of Honor posthumously for their heroic actions during World War I.  

According to the LA Times, Johnson served in the 369th Infantry Regiment, an all-black unit, where he was lauded for his bravery when he prevented German soldiers from capturing himself and an injured companion during a nighttime attack. This included engaging in hand-to-hand combat after his gun jammed. He was honored by the French government, but was not recognized at home. 

Shemin was a rifleman in Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, who exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in France to rescue wounded soldiers, and then took command of his platoon when the commanding officers were killed, the White House reported. The award was accepted by his daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth.

"It has taken a long time for Henry Johnson and William Shemin to receive the recognition they deserve, and there are surely others whose heroism is still unacknowledged and uncelebrated," Obama said at the ceremony. "So we have work to do, as a nation, to make sure all our heroes' stories are told."

The Medal of Honor is awarded to military members who go above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action, displaying conduct that involves great self-sacrifice or personal bravery while risking their life. The White House reported that there must be incontestable proof to these merit-worthy actions. 

While the White House did not give a reason for the delay in awarding the Medals of Honor, Newsweek reported that many believe it to be the result of racism, as Johnson was black and Shemin was Jewish. 

In his speech, President Obama stated that awarding these men righted a great wrong. 

Even the Army gets a fashion reboot every once in awhile. But in the case of the new camo rolling out for soldiers, the focus is safety, not style. 

Beginning on July 1, soldier uniforms in the Operational Camouflage Pattern will be available for purchase at select military clothing stores, the U.S. Army reported.

New soldiers will receive army combat uniforms in the pattern beginning in January 2016. During the summer of 2016, equipment and uniforms in the pattern will become available to members of the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. National Guard and Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Enlisted soldiers receive an annual clothing stipend that can be used to buy pieces in the new pattern. 

"I myself will wait until I am issued my clothing allowance before purchasing a uniform with the Operational Camouflage Pattern," said Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey. "I encourage all soldiers and leaders to do the same by budgeting for a new uniform, belt, boots, and T-shirts as you receive your clothing allowance over the next 2-3 years."

The Army reported that the new pattern was selected after the most comprehensive uniform testing the military branch has ever performed.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told Army Times that the testing revealed that the pattern of the uniform is very important in protecting soldiers in a variety of environments.

Army Times reported that the Operational Camouflage Pattern will replace the Universal Camouflage Pattern, a green and gray pattern that proved to be unpopular. The new uniforms will be similar to the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage that has been worn in Afghanistan over the last five years. 

When "Good Kill" premiered in May, the film offered moviegoers a glimpse into the life of an Air Force drone pilot. The movie received relatively positive feedback from critics, and The Washington Post reported that it helps civilians to better understand what sacrifice and service look like in modern combat.  

The whole story
With such portrayals in popular culture on the rise, the U.S. Air Force released a statement on May 15 to dispel common misconceptions that the public has about remotely piloted aircrafts. The statement examined six primary myths:

1. Remotely piloted aircrafts are less safe than manned aircrafts.
2. Combatant commanders are not requesting RPA capability.
3. Federal Aviation Administration requirements do not apply to RPAs.
4. Only a pilot and sensor operator are required to complete an RPA mission.
5. RPAs are only used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
6. An RPA mission is like a video game. 

According to the Air Force, every RPA mission involves a pilot and crew who control the aircraft, and each combat air patrol is supported by nearly 200 people in various capacities. Contrary to popular belief, the safety rates are in fact comparable to those of a manned aircraft, and they are currently the top capability requested by combat commanders around the world.

The Air Force reported that RPAs are currently being used to support combat search and rescue, strike coordination, closer air support and other tasks in addition to ISR and other mission sets. 

For video game enthusiasts, the Air Force emphasized that controlling a remotely piloted aircraft is not a game. New pilots, many of whom have already undergone training for flying manned aircrafts, go through an intense, year-long training program to learn how to operate RPAs. It is not as simple as picking up a controller. 

Playing an active role
The Air Force wants the public to know the real stories of the men and women who operate RPAs, a picture that is not always accurately portrayed in popular culture. 

"We've been quiet about it for years, and there were good reasons for that, there were some direct concerns," Col. Jim Cluff told Military Times. "Now we've undertaken a very deliberate process to tell the story while at the same time making sure we are protecting our airmen. Our concern is just that we didn't talk a lot about what the community does and how they do that, and left it to others to figure it out."

Jerral Hancock, a wounded Army veteran, will soon receive a brand new home thanks to the students from Lancaster High School in Southern California. The group of dedicated students committed to building the home from scratch and finally presented their hard work to Hancock on his 29th birthday.

Students gather to help vet
Hancock was left partially paralyzed while serving in Iraq. The Star Tribune explained that the tank he was driving was attacked on his 21st birthday, causing him to lose his left arm and become badly burned. When Lancaster High School students learned about Hancock's experience, they chose him for their annual school project honoring veterans. 

He met the students at the school in 2013 when teacher Jamie Goodreau invited him to speak to her class. After seeing Hancock open up about his time in Iraq, his injuries and his current living situation, the students felt that they should give back.

New home changes servicemember's life
According to Stars and Stripes magazine, it took the group two years and a lot of fundraising to build the home. Hancock explained how grateful he was for their gift after living in a mobile home. He is well-known in the area, as he frequently participates in parades and other veteran events. 

However, due to his quiet and private nature, no one knew exactly what he was going through. He told the news source that his living space was so small, he could not get his wheelchair into the rooms of his son and daughter. 

His new spacious home will make things a lot easier for him and his children. Among those who helped the students was actor Gary Sinise, who attended one of the benefit concerts, and local prison inmates who held an art sale to contribute to the funding.  

Feeding cows may not be a typical duty of a National Guard member, but it was all in a day's work for the Oklahoma National Guard after heavy rains stranded a rancher's animals in Muskogee County.

According to The Associated Press, rancher Robert Vinson moved his cattle to higher ground when a weekend forecast predicted rain, leaving enough food to feed the animals for a few days. But when the rain was so extreme that the roads remained flooded days later, Vinson had no way to feed his cows. 

That's where the National Guard came in.

Vinson first contacted the fire department, and the request was sent higher and higher up the chain until it reached the Oklahoma National Guard's Joint Operations Center, the National Guard reported. The mission was approved, and on May 27 a helicopter of guardsmen was sent to Muskogee County where it transported enough hay and dry feed to last the cows a week. 

"This [mission] is different than what we normally do, but I really enjoy helping people here at home," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael McGill, the commander of the mission's aircraft. 

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced on May 24 that the Navy's SSN 796, a Virginia-class attack submarine, will bear the title USS New Jersey. According to the Department of Defense, the name will honor the long history between the Navy and the state of New Jersey.

"New Jersey's relationship with our Navy has been defined by innovation, leadership, and courage – in conquest and in combat," Mabus said. "The name of our newest nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine will carry on that strong tradition."

New Jersey's ties to the Navy began in 1900 when the Navy's first submarine, the USS Holland, was designed and constructed in the state, the Department of Defense reported. 

The submarine will be the third vessel to bear the name USS New Jersey, but the only one that is still active. The first two were battleships commissioned in the first half of the 20th century. 

During a radio segment on New Jersey 101.5, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stated that he would "absolutely" push for the commissioning of the new sub to occur in its namesake state.

"From my perspective, having that submarine commissioned in the waters of the state that it is named for would be a great thing," Christie said. 

According to the Department of Defense, the USS New Jersey will be a next-generation attack submarine. Each Virginia-class submarine is designed with a reactor plant that allows the sub to complete its planned lifetime without refueling. They are 377 feet long, weigh 7,800 tons and have increased stealth and accuracy.     

Boston locals and visitors alike may notice that the harbor is a little emptier than usual this month. For the first time in two decades, the USS Constitution left the water to undergo restoration at a dry dock of the Charlestown Navy Yard. 

Restoring Old Ironsides
Fondly known by its nickname, "Old Ironsides," the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship in the U.S. Navy. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the ship first came to fame during the War of 1812, when it helped the young nation become recognized as a world-class maritime power. 

Of the original six frigates commissioned by Congress for the U.S. Navy, it is the only one that still remains. Manned by active-duty officers and crew, today the mission of the USS Constitution is to educate the public about the Navy and its role in the U.S. 

Usually found afloat at Pier 1 of the Charlestown Navy Yard, the ship will be dry docked for about three years during the course of the restoration project. The transition occurred during the night of May 18, when the Constitution was safely transitioned from the water of the harbor to the dry dock. The project is part of regular maintenance done to maintain the ship. 

"There's been no damage to the ship," Navy Commander Paul J. Brawley told The Boston Globe. "This is done every 15 to 20 years."

According to The Boston Globe, the main focus of the restoration is to replace 3,400 copper sheets on the hull. The metal layers protect the ship's hull below the waterline. The sheets are currently being stored at the USS Constitution Museum, where visitors can sign the pieces with permanent markers, Brawley told the Globe. 

Continuing the legacy
Tourists to Boston who want to see Old Ironsides will not be disappointed. Despite the renovations, visitors can tour the ship Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All Hands, the magazine of the U.S. Navy, reported. 

The USS Constitution will be docked in Dry Dock 1 in the Charlestown Navy Yard until the restoration is complete, likely in the fall of 2017.

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.