CLARK COUNTY, Nev. -- Veterans with a Bachelor's Degree that are interested in becoming and educator have an opportunity to get on the fast track to becoming a teacher in Clark County.

“After three classes, which could probably be taken in the summer, candidates will be able to teach,” said Linda Quinn, Assoc. Dean of Academic and Professional Programs at UNLV.

'Troops to Teachers' is all a part of the 'Alternate Route to Teacher Licensure Program' at UNLV. Quinn says it's good for retired military personnel who are looking for a new career.  

“There are about 600 vacancies in the school district around this time of the year, and Clark County will lose even more teachers at the end of the year. So, around the fall season, CCSD will need to hire 2,000 more new teachers,” Quinn said.

Since, UNLV's main target is qualified vets, the school held a webinar Wednesday that highlighted some of the benefits.

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) -- President Barack Obama marked the end of more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan by paying tribute to America's military, telling troops on Christmas Day that their sacrifices have allowed for a more peaceful, prosperous world to emerge out of the ashes of 9/11.

At an oceanfront Marine Corps base in Hawaii, Obama told troops that while tough challenges remain for the U.S. military in hotspots like Iraq and West Africa, the world as a whole is better off because American troops put country first and served with distinction. He said Americans and their president could not be more thankful.

"Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the American armed forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country," Obama said to applause from Marines and their families. "We are safer. It's not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again."

KANSAS -- A soldier who was very determined to make it home to his family for Christmas, spent the night in multiple airports in the course of three days to do it.

It was all a part of Sergeant Stephen Thompson's plan to surprise his daughters.

“It's always the end goal you keep in the back of your mind when you're going through all of the hassle and flying through three different countries to get home to see your wife and kids,” Sgt. Thompson said.

Thompson who's based out of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is in the middle of his fourth deployment in Afghanistan, but he got a two week leave.

Thompson and his wife wanted to make his homecoming special for their girls, so they enlisted the help of Santa.

It was a surprise that 2-year-old Stella and 6-year-old Sophia won't ever forget.