When working with text, stay away from blending options, it will help you a TON!
(however occasionally i use stroke) This means don't use outerglow, bevel and emboss, drop shadow. None of it.
Text takes long and arduous time to learn but once you do it'll help you so much.
I applaud you though for putting the text behind a few of the soldiers thus blending it in a bit.
I also applaud you for using a default font (that is default right?) however when we say default fonts we mean the normal fonts, aerial, eurose, veranda. Though a font like this may work with this header with the bevel and emboss it doesn't.

The bg is looking pretty well and blends well with the focal.
The 4(star) is a nice touch however the green and purple (on the life) are really contrasting with the red. Maybe a different color would suit better?
What about white, yellow, and off red?

Just some food for thought really.
Your getting better you should keep it up, your getting there.