TAMPA - A nine month program is transforming the lives of local veterans who have entered the criminal justice system. 

The Veterans Treatment Court assists veterans in trouble with the law due to a disorder or condition incurred during military service.

"This is the war after the war that people don't know about," said VTC graduate and Operation Iraqi Freedom Combat Veteran David Silva. 

After his return from Iraq in 2005, Silva knew nothing about Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or that he was suffering from it. 

"I would get jobs and lose jobs within four months and not understand why," added Silva. 

Memories of his time overseas haunted him in every aspect of his life including his relationships. When police were called to his home over a domestic dispute, he says an ongoing radio call by a deputy triggered his memory of a humvee explosion in Iraq. 

"I told the Sheriff department to turn it down and he refused," said Silva. "He tried to arrest me and I refused with violence."  

The decorated war verteran says the arrest was humiliating, but life-saving.

It was then he learned about the Veterans Treatment Court. 

Veterans from all armed forces who enter the program are held accountable by VTC Mentors. 

U.S. Army Veteran Annette Kirk is the first American Gold Star Mother to volunteer as a mentor. 

"We all cope differently but we are there for one another," said Kirk who volunteers within the veteran community to deal with the grief from losing her son in combat in Afghanistan. 

"Some never went to war, but they still served," said Kirk. " We need to do all that we can do to show that we care, we love them and that we are going to do all that we can for our veterans."