Joining SHARE: An Army Vet's (Second) Best Decision

Deltrick Elmore

Deltrick Elmore says the best decision he ever made was adopting his Belgian Malinois puppy “Bear” four years ago. The second one, he says, was taking part in Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative.

Deltrick enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1995, where he worked as a generator mechanic and later in explosive ordnance disposal. He left after three years and joined the Navy. After discharge, he served in the Army National Guard on and off from 2003 to 2019. While in the National Guard, he also worked as a consultant to Army bases and traveled around the world, helping plan tactical operations. It was during this time — including a stint at a base in Afghanistan — that he was involved in several explosions from enemy fire.

“At one point, I got blown across the chow hall,” Deltrick remembers.

He returned to the U.S. in 2019. He didn’t realize it at the time, but he had sustained injuries that caused long-term physical and mental symptoms from his time overseas. He had severe headaches and began noticing a decline in his cognitive abilities, slower reflexes, and shaky hands. He had bouts of depression and attempted suicide.

He sought counseling to combat his depression, but he couldn’t find relief for his physical symptoms. In 2024, he experienced a seizure, which revealed an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His doctor referred him to SHARE.

“I didn’t want to go at first,” admits Deltrick, who came to SHARE in January 2025. “I didn’t think it would help. But it helped a lot.”

He was at SHARE for two months, where he got relief for his headaches and worked on balance, memory, and decision-making skills. Playing the piano and working in the vegetable garden during recreation therapy helped calm the shaking in his hands.

After he left SHARE, Deltrick returned to his job as a cybersecurity engineer. He says he is calmer and happier. He appreciates the treatment he received at SHARE, as well as the camaraderie he felt with the other clients.

“SHARE is a community where nobody judges you,” Deltrick says. “I thought I was going through this process alone, but they pull you in immediately. We cheered each other on. It was the best thing I’ve done so far.” Besides adopting Bear, of course.

Written by Sara Baxter

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