Military suicides hit a record high in 2012, and the Army has been the hardest-hit branch. Its prevention efforts have included everything from a buddy system to 24-hour hotlines. Now, the Army is deploying psychiatrists and counselors to the places where soldiers live and work.

It’s been more than a year since U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq, and for many veterans the last twelve months have been spent readjusting to life on the homefront. As 2012 draws to a close, veterans and the groups and agencies that support them are taking a look at the progress of the past year, and what else still needs to be done in the coming year, to help service men and women returning home from war.

For the first time in a decade of war, more active-duty troops took their own lives this year than died fighting in Afghanistan. The national suicide hotline is one way the Department of Veterans Affairs is trying to help troops and vets.

The Department of Veterans Affairs wanted to reduce a backlog in veterans' claims for disability benefits. Instead, the problem has worsened this year, in part, the VA says, because the department made it easier for more vets to file claims.

A local veterans organization has received a $200,000 grant from the anti-poverty group Robin Hood Foundation. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is using the money to hire three case managers that’ll work individually with vets to connect them with employment, health care, and other needed services.

The epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder has pushed the VA to explore new and sometimes unorthodox treatments. In one VA facility in Menlo Park, Calif., veterans of current and past wars gather to meditate and break down the shields that combat forced them to hold.

One of the challenges veterans face is that their military skills sometimes don't come with certifications that private employers recognize. Several associations and companies are trying to address this problem by training and giving vets the certification.

Eleven climbers, all scarred in some way by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tackle a Himalayan climb in Michael Brown's documentary.

On a foot patrol in Kandahar, Nick Staback lost both of his legs after he stepped on a homemade bomb. Over the next year, his mother, Maria, became a tough coach as he learned to walk on two prosthetic legs, and together they adjusted to what she calls the "new normal" for their family.

Military veterans across the country have a whole range of concerns this election season, from the high rate of suicide to special challenges for female vets. But like everyone else, they're especially concerned with health care and jobs.

Veterans groups and mental health care providers are watching closely, as a new presidential order designed to increase services for military men and women takes shape.

Soldiers around the world will stop what they're doing Thursday to take part in suicide prevention training. The "stand down" is part of the Army's response to an alarming suicide rate — on average, one a day.

A Long Island-based animal rescue group is one of a handful that help bring back animals saved by soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq as the military draws down its presence. But unlike others, this group has been focusing on pairing veterans or their families with the stray animals.

The Senate blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established a $1 billion jobs program putting veterans back to work tending to the country's federal lands and bolstering local police and fire departments.

Navy Lt. Brad Snyder lost his sight to an explosion in Afghanistan exactly one year ago. On the anniversary Friday, he won the 400-meter freestyle at the Paralympics in London, capturing his second gold medal.

Two local app developers are finalists in a Department of Veterans Affairs contest to help reduce Veteran homelessness.

If you’re a New York veteran who has waited a year for a decision on a war-related disability claim, you might consider a move to South Dakota – where the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs typically responds in less than half the time.

Army veteran Justin Claus of Wisconsin has been looking for work, unsuccessfully, for two years. He suspects his military disability may be keeping him from getting hired. And research shows his suspicions have some basis in fact.

The Veterans Administration recently announced a $100 million program to fight homelessness among America's war veterans. The issue isn't new. For a generation, shelters have seen many Vietnam vets. Now, younger vets are landing on the street after seeing combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.

New York City wants to move beyond bumper sticker slogans to help returning vets find employment.