When you are in the military, you dedicate a large portion of your time to maintaining physical fitness and staying active. Your fitness can sometimes be your greatest survival tool, so you spend weeks training to reach the peak of your physical abilities. When your service is over, it can be difficult to stick to such a rigorous training schedule. However, entering life after service does not mean you have to give up physical activity. There are a variety of nationwide sporting events and competitions for veterans. Check out a few examples below.
1. National Veterans TEE Tournament
For the second year in a row, this event will be a nationwide competition. Veterans, including those who are disabled or legally blind, are encouraged to come participate in adaptive sporting events such as horseback riding, kayaking and the TEE Golf Tournament. The National Veterans TEE Tournament was created to encourage camaraderie and sportsmanship between former servicemembers. This year's event will take place Sept. 7-10 in Iowa City, Iowa.
2. National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic
Veterans who were injured or disabled during their service can participate in events like sailing, surfing, track and field events, kayaking and cycling at the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. This week-long event is a great opportunity for veterans to participate in sports and physical activities. Held in San Diego, California, the 2015 National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic will begin on Sept. 13 and continue through Sept. 18.
3. CanAm Veterans Challenge
The first CanAm Veterans Challenge took place in 2014. Veterans from Canada and America joined up for an 800-mile bike ride from Washington, D.C., to Ottawa, Canada. Injured and disabled veterans interested in working toward an active lifestyle where they are not held back by their disabilities should consider participating in the 16-day journey. On the trip, veterans are pushed to challenge themselves and reignite their passion for life. The next ride is scheduled to take place in June 2016.
4. Invictus Games
At the inaugural games in London in 2014, Prince Harry and the British royal family welcomed over 400 competitors from 13 countries around the world to participate in an adaptive sporting event. All of these competitors were veterans of their countries' military who sustained a physical or mental injury in their service. The games are meant to encourage veterans to maintain their warrior spirits despite their disabilities. Recently, Prince Harry announced that the Invictus Games would return in 2016 to Orlando, Florida.
5. National Veterans Wheelchair Games
Veterans from across the country who sustained injuries during service and now use a wheelchair can compete in activities like archery, quad rugby and table tennis. The competition is meant to inspire healing of the mind, body and spirit as well as allow disabled veterans to demonstrate their athletic abilities. This year's National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held from June 21-26 in Dallas, Texas, while the 2016 event will take place June 27-July 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
6. Valor Games
These Paralympic games bring veterans together for three days of friendly sporting competition. The Valor Games promote a healthy lifestyle and reintegration while giving disabled veterans an opportunity to display their athletic prowess. To find a Valor Games competition in your region, click here.
Even though veterans are sometimes left with physical or mental disabilities from their service, they can still enjoy the active lifestyle they grew accustomed to. The sporting events above are just a few examples of competitions for veterans and disabled former servicemembers. Many of these events can help veterans with healing and establishing bonds with others who have experienced similar situations.
Thousands of veterans leave the service for civilian careers every year. While veteran unemployment rates have been steadily decreasing, many former servicemembers are struggling to find jobs. Fortunately, a number of startups have recently announced that they are interested in hiring veterans.
Among these companies is DoorDash, one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the Silicon Valley area, according to WeAreTheMighty.com.
"Former military members make the best Dashers – they are reliable, disciplined, timely and professional," Chris Clark, the operations manager for DoorDash, told the website. "I would love to fill my entire fleet with veteran Dashers. They know the meaning of hard work, don't complain, and get the mission done."
Personal car services like Uber and Lyft have also announced their plans to hire at least 5,000 new veterans in the next year. Uber even has a military outreach program to encourage veteran participation. Many of the companies participating in the veteran hiring initiative allow for flexible schedules without the need for a formal resume or interview process. This combination can eliminate some of the stress that veterans experience when entering life after service and transitioning from a strict military workload to a civilian career.
For more information on companies looking to hire veterans, click here.
The next Republican debate is scheduled to air on Sept. 16 on CNN, and party frontrunner Donald Trump recently wrote the network's president, Jeff Zucker, with a unique request. Trump, who is self-funding his campaign, asked Zucker to donate the profits from the debate to a variety of veterans organizations.
"I had always felt that we have to be helping our veterans far more than we do," Trump wrote in his letter to Zucker. "That is why my campaign is so focused on these great people who have done so much for us. This large contribution of many millions of dollars would be a truly wonderful thing for CNN to do."
Military Times reported that Trump went on to claim that the 4,000 percent rise in advertising revenue was directly because of him, and he hopes the network will listen to his request to translate that revenue into charitable donations.
Trump's request for CNN to use the debate as an opportunity for public service comes a few days prior to a speaking engagement in Los Angeles where he will speak with veterans and address military issues.
CNN has yet to release a public response to Trump's letter.
The Department of Defense reported that between 1 million and 1.5 million servicemembers will leave the military in the next half-decade. These individuals will need civilian jobs, and Kroger is stepping up to provide them. The grocery chain recently announced that it has a goal to fill 20,000 of its open positions with veterans. According to Kroger's website, veterans and their families will have the opportunity to apply to a number of positions in the different departments in stores nationwide.
Sukanya Madlinger, president of Kroger's Cincinnati/Dayton division, told Journal-News, "Kroger is deeply committed to the nation's veterans and their families, and we continue to seek out opportunities to honor heroes through career opportunities."
Interested veterans and their family members who fit the Kroger profile of "smiling, energetic, friendly and fun people" are encouraged to apply by Sept. 13 at the company's hiring website. They can enter #HonoringOurHeroes into the search box to find the positions available. Any veteran or family member who has submitted an application can report to a local store for an interview on Sept. 15. Applicants should check with their local stores regarding specific interview times.
Every year, thousands of servicemembers enter life after service and begin the civilian job search. Many companies are dedicated to hiring these brave individuals. Among these is British Petroleum. According to its website, BP is a corporate sponsor of Hiring Our Heroes. The U.S. extension of the company has made a commitment to actively recruit and employ the nation's former servicemembers.
BP seems to be sticking to its commitment because the Whiting, Indiana, branch was named a top employer of veterans for the second year in a row by U.S. Veterans Magazine. But the relationship between the Fortune 1,000 company and the nation's veterans is mutually beneficial.
"America's veterans are often ideal candidates for jobs at companies like BP," retired Air Force pilot and director of BP's strategic relationships and veteran outreach Teri Poulton told NWI.com. "They've got the discipline, the maturity and the focus we need to help us keep our commitment to provide the energy America needs."
BP has also received commendations from G.I. Jobs Magazine and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. The company hopes to continue its relationship with the military and plans to open more jobs for veterans in the future.
September is a busy month. Kids are going back to school and the adults begin to prepare for the changing of seasons. There are also a number of veteran-centered events nationwide that occur in September. If you are looking for a patriotic weekend outing with the family or to get a jump start on your career search, check out the events below.
Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Display
Through the entire month of September, the Robert Rankin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Livingston, Texas, will have a display commemorating the veterans who served during the Vietnam War, especially the women who were involved in the war.
New York Mets Annual Military Appreciation Day
Every year, the New York Mets welcome active duty military personnel and veterans to a game. This year's event, which took place on Sept. 2, marked the 9th annual Military Appreciation Day at Citi Field. Servicemembers were lined up on the safety track and cheered before the Mets went up against the Philadelphia Phillies. There were also thank you videos and a displaying of the colors.
Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
On Sept. 5, the VFW Post 894 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, hosted a ceremony for veterans of the Vietnam War. The goalwas to gather as many Vietnam-era veterans as possible for commemoration and bonding. There were activities, food and all donations made during the event went to the Service Dogs for Service Vets organization.
Labor Day Salute
The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council hosted a salute to Vietnam veterans during the Lions Club Labor Day Salute in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. The event took place on Sept. 7 and featured a BBQ picnic, live music and a dedication to those who served in the Vietnam War.
Veterans job fairs
There are a variety of organizations dedicated to helping veterans find jobs when they enter life after service. Many of these organizations hold job fairs around the country to assist veterans with networking and resume building. Click here to find a veterans job fair in your area.
Nationwide Women Veterans Campaign
The Center for Women Veterans in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will host this event on Sept. 14 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m CST. There will be displays and speakers all with the purpose of celebrating female servicemembers and their history. There will also be experts on site to answer any post-service related questions.
The Patriot Tour
Hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, the Patriot Tour brings veterans and servicemembers together for healing and reflection. The event will take place on Sept. 18 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Simi Valley, California, location. Speakers include Marcus Luttrell, author of "Lone Survivor," musician Pete Scobell and many other veterans.
As the summer winds down, things begin to pick up for most people. This is especially true for former servicemembers who have the option to attend many veteran-based events across the country during September.
It has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast, destroying homes and uprooting lives. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the military and first responders worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped in the debris and help others clean up the wreckage. Master Sgt. Michael Maroney of the U.S. Air Force was one of these dedicated individuals. Maroney and his team executed the rescue of a then 3-year-old girl during a dangerous part of the storm.
After the successful rescue, Maroney was photographed receiving a thankful embrace from the little girl. Ever since then, Maroney has been attempting to reunite with the little girl in question. The Huffington Post reported that he decided to put social media to work for him by using the hashtag #FindKatrinaGirl. The Internet pulled together and recently put Maroney in touch with the now 13-year-old LeShay Brown.
"I can't wait to meet her to tell her how important she is," Maroney told People magazine.
Maroney saidBrown's embrace was a light in the dark time that was Katrina. Her embrace reminded him why he was there. Brown and her family currently live in San Antonio, Texas, but The Huffington Post wrote that the pair have plans to reunite sometime in September.
As military members prepare to leave combat for life after service, they are faced with the prospect of finding a civilian job. While this can be an intimidating process, military servicemembers are actually equipped with a variety of skills that give them the advantage in the career world. However, they must first understand networking and how to use it to their advantage. U.S. News & World Report stated that networking is the most important basis for job hunting, so AFBA has outlined some networking advice for veterans.
1. Define your personal and career goals
Before you begin your job search, you need to consider what you want for yourself and for your career. Do you want something temporary that will allow you the flexibility to move on whenever you want or are you looking to commit to a long-term career? How much work-life balance do you want? These are all important questions that will play a vital role in which job you choose to apply for. If you clearly define your goals, you may get much more satisfying results.
2. Identify your existing network
Your time in the military most likely earned you a number of important contacts. Compile this information along with any civilian career leaders you may know, and you have created the start of your network. Keep this information readily available during your job search, as one of the individuals in your network may be able to assist you or provide a reference.
3. Create a professional online presence
When your resume and cover letter are written, edited and polished, you should turn your attention to building a brand for yourself online. The easiest way to begin is to clean up all social media accounts. This means deleting unprofessional photos and posts and establishing high privacy settings. The next step is to consider creating a professional website that displays samples of your work and lists your contact information. In today's digital world, companies prefer candidates who have a strong online presence.
4. Expand your contacts
An important part of networking is adding diversity to your contact list. While military and government associations are useful, you will want to expand your network to include individuals from a variety of industries. You can do this by making connections to others in the circles of your existing contacts. You can also attend networking events in your area. These events are also great practice for interviews.
5. Utilize military resources
The military wants you to succeed in life after service. It offers a number of resources to help you with networking and career advice. These include mentor networks, job search assistance and career planning. Many of the resources can be found on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Preparing for a civilian career can be intimidating, especially for someone who is used to military life. However, if you utilize the skills you developed during service, you are already ahead of most other candidates. Additionally, you should keep in mind that networking is crucial to the job search. Use AFBA's advice to help make this step in the process easier and more effective.
For the fourth year in a row, the city of Lamar, Colorado, will host the Tri-State 9/11 Tribute. The three-day event is a celebration of veterans and first responders and a time to remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This year's tribute is scheduled to begin on Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony at the local library. Other activities during the event include a parade, presentations from veterans and much more.
According to 911families.org, live bands will play on Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The next morning, the festivities will begin with a parade that will end at the fairgrounds. The Pueblo Chieftain reported that the previous year's parade lasted for an hour and was so large that the Colorado Department of Transportation asked the event leaders to move it from Main Street to the state highway. There, firefighters, veterans, active duty military personnel, police officers and other first responders are invited to enjoy a free barbecue. At 1:00 p.m., there will be a flag retiring ceremony before the 9/11 Memorial ceremony begins an hour later.
The events will conclude with a patriotic concert on the evening of Sept. 13.
At the end of a tough day, the best thing to do is leave the job behind and unwind. Taking at least a half-hour to decompress and release stress can help you reset for the next day. According to The Huffington Post, it can also prevent you from developing heart disease, improve your immunity and may help prevent depression. There are plenty of ways for military servicemembers and first responders to relax at the end of the day, and one of the most effective methods is listening to music. Below are 10 songs to help you shake off the stress of the day.
1. 'Sunday Morning' by Maroon 5
This soothing ballad will have you swaying as you kick back on the couch. No matter what day of the week it is, Maroon 5's 2004 hit makes it feel as relaxing as Sunday morning.
2. 'Wake Me Up' by Aloe Blacc
It does not matter if you prefer the acoustic version or the remix. This song's folksy feel will calm you down in no time.
3. 'Free Fallin'' by Tom Petty
Listening to Tom Petty is always a good decision, but cranking this song in your car during rush hour after a long day can be the perfect remedy for work-related stress. The easygoing beat and guitar strumming accompanied by Petty's cry that he's free will release you from whatever negative emotions have followed you from work.
4. 'Ho Hey' by The Lumineers
This tinny-sounding alt song has a calming effect almost as soon as the first lines are sung. The best part is that The Lumineers have made it so that it sounds fresh every time you listen. You can return to "Ho Hey" as often as you like without tiring of it.
5. 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison
Van Morrison topped the charts with this tropical-sounding ditty back in 1967, but the song's effect has never changed. It is hard not to slip into a chilled-out mindset when you sing, "Sha la la la."
6. 'Island in the Sun' by Weezer
When the first kicks of the drum begin, you know you are about to drift away to Weezer's beachy hit. The relaxing tempo and lulling bass guitar will have you mentally sailing away to your own stress-free island in the sun.
7. 'Tiny Dancer' by Elton John
When John plays the piano, it is like a signal to the brain to shut up and listen. Turn on "Tiny Dancer" when you want to be whisked away by charming melodies and soothing piano riffs.
8. 'Knee Deep' by Zac Brown Band
This is another island escape song, but Zac Brown Band adds a little country charm. After a few moments listening to this song, you will conjure up calming images of floating worry-free on the ocean.
9. 'Let It Be' by The Beatles
For days when nothing seems to go your way, The Beatles are there for you with this unforgettable song. The almost spiritual-sounding organ and Paul McCartney's soulful voice will absolve you of your troubles. After all, if there is nothing you can do about a bad day, it is best just to let it be and move on.
10. 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks' hauntingly beautiful voice is enough to steal your cares away, but the lyrics of "Landslide" speak to the most human parts of us. This song is perfect for self-reflection and meditation. The violins in the song will soothe you as the softly strumming guitar robs you of your worries.
While there are many activities great for relaxing after a tough day on the job, there is just something about kicking back with your favorite songs that takes away all your troubles. The songs above are just a few of the most relaxing songs available. The next time you have a stressful day, consider turning some of them on to see if they soothe you.