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    Soldier and family

    Bad things happen to good people, especially those warriors who fight for our freedom and our way of life. Therefore, agencies like SOS America Country Retreat works to provide free holidays for soldiers who have been wounded as well as a family member of their choice. Most opt to bring along their significant other for a holiday that is stress free, but you are welcome to bring anyone that you choose to bring.

    Freedom for All

     

    If you visit as a wounded veteran, you will receive the opportunity to relax for free. Others who choose to rest and relax at the SOS Country Retreat can enjoy knowing that their holiday is tax-deductible. This means that the small fee you pay for relaxing with other soldiers will come back to you because it will be considered a donation to a cause.

    Why SOS America, Inc.?

    SOS is proud to support the Department of Defense and all who work hard to keep America great. They do it through team work and keeping soldier’s need in mind. It is a relaxing experience that gives troops a place to come together with one another. However, it is also a great way for those who are just coming home to spend time with someone that they love, without the stress of their injuries or real life. Will you become a part of it?


  • Tactical Gifts for Returning Vets

    veterans giftEach day, soldiers who have been stationed in faraway places return home to their families. A sad truth is that not all of them who are returning home will return in the same way that they left. More often than we want to talk about, soldiers are injured in battles and skirmishes with an enemy. Their lives are forever changed, but this does not take away the joy of returning home. In all cases, whether injured in battle or not, returning home is a big event, especially if their deployment has covered long durations of time. When coming home, perhaps you should consider tactical gifts for returning vets.

    Reason to Celebrate

    wooden gift for veterans

    A veteran returning home has been away for an extended period of time. Some may be gone for six months while others have been away for a year or two. At times, they are in areas where they are simply stationed away from home. In other cases, they can be in war zones, where the risk of injury is quite high. When they return, presenting them with gifts is kind and considerate. It is also useful to know what to get a veteran when celebrating major holidays with them after they return.

    Popular Gifts for Returning Vets

    veterans watchSome of the most popular gifts for vets that are returning home will be those that pay tribute in some way to the life that they chose for themselves. For instance, a wooden flag. A tactical Christmas stocking with shotgun shells, knife patches, and other things that a vet may find a use for when not out in the field. One great option is to include a horizontal belt knife in with their Christmas stocking. A bolt action ink pen could also be enjoyable.
    If you want to go a little more in-depth with the personalization, a metal ring that will show where they spent their time will be good. It can say Iraq or Afghanistan. Engraved whiskey stones can also be pretty cool for the veteran in your life.

    Love And Support for the Returning Veteran

    One of the biggest and best things you can do for a returning vet is to always be there for them. Showing your love and your understanding of the fact that being away changes them will make you even more special to them. Embrace that they love their country. Little trinkets like a patriotic wall clock, pins that celebrate their commitment, and more will all go a long ways toward bringing them back home to you. Always remember that they have most likely seen unimaginable things in their time away. If they were injured, it will take time for them to truly be home with you in every way.

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  • Loud Noises Can Trigger PTSD

    PTSD is RealPTSD is one thing that many people deal with. It isn’t just something that happens to military personnel, but it is mostly attributed to the things that they see and deal with as members of active duty during wartime situations. The craziest thing about it is trying to understand what triggers the person may have that can bring it on. One example of this is how loud noises can trigger PTSD.

    The Stress of PTSD

    When it comes to our veterans, a lot of different triggers are around us each day. It can be stress that triggers bad things. They may dream and as they hit deep sleep, remember the things that they saw while fighting and it may stress them for days. Loud noises and even the sounds of screaming children may be an instant trigger that brings on PTSD in a huge way, more so if it is a sudden noise that is unexpected. One example of this could be that you drop a plate or a glass and they may jump or start sweating instantly.
    Perhaps it is that loud noises sound like bombs or gunfire that is the biggest trigger of all. Fireworks, a hunter firing off a gunshot, loud music, and other sounds can definitely set issues in motion for a veteran or any other military personnel.

    How to Help PTSD

    During a PTSD situation, the person suffering may see, feel, hear, and taste the same things that they did at that exact moment that they see in their mind. They go back to a worse time. One way to help them combat the problem is to help them see that they feel it, but they are not in that position now. You may have them look around the room and describe what they are seeing, not in their mind, but in the room. This will help them to refocus on the “NOW” rather than the “Then” of what they are dealing with.
    If you have PTSD, you may also attempt to mask loud noises. For instance, instead of listening to loud fireworks and relive what you want to forget, you could avoid going to the Fourth of July celebration. If you live near the area where it takes place each July, you could play your favorite music on the loudest bass outdoor speakers. This will enable you to feel calmer. It could also help you during family gatherings where screaming kids at play may bother you the most.

    Ask for Help

    PTSD HELPIf PTSD is something you suffer with, you will need to refocus your energy on more positive things. Tell yourself that those problems you faced then are no longer your problems. You are home, you are safe, you are surrounded by the love of people you care about. Let them help you. Talk to them, especially if you know your trigger is loud noises. Explain what you are feeling and let them inside of your world. Even if they do not know exactly what you were feeling, sometimes simply having someone to listen can help. It helps you all.


  • Cost of Getting Back into Business

    military business ownersOur military personnel often deal with several very big decisions during their military career and afterward. Do they want to make it into a lifelong career? How many times do they want to re-enlist? What is right for their family? These questions are often fairly easy, but eventually they will also have to ask what happens if they become injured and must retire early or what will they do once their military career comes to an end after 20 years or so. At this time, many troops who are returning home to stay opt to start their own business, but they struggle with the cost of getting back into business.

    The Struggles of Going Home

    making business decisionsWhether injured in combat or simply wrapping up their time, starting a business is the easiest option and the most difficult for our soldiers. It gives them the opportunity to be their own boss and work when they are able to do so. It allows them to spend time with their family and in some ways, it is a way for them to put their training to good use. However, deciding that starting their own business is what they want to do is the simplest part and many fail to realize how expensive it will be to start a new business. Depending on the type of business they hope to start; their will need a variety of equipment, insurance, help, and more.

    Necessities for All New Businesses

    planning a new business ventureEvery new business venture comes at a price. It does not matter what the business is. For instance, a person who works from home must still invest in a reliable internet connection, a good computer, and a desk for them to work at as a starting point and from there, they must also invest money depending on what they are hoping to do on their computer. Someone who wants to get into lawn care or landscaping will first have to have equipment that may range from lawn mowers and weed eaters to a tractor and other things. The price of starting up can add up quickly if you start looking at new Mahindra tractor prices. As a construction team, you will need help to get started, insurance for your helpers and to protect against damages that may come during construction, and all types of tools to ensure that you are able to get the job done.

    Planning for Business

    Before you start any business venture, proper planning will help you get through the tough spots and ensure that you only have to spend what is necessary as a new business. What type of business do you want to run, how many people will you need helping you from the start, how will you plan out and file taxes, and more. Do you have the credit required to take out a small loan if needed? Are you good with numbers or do you also need to hire an accountant? The things to consider are unending, but it is not an impossible task.


  • Popular Jobs for Returning Vets

    jobs for vetsReturning vets face a lot of troubles upon their arrival back home. Many of them, especially those who were injured in battle, return to a home without having a job to depend on. They may have a little income from disability, but most are not able to make it on so little. This is why many veterans end up homeless, without family, and nowhere to go. Instead of allowing it to happen to your loved ones or yourself, you need to know that there are some very popular jobs for returning vets available. The thing is, you may have to think a little outside of the box to find them.

    Common Jobs

    nursing jobsIf you have a specialty in the military, you may be able to put it to use when you return home, even if you are injured in battle. For instance, if you were a builder or a driver in the military, you may be able to do the same thing outside of it. If you were trained to work at a desk job in the military, there will still be a place for you outside of it. You may be able to work as an industrial production manager, a software engineer, work in telecommunications, or as a paralegal. Many veterans also return home to drive big trucks and work in the medical field as a nurse or surgeon.

    Uncommon Jobs

    new jobsIn the event that you are unable to find a common career choice, you have uncommon job opportunities available as well. These jobs may include things that are a little unexpected, but they still pay well enough to keep you off the streets. You can focus on lake weed removal and keep campers happier. You may opt to start up a cleaning business or some other small self-run business venture. Many choose to get into landscaping and hire a crew to help them with the work. This often works well because in the military, you learn organizational and leadership skills that will benefit you in the business world. All you really need is a little savings account or the ability to take out a small loan if it is required.

    Never Give Up

    No matter which career path you choose after the military, there is a way for you to succeed. These jobs are all rewarding in their own way. They can all keep you and your family off the streets. You have already learned what it takes to be all that you can be. When you get out of the military, you will have to prove that you can do it. Otherwise, you will end up becoming another statistic and as a military veteran, you deserve so much more. For most veterans, it is easier to plan ahead for the job they want to take on before they get out of the military. If you are not away from home at this time, planning for your release should be something you try to do now while you still have the chance to look for popular job opportunities.


  • Join the Battle to Help Returning Veterans

    military welcome homeThere are stories about how much our veterans lose when they go into a war. It goes beyond the physical disabilities that they may return with if injured. Many of them lose their families, their homes, and their job with the military. It is a constant struggle and for that reason, many veterans have ended up becoming homeless. There are programs out there that are trying to give back to the military men and women who strive to protect the country we live in. It is a “Thank You” for the fact that they are defending our rights every day, even during times of peace. Most all of the programs that are available are voluntary, but you can join in with the battle to help our homeless if you want to.

    The Services Provided to Soldiers

    veteran home

    The people who return from war are often struggling with a lot of different things. They may have injuries that they now have to live with, they may struggle mentally with PTSD, and they may wish for people that can understand their troubles. Therefore, many of the services provided are aimed at helping them overcome disabilities both mentally and physically. They are designed to give them a shoulder to lean on while they get used to the idea of dealing with their problems. They include “Wounded Warrior” programs, “Volunteers of America”, “American Legion”, and more. Volunteers of America can help veterans learn new skills to work in the outside world, they can help them with the training that may be required to get a new job, help them find a home, and overall, rebuild the stable life that they deserve.

    Providing Everything Veterans Need

    wounded warrior program

    The goal of these programs is to provide for everything that a veteran needs. This includes financial assistance from donations, VA benefits for those who need it, plane tickets for soldiers and their families who have been wounded and need extensive rehab, and a variety of other things. If you turn toward a program such as “Luke’s Wings” you will discover that hospital and rehabilitation needs are less of a burden because of plane tickets at a discounted or free rate, discounted accommodations for families, meals discounts, city tours, etc. There are even programs to help military families get a used vehicle or homes that have everything you could possibly need including furniture Huntington Beach CA.

    How You Can Help Others

    Since most of these programs rely on the community to help veterans, it is important that you get involved. You do not have to be a veteran to make contact with these organizations. You simply have to be willing to give what you are able to give to those military families that need it. For instance, if you have an old vehicle that you are not using, you can donate it rather than sell it. If you have old furniture in your home that you no longer need, you can donate it. Cash and time are also welcomed by most of the major organizations and it will help those who are just returning home to know that they are appreciated by you.