Social networking sites to help veterans

(AP Photo/The Denver Post, AAron Ontiveroz)

As veterans make the transition out of military life, social networking has moved beyond mere communication tool to become a support system and lifeline, helping veterans address employment, housing, education and health issues.

Here's where vets can go for a helping hand, and where civilians can go to help the patriots who have served us.

USA Together
USA Together, like a Craigslist for wounded warriors, connects injured service members who have unmet needs as they are recovering with people willing to assist. You can offer to help directly with anything from donating appliances to offering driving services to the hospital.

Hire a Hero
Providing free employment services to veterans and their families, Hire a Hero is an online professional networking site with direct job search capabilities, resume building and employer contact information.

The Call of Duty Endowment 
Have a Facebook page? You can help by simply posting  The Call of Duty Endowment image on your Facebook page and writing a status message to veterans this Memorial Day—then the endowment will donate $1 to Hire Heroes USA, which offers transition assistance, job search assistance, and job placement services to those who have honorably served in the U.S. military as well as to their spouses. The ultimate goal: to reduce unemployment among veterans.

PTSD Coach
Veterans dealing with the invisible wounds of post traumatic stress disorder have a new resource to help cope with the anxiety, stress and other mental health problems that commonly occur following trauma. PTSD Coach offers many opportunities to find support through the social network of professionals and connecting with other servicemen and women experiencing similar feelings.

Download PTSD Coach: iTunes
Download PTSD Coach: Android Marketplace

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Assisting new veterans and their families, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America connects service members within communities. It's is a resource addressing issues of mental health injuries, health care, and educational benefits.

Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans for America site provides peer-to-peer college campus networks for veterans, coordinating campus activities and providing pre-professional networking.