• According to the Veterans Association, there are currently more than 19.2 million veterans living in America.
• However, when it comes to adjusting to civilian life, some areas of the country are better for veterans than others.
• WalletHub ranked the 100 largest US cities in four major categories — employment, economy, quality of life, and health — to determine the best cities for veterans to live in after leaving the service. 
• The top three best US cities for veterans to call home are Tampa, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Orlando, Florida. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For the more than 19 million veterans currently living in the United States, where you live can be essential to your access to healthcare, good employment, and a strong quality of life. 

WalletHub recently conducted a report of the best US cities for veterans, analyzing 20 key indicators of livability, affordability, and veteran-friendliness. The study then provided rankings — out of 100 — for each category.

Employment rankings took into account the number of veteran-owned businesses per veteran population and opportunities for job growth, as well as the availability of jobs that utilize military-learned skills. Economy rankings considered factors such as the median veteran income and veteran homelessness rates, while quality of life was determined by analyzing veteran population, restaurants with military discounts, and more.

The study found that Tampa, Florida, triumphed as the best major US city for veterans, earning a total score of 72.44 out of a possible 100. Boston, Massachusetts, despite ranking at No. 68 overall, earned the highest ranking for veteran employment.

Keep reading to find out the top 25 best US cities for veterans.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to live in America right now, ranked

25. Lincoln, Nebraska

Total score: 60.69

Employment (ranked out of 100): 49th

Economy (ranked out of 100): 8th

Quality of life (ranked out of 100): 29th

Health (ranked out of 100): 94th

24. Durham, North Carolina

Total score: 60.72

Employment: 15

Economy: 55

Quality of life: 28

Health: 42

23. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Total score: 60.85

Employment: 14

Economy: 10

Quality of life: 18

Health: 84

22. Chesapeake, Virginia

Total score: 61.25

Employment: 57

Economy: 13

Quality of life: 26

Health: 61

21. San Antonio, Texas

Total score: 61.34

Employment: 29

Economy: 27

Quality of life: 19

Health: 47

20. Denver, Colorado

Total score: 61.79

Employment: 6

Economy: 50

Quality of life: 12

Health: 79

19. Laredo, Texas

Total score: 61.80

Employment: 33

Economy: 1

Quality of life: 78

Health: 20

18. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Total score: 61.96

Employment: 20

Economy: 72

Quality of life: 25

Health: 30

17. Columbus, Ohio

Total score: 62.16

Employment: 24

Economy: 14

Quality of life: 37

Health: 54

16. Boise, Idaho

Total score: 62.71

Employment: 21

Economy: 36

Quality of life: 4

Health: 89

15. San Diego, California

Totalscore: 62.75

Employment: 47

Economy: 78

Quality of life: 2

Health: 35

14. Plano, Texas

Total score: 63.23

Employment: 82

Economy: 44

Quality of life: 10

Health: 20

13. Fort Worth, Texas

Total score: 63.35

Employment: 70

Economy: 5

Quality of life: 32

Health: 20

12. Irvine, California

Total score: 63.66

Employment: 50

Economy: 40

Quality of life: 41

Health: 1

11. Madison, Wisconsin

Total score: 64.50

Employment: 27

Economy: 6

Quality of life: 21

Health: 40

10. Jacksonville, Florida

Total score: 65.50

Employment: 23

Economy: 20

Quality of life: 36

Health: 13

9. St. Petersburg, Florida

Total score: 65.67

Employment: 51

Economy: 18

Quality of life: 23

Health: 13

8. Gilbert, Arizona

Total score: 67.73

Employment: 40

Economy: 3

Quality of life: 15

Health: 64

7. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Total score: 68.13

Employment: 62

Economy: 2

Quality of life: 11

Health: 61

6. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Total score: 70.06

Employment: 17

Economy: 24

Quality of life: 5

Health: 49

5. Scottsdale, Arizona

Total score: 71.45

Employment: 12

Economy: 9

Quality of life: 3

Health: 64

4. Raleigh, North Carolina

Total score: 71.78

Employment: 5

Economy: 4

Quality of life: 14

Health: 70

3. Orlando, Florida

Total score: 71.94

Employment: 3

Economy: 16

Quality of life: 9

Health: 32

2. Austin, Texas

Total score: 72.22

Employment: 11

Economy: 17

Quality of life: 7

Health: 20

1. Tampa, Florida

Total score: 72.44

Employment: 8

Economy: 12

Quality of life: 6

Health: 16

• Read more:
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• The 25 US cities with the lowest cost of living
• The 30 happiest cities in the US, ranked
•  

• Many veterans worry about finding work after leaving the service and entering the civilian workforce.
• Navy Federal and Hire Heroes USA, two organizations that empower veterans to find sustainable jobs and secure good financial futures, teamed up to release a list of the best jobs for veterans.
• They consulted with veterans nationwide to find out what mattered most to them in a job and compiled a list of career paths that aligned with those values.
• The best jobs for veterans range from retail to the medical field and can pay as much as $68,116 per year.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Reentering the workforce after serving in the military can be a tough transition for former service members and their families.

Navy Federal reports that more than 250,000 military service members transition into the workforce each year. One of the greatest anxieties for veterans is being able to find stable, well-paying work that honors the skills and experiences they've gained while serving in the military.

Christopher Plamp, the CEO of Hire Heroes USA, spoke to Business Insider about how his own experiences looking for work after spending 26 years in the Air Force inspired him to begin working at the organization.

"When service members leave the military, they may have a gap in their skills or might have never even had a civilian job before," he told Business Insider. "They might have never made a resumé, done a behavioral interview, or made a LinkedIn profile before. Hire Heroes helps them through this process, as well as connecting veterans and military spouses with companies that want to hire retired service members and their families."

Business Insider also spoke with Clay Stackhouse, the member outreach manager of Navy Federal and a Marine Corps colonel who retired after serving for 25 years.

"The most important thing for me that I've learned since retiring from the Marine Corps is that everyone transitions out differently. Every time I meet with veterans who worry about transitioning out, they have their own set of concerns when it comes to finding the right job for them," he said. "With 8 million veteran and military family members, Navy Federal really makes it our mission to help these people and give them the right resources."

Navy Federal and Hire Heroes USA teamed up to use their years of expertise to create a list of the 10 best careers for veterans. Navy Federal asked veterans nationwide what they value most in a civilian career, whether it be location, compensation, flexible hours, or working at a mission-driven organization. 

We also consulted ZipRecruiter to include the average annual salaries and open roles for each industry.

Here are the 10 best career paths for veterans.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best US cities for veterans to live, ranked

Healthcare was ranked as the best career path for veterans.

The healthcare profession allows veterans to use skills they may have learned in the military and channel them into a rewarding, mission-based, and lucrative career. Popular career paths for vets entering the healthcare industry include hospital operations and logistics, registered nursing, medical research, and administration (data, records, hospital functionality).

Average annual salary: $68,116/year

See open roles here >>

One in four veterans works in government or public administration.

Veterans gain valuable leadership skills while serving in the military, which can often translate to a successful career in government or public administration. With plenty of opportunities for career growth and flexible hours, veterans looking to enter this career path should consider applying for jobs in administration, program analysis, and public affairs. 

Average annual salary: $60,573/year

See open roles here >>

Defense contracting offers competitive salaries and is popular among younger veterans.

Defense contracting involves creating materials that will help aid the various sections of national defense. Whether you're building weaponry or an aircraft, defense contracting work offers competitive salaries and is directly related to the military. Potential jobs in defense contracting could include becoming an analyst, an intelligence specialist, a contract management specialist, or a quality assurance manager.

Average annual salary: $57,624/year

See open roles here >>

Information technology jobs utilize skills potentially learned in the military and offer competitive compensation.

Information technology jobs are expanding year after year, so veterans may want to consider joining this career. IT jobs provide competitive salaries and a clear path toward career advancement. Popular career paths in the IT field among veterans include project management, systems engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, and information security analysis. 

Average annual salary: $54,057/year

See open roles here >>

Financial services careers work well for younger vets eager to enter an exciting and lucrative new career.

Financial services jobs are popular among veterans, with more than one in 10 younger vets placed in a job related to finance. Salaries are competitive, and popular career paths can range anywhere from being a financial advisor to a finance manager or accountant.

Average annual salary: $54,983/year

See open roles here >>

Education careers are best suited for veterans who believe in mission-based work.

For veterans who value mission-based work, a career in education may be the perfect fit. Most careers in education do require a college degree, and 13% of career-holding veterans end up in education-related professions. 

Average annual salary: $43,967/year

See open roles here >>

Law enforcement careers can be comparable to military experience, making it a good career fit for many veterans.

One popular career path among many veterans is law enforcement. Skills and experiences learned in the military make veterans a valuable asset to any law enforcement organization. Possible law enforcement careers for retired military members could include becoming a police officer, a crime scene investigator, an emergency dispatcher, or a corrections officer.

Average annual salary: $46,083/year

See open roles here >>

Retail jobs offer flexible work schedules that may be particularly well suited for veterans aged 45 and older.

Veterans working in the retail industry can enjoy working on a team as well as the benefits of flexible hours. Veteran employment in retail is most popular among veterans aged 45 and older, and popular career paths include sales, marketing, and warehouse logistics.

Average annual salary: $25,540/year

See open roles here >>

Manufacturing jobs often don't require formal education, but they still offer career advancement and competitive pay.

The manufacturing industry is a viable career path for veterans without college degrees. While the average annual salary for careers in manufacturing as a whole is only $27,199, entry-level maintenance technicians reportedly make an average of $39,111 per year and manufacturing supervisors make an average of $57,666 per year.

Average annual salary: $27,199/year

See open roles here >>

Transportation or warehousing jobs give vets the opportunity to work with their hands and are well suited to their military experience and skills.

For veterans who prefer a more active, physical career path, working in a warehouse could be the right career choice. With the holiday season around the corner, companies with jobs in transportation and warehouses are ramping up their seasonal hiring to deal with large influxes of packages, so there couldn't be a better time to apply. 

Average annual salary: $27,449/year

See open roles here >>

• Read more:
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• What every state is best known for
• The 25 US cities with the lowest cost of living
• The 30 happiest cities in the US, ranked

Victor Perez has held a few job titles over the course of his career.

The 34-year-old son of Cuban immigrants and first in his family to be born in the US is a father (of two), husband, and vice president in credit derivative trading at Wells Fargo.

He's also a former Naval lieutenant and graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business who worked for a time as a professor at the University of Notre Dame, teaching young armed forces personnel about weapons systems and Naval systems engineering.

But one of the roles he seems especially proud of is more a vocation than a job: helping veterans find meaningful careers on Wall Street.

"The person I wanted to be when I grew up was like John Glenn — I wanted to be an astronaut," said Perez, who was named to Business Insider's annual Rising Stars of Wall Street list this year.

As a kid, he thought he'd "go to the Naval Academy and be a fighter pilot and then somehow end up at NASA. That was my goal."

Read more:Meet 2020's Rising Stars of Wall Street from firms like Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and Bridgewater shaking up investing, trading, and dealmaking

But Perez found his calling not in orbit among constellations, but beneath the ocean waves aboard a submarine. After discovering that flying planes wasn't for him, Perez enrolled in the US Naval Academy, graduating in May 2010.

With a focus on nuclear engineering, he served aboard the USS Cheyenne, a nuclear-powered submarine based in Hawaii, eventually rising to lieutenant.

In 2014, he was assigned to teach at Notre Dame, and spent two years there as a professor while simultaneously pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

He gradated in 2016, and has since focused on a new mission: paying forward the experiences he had as a Naval officer by working with organizations like Veterans on Wall Street, Patriots Path, and Team Rubicon. In 2019, he even had the chance to represent the Veterans on Wall Street initiative, ringing the Nasdaq closing bell on their behalf on the eve of the Fourth of July.

While Perez doesn't have an official title or role in veteran recruitment at his bank, he has nevertheless attracted a reputation for supporting other veterans by way of his support for them, mentorship, and work toward their career advancement.

"It's the network of people I've built over the years that I just know like, 'Hey, this person is hiring, this group is looking,' or even the hiring managers here on the floor will just give me a heads up, like 'Hey, we're looking to hire. Do you know of anyone that's interested?'" he said.

In 2016, Perez graduated with his MBA and went to work at Wells Fargo

After graduating from the University of Chicago, Perez was invited into the inaugural, eight-person class of Wells Fargo's roughly two-month Veteran Employment Transition Program.

The program cycles veterans through a variety of duties like risk management, investment banking, and commercial banking. Perez fell in love with a relatively new desk — credit derivative trading — and, after receiving a full-time offer, has remained with that team ever since.

During that time, Perez also helped to establish the Charlotte chapter of the Veterans on Wall Street initiative, a national cause that was cofounded in 2011 by veteran and Wall Street executive Christoper Perkins.

Perkins is a managing director and the global head of OTC clearing and FX prime brokerage at Citigroup in New York. In an interview with Business Insider, Perkins praised Perez for the work he's done on behalf of veterans. 

"When you have a veteran who transitions, they're representing all the other veterans," Perkins said. "We have a certain weight that we carry on our shoulders when we land a job and we land on a desk. Victor landed on a really prestigious trading desk — trading credit derivatives — and he's thrived."

See more: 6 tips on how to move from the military to Wall Street

For its part, Citigroup has hired more than 2,100 veterans over the past five years.

And Perez's firm, Wells Fargo, has hired some 1,500 employees within the past year who self-identify as veterans.

Since 2018, the bank has recruited more than 5,000 individuals who identify as veterans, said Sean Passmore, Wells Fargo's head of enterprise military and veteran initiatives.

This year's summer 2020 Veterans Employment Transition Program cohort was composed of 29 veterans, all of whom were extended offers to join Wells Fargo full-time upon completion of the program, Passmore added. And, while the numbers could vary slightly, he predicts that about 22 roles will be available for the 2021 cohort.

Veterans bring certain qualities to the table that make them a strong fit for finance

People who work in finance say that veterans' fortitude and quick thinking make them strong candidates for Wall Street jobs.

"In our business, we're always hit with a massive amount of information. You have to distill that information, make a decision, and execute," Perkins explained. "I can't tell you how many times in the Marine Corps I was told that even a poor decision executed well is better than no decision at all."

It's a mentality, he said, which is mutually intelligible for the kind of jobs that he and Perez now hold.

Marshall Lauck, a Marine Corps vet, explained that veterans "tend to understand how to operate in high-pressure situations and compressed timelines, [and] operate with incomplete information."

See more: Wall Street's rising stars from firms like Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, and Tiger Global share their best career advice

Lauck is now the chief growth and marketing officer at the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a group that has raised more than $70 million to invest in veteran support programs since its inception in 2006.

The foundation now does extensive work with Veterans on Wall Street, and Lauck and Perez have worked together directly.

Lauck lauded Perez as "the driving force behind the growth of that Charlotte chapter" of Veterans on Wall Street. "I'd say arguably the Charlotte chapter is the most active of our chapters... [Perez has] got a real gravitational pull."

Hiring veterans boost diversity and fills companies with skill sets they need to thrive, experts in the field say

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs sets an annual 5.7% benchmark for veteran recruiting for companies that do federal contract work — but Wells Fargo exceeds that metric, hitting 6.5% in the past year, Passmore, who heads their veteran recruiting initiatives, said.

"Veteran hiring is actually helping us increase the diversity of our workforce here at Wells Fargo," he said, explaining that, "while every veteran is actually a diversity hire, we know that about half of our veteran hires represent one more additional diversity segment."

And Citigroup's Perkins said it's that diversity — of background, opinion, and experience — that makes veterans such an asset to financial institutions.

"Everyone in our military today are volunteers, and they become part of something that's bigger than themselves," he said. "People who change the trajectory of their life to become part of something bigger than them generally are wired in a certain way."

"Insert people like this into your firm, and the culture tends to shift in a way that galvanizes people to accomplish a common goal," he added.

SEE ALSO: 32 books on everything from the roots of value investing to the science of sleep that Wall Street rising stars say you should read to get ahead

SEE ALSO: Meet 2020's Rising Stars of Wall Street from firms like Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and Man Group

SEE ALSO: A Morgan Stanley credit desk has reaped nearly $1 billion thanks to a surge in corporate borrowing and bond-portfolio trading

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: July 15 is Tax Day — here's what it's like to do your own taxes for the very first time

Military veterans anticipating disturbance at polling places throughout the US have established a nonviolent "quick reaction force"— a term used in the armed forces for the small teams that respond immediately in an emergency.

In the past few weeks, roughly 200 veterans signed up to train in deescalation techniques with Common Defense, a grassroots organization that opposes President Donald Trump and seeks to elect progressive candidates and advance policies for former service members. The veterans have mobilized in 45 cities to recruit other veterans to join their cause.

Stephanie Flores, a US Navy veteran who is Common Defense's communications manager, told Insider the group's purpose was to "make sure that we have an election that is fair and that is peaceful."

Read more: How Kimberly Guilfoyle, the 'human Venus flytrap,' has groomed boyfriend Donald Trump Jr. into a political powerhouse and turned herself into a conservative star

Flores said the organization taught deescalation techniques for the veteran-volunteers to protest safely and to "make sure all of our ballots are counted" during the election season.

"We've heard it everywhere in the media, even the FBI — there is a real threat about armed militias and all of that," Flores said, referring to reports of voter intimidation by armed citizens. "So that's why we're preparing our veterans and our leaders to be ready to deescalate and protest safely. But our main goal and how we're planning to do this is through narrative."

"As veterans, we swore an oath to protect our democracy, which also means ensuring a fair election where all the votes are counted transparently," Flores added.

Numerous allegations of voter intimidation surfaced after states began their early-voting processes — some reports insinuate some sort of involvement by the US military. At one voting site hosted by a public library near Miami on Saturday, a person wearing military fatigues was seen standing behind supporters of President Donald Trump, according to an NBC News journalist.

The man wore a previous version of the US Army's combat uniform — complete with a unit crest on his beret and Velcro patches signifying affiliation with the military branch — and a pistol holster on his thigh.

Despite those features, the man was probably not currently in the service: His beard would be in violation of the Army's grooming standards, and based on his physical appearance he most likely did not meet the service's body-fat and weight standards.

The man's appearance alarmed some veterans, many of whom emphasized that people without military experience would not be able to tell the difference between him and an active-duty service member.

"Whether he served in the Army at one time or not, his presence at a polling site in this uniform creates the appearance of military involvement in political activities," retired Marine Corps Col. David Lapan, a former Pentagon spokesman, told Insider. "However, if he's not currently serving — active duty, National Guard, or Reserve — he's not in violation" of Defense Department regulations.

"Whether it's a current uniform or an old one, the appearance to the public of inappropriate military involvement in elections is the same," Lapan added.

Alex McCoy, a Marine Corps veteran who is Common Defense's policy director, said the example at the public library in Miami might have been an isolated incident.

"We expected there to be a lot more right-wing-group voter intimidation at polling places and early-voting sites than there actually seems to have been," McCoy told Insider. "Any of it is bad, obviously, but we were worried it would be more extensive and more widespread."

McCoy added that the group was still preparing for "very limited counterdemonstrations" in the country and that his members would "be present and be visible as a deescalatory measure."

'We have put our lives on the line in defense of our country before'

On Saturday, six veteran-volunteers handed out water, hand sanitizer, and face masks for voters in lines at a polling place in North Carolina.

Kyle Pritz, a US Marine veteran who is the lead organizer for Common Defense's North Carolina branch, said his team was specifically called upon for assistance by another organization that experienced "overt" instances of voter intimidation from "neo-Confederates."

At a separate protest in the same county on Saturday, several people, including children, were pepper-sprayed by law-enforcement officials during a march to the polls. Police officials said the protest was unsafe and the activists did not disperse after being ordered to do so.

Pritz said the polling site, which shared a parking lot with a church, was mostly uneventful; however, he said patrons at a bar across the street were brandishing handguns. It is legal to openly carry a firearm in the state.

Volunteers had to sign waivers to attend the event and received guidance beyond their normal training on deescalation methods. The military veterans were instructed not to wear any clothing containing military camouflage and were prohibited from carrying weapons. Most of them wore regular clothes with "veteran signifiers," such as a hat denoting their military service.

All volunteers were also vetted for their military service and were interviewed to make sure they were competent enough to control themselves if things escalated, according to Flores, the organization's communications manager.

The effort comes as Trump's reelection campaign kicked off a recruitment effort for an "army" of poll watchers— a term that is supposed to be used for certified people to monitor voting processes for fairness.

Each state has its own regulations, but certified poll watchers are not allowed to engage with voters, and their duties — ensuring votes are counted and reporting violations — are often mundane and nonpartisan.

Trump's surrogates, however, have preemptively questioned the integrity of the 2020 election — often fueling baseless theories challenging the integrity of mail-in voting— and appear to be conflating a self-appointed poll-watching protester with a certified poll watcher.

Military veterans have joined some of the civil-rights protests this year. Dozens of people representing themselves as military veterans marched alongside other protesters in the wake of several deaths of Black people. Some of them have faced off directly with their active-duty counterparts and law-enforcement officials. One of the best known of those was Christopher David, the US Navy veteran who was dramatically pepper-sprayed and beaten on camera during the Portland, Oregon, protests in July.

Jose Vasquez, a US Army veteran who is the executive director of Common Defense, said he was prompted to act —along with other like-minded veterans — because of Trump's consistent reluctance to condemn racist behavior and right-wing extremism.

"We are in a historic moment of crisis that could upend our democracy unless we act to block the corruption of Donald Trump and the violence of his most extreme supporters," Vasquez said in a statement. "As veterans we have put our lives on the line in defense of our country before, and we are mobilizing now in historic numbers to protect our fellow citizens and our system of democratic governance."

"As veterans who swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, seeing the president refuse to commit to respect the election results and calling on fascist gangs to rally by his side is the realization of all of our worst fears," he added.

Join the conversation about this story »

The Poppy Factory in Richmond creates poppy products for the Royal British Legion's annual poppy appeal.

Each poppy starts as a plastic stem, imported into the factory. The paper leaf and petal are cut out using machines. The factory assembles these together using a plastic button. 

Around 140,000 wreaths are made at the factory each year. These are made using fabric materials instead of paper. The Royal family's remembrance wreaths are assembled at the factory. 

The factory has employed 28 ex-servicemen and women since 1922 as part of ongoing charitable activities. It has also run an employment service since 2010. They help disabled military veterans find jobs across the country. This year, The Poppy Factory celebrated placing their 1000th veteran in a paid position.

Each year, over 45 million poppies are sold across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in preparation for Remembrance Day on November 11.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published in November 2018.

SEE ALSO: Inside London's abandoned Underground station that was used to hide British Museum treasures during WWII

Join the conversation about this story »

Veterans Day is a holiday where Americans celebrate and honor those who have served.

The holiday originally started as a day to remember the sacrifices of American troops during World War I. Originally called "Armistice Day," it was first observed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

In 1954, Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower passed a bill that made the holiday official. The name "Armistice Day" was changed to "Veterans Day" to honor all veterans from all of America's wars.

"For their love of country and dedication to duty, America's veterans have endured adversity, loneliness, fatigue, loss, and made other incredible sacrifices," President Donald Trump said in a proclamation Wednesday. "I encourage all Americans to recognize the fortitude and sacrifice of our veterans through public ceremonies and private thoughts and prayers."

These photos show the way veteran, active duty soldiers, and civilians celebrate Veterans Day.

Editor's note: Ben Brimelow contributed to an earlier version of this article. This article was originally published in 2017.

SEE ALSO: 7 US aircraft carriers are at sea for the first time in years — here's what they're doing

Veterans Day started first as a day to remember the sacrifices of American troops during WWI — here, an effigy of ex-Kaiser Wilhelm is carried by crowds during an impromptu parade on Armistice Day in New York in 1918.

These two women, saluting at a Veterans Day parade in 2001, served as army nurses during WWII.

Prayer services and ceremonies are common on Veterans Day. American soldiers pray during a ceremony marking Veterans Day at the US Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2009.

US soldiers, sailors, and airmen around the world observe Veteran's Day, even on active duty in war zones. These US soldiers attended a ceremony commemorating Veterans Day at the Bagram airfield north of Kabul in 2011.

Remembering loved ones lost to war is important for many people. This mother visited her son's grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day in 2011.

Parades are very common, with the biggest being in New York City. Here, members of the armed forces hold a US flag during NYC's Veterans Day parade in 2015.

Parades aren't just made up of soldiers and veterans. Children march during many parades, such as these children at the Veterans Day parade in New York City in 2016.

Remembrance is an important part of Veterans Day. Here, a man reaches up to touch a name upon the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC in 2017.

Paying respects to friends and comrades lost on the battlefield is a sacred duty to veterans. Army Sgt. James Luong of Chandler, Arizona, kneels at the grave of a friend at Arlington National Cemetery a day before Veterans Day in 2017.

Veterans Day is also a good day to teach younger generations about the sacrifices people have made. This 4-year-old shares his name, Hunter, with the grandfather he's bringing flowers to at Arlington in 2017.

Civilians often frequent public war memorials to honor loved ones.

National monuments and public places are often decorated in red, white, and blue to honor those who served.

Veterans Day is also an important time for veterans to remember their experiences and pass down their stories to younger people.

President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the state of Michigan, alleging the ballot-handling and -counting process had disenfranchised voters through "fraud and incompetence."

Attorneys for the campaign attached to their lawsuit dozens of notarized statements from Michigan voters, Republican poll watchers, and other observers to corroborate Trump's claims — including one who said it was peculiar that droves of US service members voted for President-elect Joe Biden.

"I did find it odd that, throughout the day/night, I saw a few dozen military ballots be counted," a certified poll watcher said in his statement dated November 4. "Although I cannot provide specific numbers or names, I can estimate that at least 80% of the military ballots I saw were straight ticket Democrat or simply had Joe Biden's name filled in on them."

"I had always been told that military personnel tended to be more conservative, so this stuck out to me as the day went on," he added.

The poll watcher, who was stationed at the TCF convention center in Detroit and said he had a "GOP network of friends," also alleged he faced intimidation by his colleagues after scrutinizing their actions and calling for a ballot review. He was eventually escorted out of the location by police officers after debating with a supervisor.

The layout of absentee ballots vary by state, and some designs make it easier to tell if they are from a US service member. Overseas Michigan residents, such as service members, are allowed to vote through an electronic ballot that may be mailed in the event that physical ballots are not available — on top of these ballots are the words "MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTER BALLOT," according to a Michigan Bureau of Elections manual dated March 2018.

But the poll observer's anecdote of seeing an overwhelmingly majority of "military" ballots at his location supporting Democrats is being met with some pushback, particularly in the wake of Trump's declining approval rating in recent polls and his attitude toward some veterans.

According to a poll from the Military Times and Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families conducted in July, 42% of 1,018 active-duty military respondents said they strongly disapproved of Trump's tenure at the White House. Nearly half of the poll's respondents said they viewed Trump unfavorably. That poll showed Biden with a 4-percentage-point lead over Trump.

But a separate Morning Consult poll found Trump with a 10-percentage-point lead over Biden from military-affiliated households in October. 

Despite Trump's professed love toward US service members and veterans, several reports published this year have thrown that rosy assessment into doubt. In September, The Atlantic published a scathing report that said Trump disparaged dead military veterans.

The report, written by Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, cited officials who said they heard Trump describing Marines who died during World War I as "losers" and "suckers" and that he did not want injured veterans to appear at a military parade because he believed it would make spectators uneasy.

Trump's opinion of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, a longtime Arizona lawmaker and US Navy veteran, also incensed veterans' groups and congressional leaders with military service. After McCain died from an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2018, Trump was angry when the senator received half-staff flag honors, The Atlantic reported. Trump was outspoken about his negative assessment of McCain and previously rejected the notion of describing him as a war hero "because he was captured" during the Vietnam War.

Common Defense, a nonprofit organization seeking to elect progressive candidates, questioned the long-standing belief that military service members and veterans would be inclined to support Republican candidates.

"The current military is as diverse as the population we are drawn from and serve," a Common Defense spokesman told Insider. "And if there is one thing that unifies us, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum, it is our frustration with the perception that we are the props for any particular politician or political party."

The spokesman added: "Common Defense has campaigned for four years to mobilize veterans in swing states like Michigan to vote against Donald Trump, and so it is no surprise to us that military ballots in Detroit favored President-elect Joe Biden."

Trump's allies have relied on anecdotal evidence, such as the poll observer's claim in Michigan, and set up hotlines offering rewards to those who can corroborate their allegations of voter fraud. For instance, Texas Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick this week offered $1 million of his own money for evidence of voter fraud.

So far, the Trump campaign's lawsuits in numerous battleground states have lacked evidence. According to a New York Times report published Tuesday, election officials from 45 states said they witnessed no evidence of fraud or major issues with voting. Insider's Grace Panetta previously reported an "American is more likely to be struck by lightning than to commit election fraud," citing a dataset of past convictions.

Insider and Decision Desk HQ have projected that Biden won Michigan's 16 Electoral College votes.

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A Marine Corps veteran and Gold Star widow stressed to Insider the importance of having a commander-in-chief that understands military service and sacrifice in an interview Wednesday.

Kait Wyatt and her husband Derek were in the Marines together, and during their service, Derek made the ultimate sacrifice. He was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2010.

"It has been 10 years, and we miss him every day," Wyatt said, "I don't think that'll ever change."

Reflecting on Veteran's Day, Wyatt told Insider that it is "not only honoring the sacrifice of the veteran but also bringing light to the struggle that it is to be in the military."

She characterized veterans, as well as people like first responders, as those that "put their lives on the line and soak up the negativity that is in our world so that they can shield the people who need it the most." Wyatt argued that a president should have some understanding of what that service and sacrifice means.

"Donald Trump's not that person," she said, adding that on the far end of the sliding scale of selfishness, "there's Donald Trump, where the only thing that matters is Donald Trump."

During his presidency, Trump, who has suggested he would have made a good general but does not actually have military experience, has made a number of disparaging remarks about veterans and military families, such as late Arizona Sen. John McCain or Gold Star father Khizr Khan, among others.

There are also reports that Trump called troops killed in combat "losers" and "suckers," as well as reports that he questioned a fallen Marine's service, telling the father at his son's grave in Arlington: "I don't get it."

In an interview with CNN in September, Wyatt expressed anger and frustration after seeing a photo of Trump standing at her husband's grave at Arlington. "You can't stand on the graves of better men who fought and died for this country while you rip apart that country with your incompetence and unqualified presence within a position of leadership," she told CNN.

Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery again Wednesday.

Talking to Insider Wednesday, Wyatt expressed her support for President-elect Joe Biden, who was recently projected the winner of the presidential election, though Trump is disputing the results.

He has not served in the military either, but he is a Blue Star family member. His son Beau Biden served as a member of the National Guard and deployed to Iraq. Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

"Family members of those who are serving are an integral part of the military," she said. "Although President-elect Joe Biden has never served in the military, the fact that his son did is incredibly important because at least then he understands."

She explained that as a veteran, this is "very important" to her. "Instead of saying, 'Imagine it was your son,' he knows because it was his son," Wyatt said. "He knows the cost. He understands the fear that every parent has when their child says I'm joining the military."

The president-elect tweeted to veterans Wednesday that he will be a president "who respects your sacrifice, understands your service, and will never betray the values you fought so bravely to defend."

Further voicing her support for political change in the US, Wyatt said: "I have worked too hard and sacrificed too much. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this country, and I refuse to let it die."

"I am in it," she continued, "and I'm hoping that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are both in it as much as I am because that's the best thing that a veteran can ask of a president and a vice-president."

She expressed hope that the new leadership will put effort into fixing the institutional support systems that are supposed to be in place for veterans to ensure that the country has the back of those who protect and defend it, among other broken systems.

"What I'm asking for and what veterans should be asking of our government and of our leaders is to put in your all." Wyatt added. "If you're not putting in your all, then you shouldn't be in office."

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When Air Force veteran Jerome Hardaway left the military in 2009 after five years, he planned to transition to a civilian job after his service. However, he found that the recession's lingering impact on the economy meant that jobs were still scarce.

"It was very painful coming back to America," Hardaway, who's based in Nashville, told Business Insider.

People would say, "Thank you for your service," but not hire him, he explained. As he continued looking for jobs, he saw a commercial about a course for teaching people how to code.

While he didn't take the class — "There were really great resources I didn't have money for," Hardaway said — it inspired him to get a book on databases. From there, he taught himself SQL and eventually landed a job as a database analyst for the Department of Homeland Security in 2010.

Eventually, he started teaching himself other programming skills, too, including Ruby on Rails and JavaScript, as well as learning about open source software by reading project documentation and source code and contributing as a general member, finding the JavaScript community to be especially welcoming. He even had the opportunity in 2014 to train in web development at General Assembly.

"I'm an African American male in the south trying to get into a dominant white male industry," Hardaway said. "Before people look at my veteran status, I have that to overcome."

In 2014, while Hardaway was working as a digital marketing assistant for a nonprofit, he connected with a family who lost their son in a police shooting and built them a website where he told the young vet's story. Through this website, the family was able to raise $10,000, and the moving encounter spurred Hardaway to launch a new project:

Hardaway's nonprofit, Vets Who Code, focuses on teaching veterans the programming skills they need for software engineering jobs and it's completely free for veterans to participate. So far, the organization has helped over 250 veterans in 37 states learn how to be developers. 

Right now, Vets Who Code teaches languages like JavaScript, cloud technologies like Amazon Web Services, user experience design, GitHub, frameworks like React, and more, as well as less tangible skills, like what it takes to succeed in an engineering job.

The nonprofit aims to reduce job anxiety for veterans and take advantage of their skills 

While more than 250 military service members transition into the workforce each year according to Navy Federal, one of the greatest anxieties for veterans is being able to find a stable job that honors the skills and experiences they've gained from the military.

"The military trains you to be good at what the military needs you to be, not in regards to preparing you for the civilian sector," Hardaway said.

While in the Air Force, Hardaway served in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea and had duties in security, checking airplanes, and law enforcement. However, it wasn't easy to convey to how those skills could be useful in the larger job market.

While the military has programs that help veterans transition to going back to civilian life, Hardaway says they're not as effective as they should be, partly because they're run by people who have never fully transitioned to that life themselves. Unfortunately, it's all too common for veterans to "fall into these cracks," he said. 

Because of his own experience, though, Hardaway knows that many of the skills he learned can be directly applicable to software jobs.

"It has made me more of a go-getter, take initiative, and learn on my own, and of course, more discipline," Hardaway said. "It's helped me focus on the things that matter: learning how to write code, focusing on the things needed to be employed, teaching the veterans the same skills in my transition."

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For example, Hardaway says the military taught him to drill and adapt to new things faster – all of which helped him when he was learning to write code. In addition, veterans are used to teamwork and over-communicating as they did in the military, and these skills come into play when they work together on a software project.

That's why Vets Who Code puts an emphasis on coordinating group projects for its students:

"That's the true secret, making you a good worker, not just a good programmer," Hardaway said.

Ultimately, Hardaway said that his goal is to empower as many veterans as possible to get good jobs in tech, like he did:

"I'm hoping my sisters and brothers [in the military] don't have to deal with the hardships I had to deal with."

SEE ALSO: Fortune 10 salaries revealed: Here's how much engineers, data scientists, and other technical roles make at America's largest companies

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Following last week's storming of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, a military veteran in Congress asked the secretary of the Army for a review of US troops participating in President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration to be sure they are not sympathetic to domestic terrorists.

Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat and former Army Ranger, asked on a call with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy Sunday for the military's criminal investigation units to look into "troops deployed for the inauguration to ensure that deployed members are not sympathetic to domestic terrorists."

McCarthy agreed to take additional measures, Crow said in a statement on the call.

As for whether or not the review will take place, a Pentagon spokesperson told Insider that because inaugural support is coming from the National Guard, "the responsibility for such a review would lie with the individual states contributing service members for the support mission."

Crow said that McCarthy told him that "at least 25 domestic terrorism cases have been opened as a result of the assault on the Capitol." It is unclear whether that number includes current or former military members.

Crow revealed that he requested "expedited investigation and court martial" against active-duty and reserve military members that participated in the storming of the Capitol last Wednesday.

A number of former military service members have been identified as having been a part of last week's riots. Ashli Babbitt, a US Air Force veteran, is among the most well known because she was shot and killed while attempting to break into the Capitol.

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth issued statements today demanding that the Department of Defense cooperate with investigators to punish current and former military members who were involved.

"In attacking the Capitol, the Congress, and the Constitution that they swore to protect, any current or former military members who may have participated have disgraced themselves and committed serious crimes against the People of the United States," said Gallego, a former Marine.

The congressman added that "any such individuals should have the book thrown at them for violating their oaths and duty to the nation."

Duckworth, a former Army National Guard officer and Purple Heart recipient who sheltered away from most other senators during the rampage, said that if former and current military members were a part of the mob that assaulted the Capitol, "it would be a disgraceful insult to the vast majority of servicemembers who honorably serve our Nation."

She called for accountability, stressing that "good order and discipline demands that the US Armed Forces root out extremists that infiltrate the military and threaten our national security."

In his statement, Crow noted that the Army secretary futher indicated that "DoD is aware of further possible threats posed by would-be terrorists in the days up to and including Inauguration Day and is working with local and federal law enforcement to coordinate security preparations."

A new FBI bulletin reported Monday warned of possible "armed protests" at the US Capitol and all 50 state capitols ahead of Biden's inauguration.

The Pentagon has authorized as many as 15,000 National Guard personnel from various states and districts to deploy to Washington, DC to support local law enforcement ahead of the inauguration, Politico reported Monday, citing defense officials.

There are currently over 6,000 National Guard troops in DC, and that number is expected to surge to 10,000 by this weekend.

SEE ALSO: Marine veteran Rep. Ruben Gallego sheltered journalists as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol

SEE ALSO: Former Army Ranger Rep. Jason Crow was the last lawmaker to leave the chamber when Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol

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A former Navy SEAL who is facing questions from the FBI after boasting about the Capitol siege in a video told ABC News on Tuesday that he now realizes "it was all taken too far."

Adam Newbold, who reportedly spent over two decades in the US Navy and is a retired reserve SEAL, posted a video on Jan. 6 reportedly stating that he felt pride following the events that unfolded in DC that day. He said that he hoped "it pans out to be a positive revolution."

"I'm hoping the message was strong enough," he said in the video, which has since been deleted from Facebook but was obtained by ABC News. "Unfortunately, maybe it wasn't. I hate to see this escalate more."

He reportedly said that the aim was to leave congressional leaders "shaking in their shoes" and make them "think twice about what they're doing."

Talking to ABC News on Tuesday, he said that he had been interviewed by the FBI and was facing additional questioning about his involvement in the events at the Capitol, which he said did not include assaulting law enforcement personnel or breaching the halls of Congress.

Newbold told the outlet that he would like to express a "cry for clemency," explaining that his "life has been absolutely turned upside down." He argued that he is not a "terrorist" or a "traitor."

He said that he did not fully realize what was happening at the Capitol at the time, explaining that the realization of what had occurred did not set in until he saw that people had been killed.

"Now I regret being in the crowd," he told ABC News, adding that "when you are in the arena, you don't see the big picture." Reflecting on the "Save America" protests that turned violent last Wednesday, he said. "It accomplished nothing. What the hell was it all for?"

Newbold acknowledged that he now accepts that President-elect Joe Biden will be the next president.

Last Wednesday, a pro-Trump mob marched on and stormed the Capitol in an attempt to challenge efforts by lawmakers to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. In addition to destruction of property, five people died.

Among the protesters were several members of the veterans community, such as retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Larry Rendall Brock Jr., who was spotted wearing tactical gear and carrying zip-tie handcuffs, Air Force veteran, Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed during the riots, and Jacob Chansley, a Navy veteran and prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist who stormed the Capitol in a furry headdress with horns and a spear.

There were also military veterans among the people defending the Capitol. One, Army veteran and Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, cleverly lured rioters away from the Senate chambers. Another, Air National Guard veteran and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, made the ultimate sacrifice and was killed in the line of duty.

A couple of days after the riots, Newbold told The Review, a local news outlet in Lisbon, Ohio, that that the attack on the Capitol is not who he is. "We don't do that stuff," he said, telling the paper that he and some of the others with him tried to help police.

"They are not our enemies. They are our friends," Newbold, who currently works as a tactical shooting instructor, said of law enforcement in a social media post the day before the riots at the Capitol.

ABC News reported that a video posted on Newbold's Facebook page suggested using walking sticks, batons, and mounted American flags as weapons to defend themselves if necessary. Videos of the riots show that some Trump supporters used flag poles to beat police officers during the assault.

Talking to local media in Ohio, Newbold said that it was "just mass chaos" at the Capitol, adding that "the cops were so completely overwhelmed they could not hold back the crowd."

Others have made similar statements.

Some veterans in Congress, such as Arizona Democrat and former Marine Rep. Ruben Gallego, have strongly condemned military veterans who took part in last week's events at the Capitol.

In a statement Monday, he said that "in attacking the Capitol, the Congress, and the Constitution that they swore to protect, any current or former military members who may have participated have disgraced themselves and committed serious crimes against the People of the United States."

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The new Biden administration says it will review the cases of veterans and military families who were deported under the Trump administration, McClatchy first reported, citing a White House official.

"As a military parent, President Biden knows the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make for our country each and every day,"White House spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement to CNN. "The administration's immigration enforcement will focus on those who are national security and public safety threats, not military families, service members or veterans."

"The federal government in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security will take further review of removals of veterans and their family members," he added.

The White House statement is consistent with a memo went out to the Department of Homeland Security as President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20 instructing it to review "policies and practices concerning immigration enforcement" and "to prioritize responding to threats to national security, public safety, and border security."

Over the years, countless former military members, including those who deployed to combat zones overseas, or their family members have been deported.

In a first, the Deported Veterans Support House, a facility in Tijuana, Mexico nicknamed "The Bunker,"wrote to the US president"on behalf of thousands of US deported veterans" urging him to let them return to the US.

"There is not a more perfect time in our nation's history to bring these heroes home. President Biden is a military father and knows what it is like to be separated from a loved one overseas," the letter, which Insider previously reported, states.

Military veterans who are deported often face a number of challenges. In Mexico, for instance, the cartels have been known to prey on deported veterans, valued for their understanding of combat, forcing them to serve in criminal operations.

The deportation of veterans is something that Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, has fought against for years.

"We should be ashamed, heartbroken, furious, you name it,"she wrote in a 2019 op-ed published in Military Times following a visit to The Bunker. "These veterans fought for us for so long. It's past time that we start fighting for them, too."

Between 2013 and 2018, roughly 250 veterans were either deported or placed in removal proceedings, according to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report. The situation is believed to have been exacerbated during the Trump administration, which saw immigrant service members denied US citizenship at a higher rate than regular civilians.

In a letter to Biden just prior to his inauguration, Duckworth pressed the incoming president to take executive action"that prohibits the deportation of Veterans and revamps the citizenship process for military servicemembers, Veterans and their dependents."

The senator wrote: "As your administration begins working to improve our Nation's immigration system, I ask you to prioritize military and Veteran naturalizations, as well as bringing deported Veterans home to the United States where they belong."

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Following is a transcript of the video.

Narrator: No, this isn't a movie set or a theme park. This anachronistic place has a greater goal than entertainment. Glenner Town Square is a treatment center that's helping improve the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The facility is named after Dr. George Glenner and his wife, Joy. Dr. Glenner was a renowned Alzheimer's researcher whose discoveries led to significant advancements in understanding the disease. The town replica sits inside a 20,000-square-foot building in Chula Vista, California, about 7 miles south of San Diego and 5 miles north of the Mexican border. But it looks nothing like its modern city neighbors. Instead, Town Square is designed to look like a town from somewhere between 1953 and 1961, meant to reflect the era when most of the participants were young adults.

Scott Tarde: People make their strongest memories typically between the ages of 10 and 30. And if you think about it, the reason that that is is because people typically have a lot of life's firsts at that time. Graduating high school, graduating college, marriage, children, jobs.

Narrator: Helping people recall and discuss these major life events is part of reminiscence therapy, one of the core concepts of Town Square's program. Reminiscence therapy often uses prompts like old photos and memorabilia to elicit reactions, trigger memories, or improve the mood of people with dementia. The therapy isn't a cure for Alzheimer's, but it's been proven to help ease some of the confusion and agitation that people can often feel. But instead of just a single photo or object, the town offers a more immersive experience with the idea that it will have an even more powerful effect.

Scott: If we can take people back to a time where their memories are their strongest, what we're seeing is really a reduction in agitation and improvement in mood and improvement in sleep quality.

Narrator: Sonia Bland has seen her mother improve since she started coming to Town Square.

Sonia Bland: Mom was always very social, and when we received the diagnosis, she kind of withdrew. She's a lot happier these days. We've noticed she rests a lot better at night. She looks forward, in the morning, to getting ready and going, so there's more purpose for her. In the last six months, there has been no decline.

Narrator: Being able to drop her mother off four days a week is a huge help to Sonia. She goes to work on those days and gets to take a break from caring for her mother 24-7, and Eva gets to participate in activities she likes, like painting and dancing.

Producer: You like to dance?

Eva Casillas: Oh, yeah. A mí me gusta mucho el baile.

Narrator: Town Square participants rotate through a series of activities, spending about 45 minutes in each place. There are 11 different storefronts, but participants typically only visit around four or five in a day. There's a pet shop with birds and fish where participants go for pet therapy. The central town square, called Glenner Park, is where they play bocce or do group exercises. Inside the retro diner, participants eat lunch, socialize, and play bingo. Next to the diner is a mock pub where people can shoot some pool or play poker. And across the street is Joy's Department Store. Inside Joy's, participants can browse clothing or attend a class. This group is taking a jewelry-making class. The movie theater plays old TV shows and films, and there's even a vintage Thunderbird to tinker with or just admire.

As part of the intake process for the program, caretakers fill out a form detailing information about the participant and their past. This allows Town Square staff to focus on particular activities that are meaningful to each individual. One participant had been a barber, so the staff at Town Square asked him if he would help out at the barber shop, called The Silver Fox. A visiting beautician comes to the shop a few times a month, so they asked if the former barber would consult on haircuts and help out with inventory of supplies.

Scott: We encouraged him that we really needed his expertise, and then all of a sudden you could see that kind of spark and that trigger of purpose.

Narrator: Scott wants to be able to give that sense of purpose to more people.

Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 5.7 million Americans, and if no cure is found, experts predict that number will keep growing. Currently, Town Square serves about 200 people in the Chula Vista location, but they have plans to expand. Town Square has partnered with Senior Helpers, a company that provides senior-care services. They aim to bring more facilities like this one to cities across the nation.

Before Eva Casillas got Alzheimer's, she was a caretaker for her mother, who also had the disease. Now, Sonia fears she, too, will get Alzheimer's.

Sonia: You know, there is some fear that in the future, if there's no cure, I may need to keep my mind busy and healthy.

Narrator: But Town Square has been a big help to Sonia's family, and she hopes it will continue to help people in the future. With the growing need for senior care, not only for those with dementia but for the whole aging population, Scott sees this as an issue that shouldn't be overlooked.

Scott: I don't see healthcare as a political issue. Healthcare's a right. It's not a privilege. At a very basic level, people deserve the right to be taken care of. I get goosebumps when I talk about this because people need to know that these services exist, and they shouldn't be hidden or a puzzle. Most people don't think about Alzheimer's disease until it's upon them, so, you know, let's get the dialogue going.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published in May 2019.

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Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a Marine Corps veteran, last week called on Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to withdraw benefits from active-duty service members, veterans, or military retirees who participated in the deadly Capitol riot on January 6.

"The behavior of these individuals is not representative of the large population of American veterans, the vast majority of whom served honorably and are appalled by the thought of insurrection in the country they served,"he wrote in a letter. "Yet, many of the veterans and servicemembers who attacked their own Government actively and enthusiastically enjoy special benefits given to them by their fellow citizens."

Such benefits include access to disability compensation, healthcare options, and vocational opportunities.

Gallego added: "This situation is unjust. Any veteran or servicemember who stormed the Capitol on January 6th forfeited their moral entitlement to privileged benefits at the expense of the people of the United States."

NPR reported in late January that nearly 20% of the more than 140 people who had been charged in the riot by then had a military background. Federal prosecutors have since charged more than 300 people in the attack, with more expected to face federal charges.

Gallego, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, asked McDonough to work with Attorney General Merrick Garland to identify the riot participants, citing a part of the US Code that covers benefits for veterans and their dependents as a rationale to withdraw benefits.

Gallego also sent letters to Garland, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

Gallego asked Austin and Mayorkas to "quickly identify, investigate, and prosecute any active servicemember or retiree that participated in the attack," adding that "insurrectionists should not enjoy benefits they no longer deserve."

During the insurrection, Gallego, who served in the Iraq War, sheltered several journalists in his office.

The insurrection, the most significant breach of the Capitol since 1814, left five people dead, including the Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick.

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Some US veterans have been waiting weeks for their third stimulus checks.

The $1,400 stimulus checks, authorized by the latest COVID-19 relief bill, have been rolling out in waves since mid-March. But, many veterans who are eligible have not yet received their checks.

According to a statement released by the IRS on April 7, however, veterans receiving compensation and pension benefits could see their payments via direct deposit by next week.

Veterans receiving benefits from the VA will receive their stimulus checks by April 14

Like those receiving Social Security benefits, veterans who didn't file taxes have had to wait for their stimulus checks. 

But, stimulus checks should be coming to veterans' bank accounts soon. The IRS states that those who receive compensation and pension benefits through VA can expect their payments by April 14. The majority of these payments will be sent by direct deposit.

Tracking information should be available through the "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS's website starting this weekend, April 10-11. No action is required to receive stimulus checks for those who are eligible.

Payments are also coming for others this week

Veterans are just one of the groups who can expect to see stimulus checks soon.

About 19 million people receiving retirement, survivor, or disability benefits can expect to receive their payments today, April 7. Most of the payments are for those who didn't file a tax return in 2019 or 2020, and who didn't use the IRS's non-filers tool previously. About 85,000 people receiving benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board will also receive stimulus checks this week. 

Americans who lost income between 2019 and 2020 could also see stimulus check deposits this week. The IRS is issuing payments to those who weren't previously eligible, as Americans continue to file their 2020 taxes through the extended May 17 deadline. If you weren't eligible for stimulus checks based on your 2019 income, but would be based on 2020 income, filing your 2020 taxes now could help you claim the stimulus checks — the IRS states that these payments will continue weekly as it processes tax returns. 

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President Joe Biden on Memorial Day honored the fallen service members who sacrificed their lives for the US during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, speaking of the difficulties of overcoming loss and emphasizing the need for maintaining democratic values.

While speaking to military families about grief, Biden spoke of his son Beau, an Iraq War veteran who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

Biden reassured the audience that he and first lady Jill Biden understand many of their challenges.

"To those who mourn a loved one today, Jill and I have some idea how you are feeling," he said. "Our losses are not the same, but that black hole you feel in your chest, like it is going to suck you in, we get."

"I know the incredible pride you felt seeing your loved one wear the uniform of our country and the pride they felt wearing it," the president continued.

He added: "Yesterday marked the anniversary of his [Beau's] death and it's a hard time for me and my family just like it is for so many of you. It can hurt to remember, but the hurt is how we feel and how we heal. I always feel Beau close to me on Memorial Day. I always know where I need to be, right here honoring our fallen heroes."

The president emphasized that US troops around the world have fought for — and continue to fight for — democracy.

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"Democracy must be defended at all costs for democracy makes all this possible," he said. "Democracy. That's the soul of America. And I believe it's a soul worth fighting for. And so do you, a soul worth dying for."

Biden emphasized the importance of protecting democratic norms.

"Our troops have fought this battle on fields around the world but also a battle of our time, and the mission for each of us, each and every day," he said. "Democracy itself is imperiled here at home and around the world."

Biden then touched on voting rights, an issue that he has vocally championed as Republican-led legislatures across the country have sought to pass numerous election-related bills this year.

The president has criticized the new election law in Georgia and the restrictive voting bill under consideration in Texas, calling on Congress to pass the For the People Act, the sweeping voting rights legislation.

"Democracy thrives, and the infrastructure of democracy is strong, when people have the right to vote freely and fairly and conveniently," he said. "This Memorial Day, remember that not all of us are called to make the ultimate sacrifice. We all are called by God and by history and by conscience to make our nation free and fair."

After concluding his speech, Biden and the first lady were in the process of leaving Arlington Cemetery in the presidential motorcade but made an unscheduled stop to meet with several families who came to pay their respects to fallen soldiers, according to ABC News.

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Amazon plans to hire more than 100,000 US veterans and military spouses by 2024, the tech giant announced Tuesday.

The company said that it currently employs more than 40,000 veterans and military spouses in the US. As of late March, the company had nearly 1.3 million total employees globally.

John Quintas, Amazon's director of global military affairs, said in a press release that the company ran training programs designed to help veterans transition into roles in the private sector, such as the Amazon Web Services military apprenticeships.

"We value the unique skills and experience that the military community brings — and our new hiring commitment will expand the impact that military members currently have on every single business across the company," Quintas said.

Amazon said that military veterans and spouses can take its training programs for free, which it said would allow them to learn new technical skills and move into higher-paying jobs.

Amazon has sped up hiring during the pandemic to cope with soaring demand for delivery, and its workforce grew by 51% between March 2020 and March 2021.

The company currently has more than 35,000 positions open across the US, though the country is currently in the grips of a huge labor shortage that's hitting industries from education and healthcare to hospitality and ride-hailing apps.

Amazon hired more than 350,000 workers from July to October – but many of these stayed with the company "just days or weeks," causing some executives to worry about running out of hirable employees in the US, according to a report from The New York Times.

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They're physically demanding. And they're not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

But if you're willing to muscle through, you could find yourself a decent paycheck, sense of service, and opportunities for advancement while working in one of the federal government's dirtiest jobs — ones that might involve a heavy dose of blood, sweat, toxic chemicals, or even sewage.

Here are seven of the most notable such jobs that are open to applications right now at a time when some states' unemployment rates are still hovering above 7%.  The pay ranges from about $14 an hour to $34 an hour, well above the current federal minimum wage.

Toxic materials handler - $16.42 to $25.49 per hour

Like to work on the edge? Becoming a toxic materials handler might prove a good fit.

You'll be required to decontaminate "toxic chemical agents that may have spilled or are leaking from toxic munitions." Your workday will involve "prolonged standing and continuous physical activity in handling, pulling, or pushing objects."

And you'll sometimes do so while wearing protective clothing that will subject you to "profuse perspiration and extreme fatigue."

The job is located at the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, Colorado, and is part of the Department of the Army.

One perk if you're hired? You'll have a security clearance of "secret."

Pay: $16.42 to $25.49 per hour.

Meatcutting worker - $19.74 to $23.04 per hour

This job isn't for anyone squeamish around blood or for vegans.

Being a meatcutting worker, as the title suggests, involves the "cutting, trimming, and boning meat using hand tools and operating meat cutting equipment" and "processing beef, pork, veal, and lamb into retail and ready-to-eat cuts."

Located at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, you can also expect to work odd hours, including overnight shifts, holidays, and weekends.

Tolerance of physical labor and the cold is also a must. You will "walk and stand continuously while working" and "frequently lift, push and pull pieces and bulk boxes of meat weighing 50 to 100 pounds." You'll also work in areas that range in temperature "from -10 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit."

The position is a union job and does not require a drug test.

Pay: $19.74 to $23.04 per hour, with an average of 32 hours worked each week.

Several other federal government meatcutting jobs are available across the country, including in Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Wastewater treatment plant operator - $29.53 to $34.50 per hour

The wastewater treatment plant operator will work in a facility in Beltsville, Maryland, not far from Washington, DC.

The chosen candidate will assist in the "operation and maintenance of two major wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 500,000 gallons per day and a water treatment plant."

Expect equipment repair, machine operation, and inspections to be part of your typical work week. You'll also collect and test water and sewage samples, "such as residual chlorine and settleable solids."

The job is part of the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.

Pay: $29.53 to $34.50 per hour.

Cemetery caretaker - $21.28 to $24.84 per hour

Based in North Texas at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, the cemetery caretaker requires "manual skills and physical strength."

Among the tasks you'll tackle: digging graves, aligning headstones, operating tractors, transplanting shrubs, cutting sod, and "clearing cemetery grounds of debris using power trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, vacuums."

The job is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Pay: $21.28 to $24.84 per hour, with opportunities for overtime.

Nursing assistant - $28,078 to $45,847 per year

If you want a truly hands-on job helping the sick and injured, you may consider becoming a nursing assistant at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The job "will require long periods of regular and recurring standing and walking with regular and recurring lifting and positioning of patients while maintaining balance." You'll engage in "specimen collection" and stand ready to endure the "possibility of patient assaults" and "need to protect yourself using non-abusive physical intervention techniques."  

You must possess some esoteric qualifications, too, such as: "Have olfactory senses intact to identify essential smells relevant to patient care to include bodily fluids, microscopic infestations, and environmental emergencies."

Translation: be ready to sniff out trouble.

If you can hack that, you'll be firm in the knowledge that you're helping numerous servicemembers in their times of need.

The job, which requires a minimum of one year of relevant post-high school education, is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration.

Pay: $28,078 to $45,847 per year, plus overtime opportunities.

Pizza parlor food service worker - $14.70 to $17.15 per hour

Don't mind performing "heavy-duty cleaning tasks," move "heavy garbage cans," and handle chemical sanitizers?  

If so, you might consider working as a food service worker at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Pizza Parlor at Naval Base Coronado in Coronado, California.

Your other tasks will include preparing salads, sandwiches, and coffee for hungry guests who will likely be glad to see you.

You won't need much experience to qualify, either. Any citizen or national who's at least 18 years old and has a high school degree can apply. 

Pay: $14.70 to $17.15 per hour. (And likely, free pizza.)

Drill rig operator - $24.42 to $28.52 per hour

As a drill rig operator, bank on being "subjected to conditions that are very hot and cold, wet, dusty, icy, muddy, and windy."

You'll also likely battle "biological hazards such as biting insects, snakes, poison ivy, etc." Meanwhile, you'll often travel to sites where "chemical contaminants are present and personal protective equipment is required." 

While the job is based in Omaha, Nebraska, you'd travel frequently as an employee of the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Pay: $24.42 to $28.52 per hour.

Irrigation laborer - $15.84 to $18.46 per hour

Wanted: someone who really likes canals.

As an irrigation laborer, you'll clean them. You'll remove trash from them. And when you're not doing that, you might be burning weeds and clearing culverts near them.

There will be hauling of cement, aggregate, lumber, and gate parts, too, which requires "average or above average strength, ability, and muscular endurance to perform assigned duties."

If hired, you'll work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Poston, Arizona.

Pay: $15.84 to $18.46 per hour.

Pipefitter - $26.44 to $30.84 per hour

As a pipefitter for the Miami Veterans Healthcare System in Miami, Florida, you'll work with "many highly technical and sophisticated systems."

You'll also bear responsibility for "installing, maintaining, and repairing all steam distribution lines, expansion loops, steam traps, valves, condensate return lines, pumps, insulation, and related suspension systems. 

But it won't be easy. On-the-job hazards include "tripping, falling, shock, burns, dust, fluids, chemicals, and a variety of diseases." You'll be "subjected to extreme heat, dust fumes, solvents, infectious agents, dirt, grease, noise, and dangers to the body."

Telework, as you might expect, is not an option.

Pay: $26.44 to $30.84 per hour.

Ret. Army Ranger Dr. Tony Brooks, a US veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in 2005, said he knew the 20-year war was lost nearly a decade ago. 

But seeing the heartbreaking images coming from Kabul and listening to the punditry that has saturated the news cycle in recent days as the Taliban takes control of the country following the drawdown of US forces, hasn't made the outcome of Brooks' foresight any easier to swallow. 

"I've experienced every single emotion that you can have," he told Insider. "From anger, to sadness, to happiness that our troops are coming home, to disappointment, to abandonment."

"It's been a very emotional week for veterans, and anyone who served overseas, and anyone really, who cares about human rights," he added. 

Brooks watched in horror, along with the rest of the world, as the US-backed Afghan government collapsed in a matter of days following the US's withdrawal after 20 years in the country, allowing the Taliban to regain control with haste and ease. 

Brooks, now 38, was only a freshman in college when the September 11 attacks spurred his enlistment. Seeing the heartbreaking image of "The Falling Man"— a photograph of a man plummeting from the World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks — awoke something within him.

"When I saw that, I knew I had to leave college to do something," he said. 

In 2005, he deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and later served two tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. 

But even after he returned home, Brooks said Afghanistan and its people remained close to his heart. The advancement of women's rights in the country became a point of passion for Brooks, who noted the harsh restrictions placed on women in the country the last time the Taliban took control in the 1990s.

"A lot of us are fearing them falling back into that," he said. "I think that's definitely what bothers me the most."

For fifteen years, Brooks kept in contact with his fellow service members and the Afghan people who aided America, including his former interpreter — a "big ol' guy" with a "kind soul"— who Brooks hasn't been able to reach for weeks.

"I'm not sure where he's at," he said. "I'm hoping he is safe."

It was about a month ago when the veteran community launched a concerted effort to try and assist past interpreters and assure their safe evacuation from the country, Brooks said, an indication that many in the military community saw the collapse coming. 

But while he's battled myriad emotions in recent days, Brooks says the most prominent one by far, has been anger. 

"I put [the blame] firmly on the politicians' shoulders," he said. "They're the ones who make the decisions on whether to start or end a war and they've all failed."

Over the years, Brooks said he became disillusioned by the US's involvement in the region as he watched his friends and former leaders die. 

"We were sent over there to fight a war we weren't allowed to win," he said. "We were walking around playing a game of Whack-a-Mole and we were only allowed to hit the mole when it popped up and shot at us."

While he hopes the "utter failure" of Afghanistan will prove a lesson for US politicians moving forward, Brooks said his primary concerns right now are protecting the people of Afghanistan and supporting his fellow veterans.

"We all have the same feelings. We're all angry, all upset," he said of service members. 

"I'm worried about the future of our veteran population right now," he added. "Seeing this over and over is not good. 

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The fall of Afghanistan to Taliban control left thousands of Afghans who had worked with the US and their families in a dangerous place, worried their service puts a target on their back. Many US veterans have been receiving emails, calls, and text messages from them looking for help.

"I got an email last night from one of my interpreters," a US Army veteran, who lot his leg in Afghanistan trying to save an Afghan partner in firefight, told Insider last week.

"It's two pages long talking about how his family's getting threatened, how they can't move anymore, and can I help them," Brian Eisch said.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" he asked. "He's like, 'I got to get my family out of there.' I don't know how to help his family."

Eisch has previously written letters for interpreters to help them get visas. One lives in California. But the current situation is even more dire, as Taliban fighters harass people in the crowds straining to get into the airport in Kabul and reportedly hunt for people who worked with the US.

Task & Purpose posted this week the audio of a voicemail message a US Marine veteran received from an Afghan who served as an interpreter. The message begins: I'm not ok, man. I'm stuck in Kabul." He says: "I'm in danger, man, with the whole family. I don't know what to do."

Jeffrey Trammell, a US Army veteran who deployed to Afghanistan twice, told Voice of America he has been swamped by phone calls, emails, and texts focused on getting a former interpreter out of Afghanistan.

The interpreter and his family live within sight of Hamid Karzai International Airport, where evacuations are ongoing, but they have been unable to get there. They were beaten when they tried to make it through the checkpoints.

Retired Army Col. Steven M. Miska, director of the organization First Amendment Voice, told Air Force Magazine this week that hundreds of veterans are talking with former Afghan partners in need of assistance.

Journalists are receiving similar messages from Afghans desperate for a way out.

It is not clear exactly how many Afghans are seeking evacuation, but the number is estimated to be in the tens of thousands.

Though the Biden administration has been planning its withdrawal from Afghanistan for months, it is under fire for the slow process of removing those seeking visas, specifically waiting until the final moments just before the country's collapse.

Only 137 visas were approved in the first three months of this year, for example, with State Department saying they had a backlog of 17,000 from the Trump administration. The US estimates there are 50,000 to 65,000 Afghans who it is committed to evacuating.

"They were sitting on their hands,"a congressional aide told Politico this week. A State Department official told the outlet, "If you want excuses, there are plenty to choose from, but they'll be little comfort to the dead."

Tom Porter, a veteran and the executive vice president for government affairs with Iraq and Afghan Veterans of America, told Insider that the top priority right now should be to "expeditiously evacuate all American personnel and the many thousands of Afghans who partnered with American forces over the last 20 years."

He said that "they stood shoulder to shoulder with us and our NATO allies at their own personal risk. We need to keep our promises to them and get them to safety now."

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