On Aug. 8, country music artist Ricky Lee will host a concert to benefit veterans. The event is part of his Music-4-R-Vets campaign, a program Lee designed to demonstrate the healing power and therapeutic benefits of music for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. On his website, Lee defined music as "a mind altering noise with the potential to induce joy, happiness, memories, bliss, merriment and mirth." 

Not only does the artist understand the ability of music to help veterans, but many of his songs are written specifically with returned servicemembers in mind. Some popular titles include "Welcome Home" and "She's an American Soldier."

The concert will be held outdoors on the oval of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, Virginia, and will begin at 1:30 pm. Aside from the concert, which is free for veterans, Lee's famous "Freedom Cart" will make an appearance. The cart is hand-painted and custom built with veterans' uniforms and patches for seat covers. It is meant as a symbol to honor veterans. This performance is one of many that Lee plans to hold in VA centers across the country. 

For a complete list of Lee's patriotic concerts, click here.

The American Journal of Medicine reported that 23 percent of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their life after service. There are counseling programs and peer support available to help veterans through this challenging condition, but one California man has found an alternative way to help veterans heal. Elias Gallegos owns Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Chula Vista, California. Gallegos uses his business to give veterans an alternative coping option when dealing with PTSD.

"Some people preach from the pulpit, some people heal from the doctor's room, and I heal from the mat," Gallegos told Fox 5 News.

Gallegos and other trainers at his gym offer Brazilian jiu jitsu classes to veterans. The sport gives returned servicemembers a safe place to release their aggression and connect with others going through similar difficulties. Many of the veterans who have gone through Gallegos' program, which is free to veterans, say that it helped them settle back into a normal routine and rediscover interests.

Experts agree that exercise is one of the most beneficial treatments for PTSD and depression, and the Gracie Jiu Jitsu program is in no shortage of physical demand. Most classes last a sweat-packed and heart-racing hour. Visit the gym's website for more information.

Saint Louis University recently approved reduced tuition cost for firefighters, police officers and other first responders looking to continue their education. This lowered rate will take effect on Aug. 17, the start of the Fall 2015 term. The cost per credit hour will now be $400 for first responders who enroll in the university's School of Professional Studies. The university made the decision to offer the same lowered rate to veterans and active duty military personnel last school year and decided it was time to extend the program to first responders.

The university's president, Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., told PR Web, "At Saint Louis University, we recognize that first responders continuously go above and beyond in their day-to-day lives, and we are proud to recognize their service to our community as part of the Jesuit mission."

Both current and new students are allowed to apply for this program, giving them access to the many courses offered by SLU. More than 20 of those courses in the School of Professional Studies programs are online and designed with busy lifestyles in mind. This makes it perfect for first responders, who often have hectic schedules. 

When people think of the Army, they don't usually think of their favorite food. However, the military is responsible for creating some of America's tastiest treats. Take a look at which foods are products of the U.S. military.

1. Supermarket bread
Out of necessity, the military created bread that lasts much longer than it used to. Regular bread goes stale and grows mold much faster than supermarket bread. This is because the bread you buy at the store is treated with starch-eating bacterial enzymes. These enzymes keep the bread soft and safe to eat longer.

2. Cheetos 
During World War II, the military needed a way to reduce the volume and weight of its food shipments without losing the caloric intake of its soldiers. As a result, they created a full-fat dehydrated cheese product. When the war ended, the manufacturers responsible for the production of this food decided to add it to crunchy corn snacks, and the Cheeto was born. 

3. TV dinners
While we mostly enjoy these convenient meals in front of the television or computer screen now, they were originally intended to feed bomber crews during World War II. These crews often had to take long overnight flights to get to their mission point, so the military found a way to freeze the basic parts of a meal such as meat, vegetables and starches in a tray for later heating. 

4. Energy bars
For centuries, the military struggled with convenient, portable ways to keep its soldiers fed and alert. Luckily, in 1940, the Hershey corporation invented a melt-resistant chocolate bar for World War II soldiers. The Hershey invention was later freeze-dried and sent to space with the first astronauts, but it still had not reached its full potential. Not until Natick Soldier Systems Center took control in the mid-1960s did the modern energy bar take shape. While most energy bars today are dessert flavored, Natick's initial product was hamburger flavored.

5. The McRib
​The military cannot really take credit for inventing the McRib, but the sandwich would not exist without military technology. In 1976, the Natick Soldier Systems Center innovated military rations once more. They needed a way to reduce the amount of money spent on meat, so they restructured cheaper cuts to look like tasty expensive ones. A few years later, fast food powerhouse McDonald's borrowed the process to create the seasonal meal we know today.

Maybe you didn't think of the military as an inventor of food before, but maybe now you do. Many of America's favorite foods are the direct result of military supply and demand.

A big part of returning to civilian life after service is deciding what the next steps are. For many, an important aspect of reintegrating is getting a higher education that will lead to a successful career. Choosing which school to attend should not add stress to your return home, so AFBA has compiled a list of the top eight colleges for veterans. 

1. Texas A&M University 
Located in College Station, Texas, this agriculture and mechanical college is one of the friendliest toward veterans. The university's website even has a special landing page dedicated to assisting veterans with the application and scholarship process. Of the almost 54,000 students that attend Texas A&M every year, 79 percent graduate. 

2. University of South Florida
What better place to attend college than sunny Tampa, Florida? Just like Texas A&M, the University of South Florida offers an Office of Veterans Resources to assist returned servicemembers with their education. With a 63 percent graduation rate and over 180 undergraduate programs to choose from, veterans who attend the University of South Florida will not be disappointed. 

3. Ohio State University
If you plan to become a Buckeye, you will be among the 1,800 other returned servicemembers who attend this university. Half of all Ohio State University students graduate, and with a 4-star rated academic support system, it is not hard to see why. 

4. Rutgers University
This New Jersey-based university is rated among the top in the country for on-campus veterans services. Nearly 70 percent of Rutgers students graduate with a degree. This university has a reputation for accepting GI-Bill students and providing excellent academic guidance. 

5. University of Oklahoma
Aside from its reputation for elite athletics, the University of Oklahoma is also known for having a welcoming attitude toward veterans. The university offers an on-campus Veterans Support Alliance and has a number of academic support centers. The University of Oklahoma also has one of the best student to faculty ratios (18:1) of any public university in the country. 

6. Texas Tech University
The Red Raiders are notorious for being a veteran-friendly university. Their video, "Texas Tech: We got your 6," shows just how committed the campus is to creating a welcoming environment for former servicemembers to come and learn. Texas Tech is just behind the University of Oklahoma in student to faculty ratio (20:1), but the opportunities on this campus are numerous. 

7. University of Missouri
Mizzou has a unique on-campus program that provides veterans with a hotline number they can call at any time and will be connected to another student-veteran. This creates a tight-knit group of former servicemembers committed to one another's academic success. This university also has a graduation rate of 70 percent. 

8. San Diego State University
With an acceptance rate of 34 percent, San Diego State University is an achievable challenge for veterans looking to get a higher education. Over 1,000 veterans proudly attend this university and 66 percent of all the students who enroll graduate. SDSU offers small class sizes and plenty of veteran support.

Obtaining an education is an exciting part of life after service. Hopefully, the list above will help you in deciding on which college best suits your needs.

In the 2011 soccer match between the U.S. men's team, the American Outlaws, and Mexico, Mexican supporters outnumbered fans from the U.S. 20 to 1. The American Outlaws fan group hopes to change that this year by sending active duty military, veterans and their families to the game. The group intends to send about 2,500 veterans to the match, which is scheduled to take place Oct. 9 at the Rose Bowl. The match is a qualifier for the Confederations Cup, which will be held in Russia in 2017.

The American Outlaws fan group started a GoFundMe page with the original intent of raising $5,000. When they easily met that goal, they increased their request to $15,000 in an attempt to buy 10 rows of 25 seats for active servicemembers and veterans. The U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, helped them surpass that goal as well with a generous $1,000 donation. The group and its supporters now hope to purchase an entire section of the Rose Bowl for veterans to go and support the U.S. team. 

The fan group's thought is that that by sending the active duty personnel and veterans, they can increase the number of American supporters in the stands to help cheer the team on to victory. 

While veterans are done with their time on the battlefield, a group called H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps is training to combat a new enemy. The veterans from across the country who volunteered for this organization will spend three weeks learning how to identify child predators on the Internet. From there they will be taught computer forensics before they enter a year-long internship with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once the veterans' training is complete, they will be able to take their education back to their home cities and perhaps pursue careers as police officers.

All of the veterans involved with H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps are wounded warriors. Many of them had their service cut short due to a battlefield injury but are eager to continue serving their country.

Army veteran Jashua Cora told WDBJ 7 News, "If you can save lives it's like a second way to continue your service."

The veterans program is sponsored by the National Association to Protect Children, an organization dedicated to ending crimes against children and protecting children from any type of abuse. The NAPC has trained over 51 veterans to combat online crimes against children and raised nearly $2 million for their efforts. 

For many veterans, chronic pain is something they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. The Star Tribune reported that over 60 percent of returned servicemembers list chronic pain as their most common ailment. An organization called Pain Free Patriots acts as a mobile relief center for veterans experiencing chronic pain from injuries sustained in combat. This group assembles in the parking lots of schools, churches and shopping malls with its over $250,000 in medical equipment. Veterans are invited to receive free treatments like spinal balancing and muscle and nerve therapy. 

Currently, Pain Free Patriots is operating independently of the local VA office, but the VA seems to be in total support of the charity's work. 

Local VA spokesman Ralph Heussner told The Star Tribune, "If there is a grant available to our patients to access free, quality services outside the VA, we would welcome it with open arms."

Doug Huseby, a 72-year-old businessman, started Pain Free Patriots to help veterans get assistance without having to wait on the government. Thus far, Huseby's charity has serviced 450 veterans and looks to continue growing. The History Channel has even contacted Huseby about a program that would follow the progress of the veterans' treatments. 

Phoenix resident Lance Greathouse holds a full-time job, but in his spare time he gives back to the veterans in his community. In partnership with the Phoenix Veterans Administration and Wheelchair Labs, an organization whose mission is to provide motorized wheelchairs and scooters to those in need, Greathouse began creating custom electric wheelchairs for veterans. When Greathouse's brother lost his life to Parkinson's before he could give him the custom wheelchair he had been working on, Greathouse dedicated his philanthropic mission to his memory.

All of the chairs Greathouse refurbishes are either donated or purchased from thrift stores, and they all go to a veteran in need. Many local businesses and suppliers have even begun to donate to Greathouse's efforts. When Greathouse needed a welder and a spool, the community stepped up and gifted the items to him. Every chair is given to a veteran or disabled person in need at no charge because Greathouse recognized the struggle of immobility. 

"A lot of people think that if you're a veteran you get a wheelchair, but a lot of veterans wait several years to get a wheelchair," Greathouse told The Arizona Republic. 

He wanted the men and women who served the country to have the quality of life they deserve. 

During their service, military men and women develop skills that make them advantageous hires for any business. Their training crafts them into responsible people with qualities that set them apart from other candidates. Outlined below are some examples of those highly marketable skills.

1. Leadership
From day one, military personnel are trained to be leaders. They learn how to effectively communicate orders and delegate responsibility. Their leadership has often been tested in some of the toughest environments. If your business could use a management boost, consider hiring a veteran. They know how to lead a team to success.

2. Integrity
This quality is one that is innate to most veterans. It is part of what leads them to sign up to serve their country. Former servicemembers are not afraid of hard work, and they often hold themselves to a higher standard of conduct than others. 

3. Teamwork
If anyone knows how to work efficiently on a team, it is a veteran. They understand hierarchy and when to allow someone else to take control. They are also trained to feel responsible for the other members of their team, so they can be counted on to promote group success.

4. Versatile
In combat, veterans were regularly faced with difficult situations that could quickly change. Life in the service, especially in battle, is rarely predictable. Veterans are equipped to handle uncertainties, and they are always prepared to make decisions quickly. 

5. Efficient
You do not make it far in the military if you do not learn to be efficient. Drill training and combat preparedness teach servicemembers how to complete tasks quickly, sometimes under a large amount of stress. Tight schedules and tough deadlines are challenges that most veterans can overcome with relative ease.

6. Crisis management
The dangers of combat are very real, but military members are trained to handle any situation that may arise. This translates well to the workplace where issues like cyberattacks and budgetary problems can arise at any time. Veterans have the readiness and cool-headedness to deal with crises as they come. 

7. Fast learners
Servicemembers must be able to learn quickly on the job. It is a matter of survival in combat. This skill comes in handy in a corporate setting where things may have to change regularly with the market. Veterans have proven capabilities to pick up new skills and procedures.

8. Structured
If you hire a veteran, do not expect him or her to show up to work late or leave his or her workspace messy. From the day veterans begin service, they are trained to follow regimens and taught strict organizational skills. Veterans will likely develop a productive schedule and stick to it.

9. Intuition
Some believe that this skill cannot be taught, but the military teaches its recruits to trust their gut instinct. Veterans have experience with intuition, which can make them advantageous players in careers where a lot of variables are at play. 

Training and combat develop veterans into some of the workforce's most valuable employees. Former military servicemembers have the potential to be great assets for any company given the chance.