A 2017 Marina High School graduate and Huntington Beach, California, native is currently serving with a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron which flies one of the world’s most advanced warplanes.

Airman Marlene Rivas is an aviation electronics technician with the Gladiators of VFA 106, which operates out of Naval Air Station Oceana.

A Navy aviation electronics technician is responsible for maintaining the weapons system and overall brains of the aircraft.

Rivas credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Huntington Beach.

“I was taught to always be on time and keep a smile during the challenging times,” said Rivas.

Members of VFA 106 fly and maintain the F/A 18 Super Hornet, one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. The Super Hornet takes off from and lands on Navy aircraft carriers at sea and is capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as striking targets on land. It is approximately 61 feet long, has a loaded weight of 51,000 pounds, and a max speed of 1,190 miles per hour.

 Government Video Expo speaker and military videographer Sgt. Matthew Callahan examines the bond between Marines and their K9 partners in this award-winning video. 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A preliminary study led by researchers in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has shown that overall symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are lower among war veterans with service dogs. The pilot study was co-funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Bayer Animal Health.

The study was led by Maggie O’Haire, assistant professor of human-animal interaction, with the help of K9s For Warriors, an accredited nonprofit organization that provides veterans with service dogs. The pilot research project provides scientific evidence of mental health benefits experienced by veterans with PTSD who have service dogs.

“We found that the group of veterans with service dogs had significantly lower levels of PTSD symptomology than those who did not have a service dog,” O’Haire says. “They also had lower levels of depression, lower anxiety and increased social participation, meaning a willingness to leave their house and go engage with society in different activities.”

The study is published in the February issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

lso known as comfort animals, emotional support animals provide emotional support to an individual experiencing an emotional disorder. Not only do these animals provide company to a person but also are also affectionate and fun, which in turn helps lower stress levels and increases activity. Emotional support animals do not have to be professionally trained, unlike service animals, but they must be housebroken and well-behaved. These animals should wear a tag indicating their status as an emotional support animal, but are not required by law.

ESAs can be any domesticated animal that offers its handler comfort and relief from emotional pain. These animals, especially dogs, can assist with dealing with emotional disorders that include:

• Suicidal tendencies/thoughts
• Anxiety
• Mood disorders
• Phobias/fears
• PTSD
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Panic attacks

Moreover, emotional support animals, whether a dog, cat or a hamster, are great for alleviating loneliness, which is especially beneficial for people whose brains work a little differently. A lone sole tends to over think, and becomes more aware of his miseries and problems. On the other hand, a person who has to run around a dog and follow a schedule will have less time for negative thoughts and therefore will be happier.

Loneliness is more serious than it seems. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. People who are emotionally distressed and lonely will have more suicidal tendencies and poor mental health. These animals act as a constant companion for their owners/handlers and are a reminder that even if the world turned against them, they will always be there to goof around and be supportive. Emotional support animals are often used as a means of therapy for suicidal people as they give them a reason to stay behind and enjoy life.

When you no longer feel alone and are happier, you are at a higher chance of healing, whether from an injury or an illness. The great thing about these emotional support animals is they neither judge nor complain, a quality that is deficient in human beings. You can be your truest self around your pet and still be loved and accepted by them.

The purpose of an emotional support animal is to be an emotionally challenged person’s constant companion who loves him/her unconditionally and without any demands. Although they cannot respond, these animals, especially dogs and cats, detect pain and discomfort and try in their own special way to comfort their handler. This in turn relieves stress and the feeling of uselessness and improves overall health. Research suggests that emotional support animals help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels and improve heart health.

Besides reducing boredom and anxiety, an emotional support animal can also help increase socialization. Dog walking and dog parks can be a great way to make new friends and broaden your social circles. Animals also are a great topic of conversation and can sprout long-lasting friendships and even relationships.

ESAs are widely used in pet therapy to improve the patient’s social, mental and emotional functioning with animal support. Besides, they are also used in schools and hospitals and after disasters in order to give consolation to the patients and the victims.

There are many different ways a person might be qualified to own an Emotional Support Animal and that  can receive an ESA letter for their usage. Here is just a few of the disorders that a person may be prescribed an ESA:

• Anxiety (both adult and children)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Depression
• Social Phobia
•  Many other disorders as well- talk to a qualified professional to determine if a particular disorder would qualify

Getting a pet Certified as an Official Emotional Support Animal and having an official letter that verifies this special status will often allow individuals special consideration when it comes to housing or use of the support animal in public areas or places that would other wise not allow the keeping of a “pet”. The process of getting this letter is often times made easier by using private companies that understand the laws governing the use of ESA’s, and are able to process the applications very quickly, many times in as little as 72 hours.

Author Bio: Brad Smith is an avid animal lover and content enthusiast living in Philadelphia. He spends most of his time freelancing content writing and volunteering at his churc