• There are over 500 war veterans living in southwest Tallahassee, which is 4.1% of the population.
• According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one in five veterans has symptoms of a mental disorder or cognitive impairment.
• Watch the video above to learn about veterans from our neighborhoods and the program that helps them address their personal issues.

TRANSCRIPT

There are over 500 war veterans living in southwest Tallahassee, which is 4.1% of the population.

I'm Terry Gilliam, your local reporter for southwest Tallahassee.

While veterans live around the city of Tallahassee, I see a program helping veterans with invisible wounds.

“The program is great. Usually trouble leads here.”

Casey Brantley lives in Tallahassee. He served in the U.S. Army for four years.

His return to society did not go smoothly.

“I drank a lot and was irresponsible and was charged with drunk driving. That's pretty dangerous.”

That led Brantley to a program here in Leon County designed to help an experienced defendant.

It is a service to our neighbors who are veterans and are dealing with wounds we cannot see.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one in five veterans has symptoms of a mental disorder or cognitive impairment.

This can lead to behavioral problems, which in turn can lead to conflicts with the law.

“You don't graduate just because it's easy. There are a lot of hurdles you have to overcome.”

The Leon County Veterans Treatment Court and many partners recognized the need to help these veterans.

On Monday, four local veterans completed the intensive program.

According to Augustus Aikens, judge of the Veterans Treatment Court, rapid action is needed.

“We reacted very quickly to get it going.”

I asked Judge Aikens what he hopes for the veterans after they graduate, he says.

“The greatest hope is that when they leave this program, they return revitalized

so that they can continue to be productive citizens.”

Veterans and other alumni like Brantley are grateful for this revival.

“Thank God the treatment court brought me here; I went through the program.”

This was the 31st graduation ceremony for the program, which began in 2015. At the Leon County Courthouse, I'm Terry Gilliam, ABC27.