Gabbard spent greater than twenty years within the army earlier than changing into the Intelligence Chief.
Whereas serving within the Hawaii State Legislature in 2003, Gabbard took the oath of enlistment into the Hawaii Military Nationwide Guard and underwent 9 weeks of primary coaching.
“In historical past, some generations have been given the whole lot, and now on this technology the place there is a battle on terrorism, I am honored to have the chance to present one thing,” she mentioned on the time. “I promise my constituents that my service to the army is not going to in any means get in the best way of my serving them.”
Just a few months later, the Military Reserve soldier joined the twenty ninth Brigade Fight Workforce as a rank specialist with a twenty ninth Help Battalion medical firm.
“As a proud native lady, former state consultant, and a soldier preventing in opposition to terrorism in Iraq, this was actually an honor and a treasured expertise. I could not ask for something extra,” she expressed, per The Honolulu Advertiser.
The fight veteran had a complete of three deployments to the Center East and Africa throughout her army profession. She grew to become the primary lady to obtain an award of appreciation from the Kuwaiti army after main a Navy Police platoon in Kuwait.
In 2007, she graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate Faculty at Fort McClellan, Ala., making historical past as the primary lady within the academy’s 50-year historical past to be named distinguished honor graduate.
She additionally held the position of legislative aide to U.S. Senator Daniel Ok. Akaka from 2007 to 2009.
Gabbard at present serves as battalion commander of the 1-354 Regiment in Tulsa, Oklahoma.